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Medical Emergency - Jeremy Ruzich |
7/19/10
I almost made it home without going to the emergency room. I was only 58
miles away actually. Leaving Atchison Saturday morning, I was following a
teammate very closely and clipped his back tire with my front as I decided
to begin passing on the left. In a flash, my chin was slamming against
the pavement and I was pulling myself and my bike off the highway and I
was mashing a rag against my dripping chin and I was thinking Boy, this is
gonna ruin my day.
But this afforded me more than just a five-stitch goatee and 3 ½ hours of
peaceful rest while waiting in the ER. I saw a young couple bring in
their four small children for a bad case of lice. A man with apparent
mental health issues began bothering other patrons and so was escorted out
by security. The staff called him by his first name and told him he acts
the same way every time he comes in. Many people with chronic conditions
were dismayed as their wait increased to eight hours because of six
critically injured patients being rushed in.
Stereotypes and assumptions can be dangerous to our society, but that does
not mean perception and observation are not still valid. My mother, who
came to wait with me, commented “These are the people you’re riding for.”
Thank God I had a team watching out for me. Thank God my family was
nearby to sit with me and drive me home. Thank God I had health insurance
(outrageously expensive as it is). Thank God I had two surgeons riding
nearby when I wiped out. Not everyone has a network of supportive family
and friends; not everyone can afford health insurance; and not everyone
has the education on how to prevent ailments or injuries or where they can
go to get treatment.
This summer, I often hear Jason talk about one of our greatest solutions
to poverty lying in the collaboration of faith-based organizations (i.e.
Catholic Charities) and other nonprofits (hospitals), private industry
(insurance companies), and government (Medicare?). And I’m with him on
this. Now, most people have connections in one or more of these sectors.
What can YOU do to at least open the dialogue?
- Jeremy Ruzich
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