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Don't Forget About Renee!
March 11, 2010


Renee is a social worker from Phoenix, Arizona.  Here is her story:

Seven years ago, Renee underwent brain surgery in order to control seizures caused by epilepsy, a serious neurological disease.  Now the seizures have returned, and Renee will need medication to control them for the rest of her life.  She says,

“I have epilepsy.  I have also had brain surgery.  My brain surgery was a success in eliminating my seizures for seven years.  They have come back because a very small piece in the area of my previous brain surgery was hiding.  My seizures are not as bad, but I need to be on medication for the rest of my life.

My medication costs $400 a month without insurance.  I am a social worker and cannot afford that.  And if I ever need an X-ray or hospital visit for testing, those costs will be astronomical.


My mother also has a rare type of hereditary cancer.  Her insurance premiums are killing her more than her malignant tumors...they are one to two thousand dollars a month.  Death is a cheaper option.  Costs for care and insurance are ridiculous.


Please pass a reasonable health care solution for America, including [for] those with preexisting conditions and lifelong diseases.  Thank you.”


Renee does not have health insurance and is not sure how she will be able to pay for the cost of her medication or any tests that she may need to manage her epilepsy.  On the other hand, her mother, a cancer patient, does have health insurance, but the cost of her premiums is so high that she is also financially struggling. 

Renee and her mother need health care reform to ensure that families struggling with chronic diseases are able to access health insurance that does not charge exorbitantly—or deny altogether—for treatment to manage these health conditions.


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Read other featured Stories of the Week:
Don't Forget About Ella! (March 4, 2010)
Don't Forget About Teo! (February 25, 2010)
Don't Forget About Rafael! (February 18, 2010)
Don't Forget About Isabel! (February 11, 2010)
Don't Forget About Marta! (February 4, 2010)
Don't Forget About Erica! (January 28, 2010)
Don't Forget About Florentino! (January 21, 2010)
Don't Forget About Jaime! (January 14, 2010)
Don't Forget About Sara! (January 7, 2010)
Don't Forget About Crystal! (December 31, 2009)
Don't Forget About Teresa! (December 17, 2009)
Don't Forget About Natalio! (December 10, 2009)
Don't Forget About Beyda! (December 3, 2009)
Don't Forget About Carlos! (November 26, 2009)
Don't Forget About Raquel! (November 19, 2009)
Don't Forget About Omar! (November 12, 2009)
Don't Forget About Juanita! (November 5, 2009)
Don't Forget About Antonieta! (October 29, 2009)
Don't Forget About Andrea! (October 22, 2009)


 
For more information, contact:
Kara Ryan
Marco Murillo
Jennifer Ng'andu
Robert Sanchez

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