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Tara Sudweeks Willgues writes:
Theron David Read was one of the millions of working Americans who have been left uninsured over the past two decades. Like many small businesses in Utah and throughout America, his employer did not offer group health insurance. Born with congenital heart disease, he was also among the millions of Americans who are currently unable to purchase private coverage, due to pre-existing conditions. As a single male, he was not eligible for Medicaid coverage. Living as a frugal individual, Theron did not own a car or a home, and although he worked full time he was not as interested in material wealth as other men his age so often are. He was a poet, an actor and a philosopher, and was often described by his friends as one of the kindest, most generous individuals they had ever met. He was a doting uncle to his niece and nephews, and treasured his family ties. Because he did not have health insurance coverage, he went without his required medications for most of his adult life. Many of his friends would try to help as they were able to, by purchasing his prescriptions or through other means, but in the end, their efforts were not enough. On July 20, 2009, he had a heart attack and passed away on the TRAX train, on his way to work. Theron was just 44 years old at the time of his passing, and was mourned by hundreds of people on the Facebook group memorial page which was set up by his friends after his death. His writings are set to be archived by the University of Utah as a way to preserve his legacy for the future.
Nick Teska writes:
My cousin Jesse who was my best friend died due a blood clot that had traveled to his heart. My cousin and I were at a Halloween party where he twisted his knee severly while dancing. At the time, Jesse was just starting out his own concrete pumping business which he and his parents had poured their life savings and a second mortgage into, and he was not yet making any kind of money from the business due to just starting out; As a result, he was unable to afford health insurance for himself due to the high cost of purchasing insuarance. Jesse tried for two straight weeks for someone to look at his knee and have an MRI done, but nobody would look at him because he had no insurance and he just kept getting shuffled around. Well, Jesse finally did get an MRI for his knee scheduled,...too bad it was 5 days after he was already dead from the bloodclot that had formed in his knee. My aunt and Uncle left the house to get him dinner and came home to find him dead in front of the television playing his Xbox. I myself had talked to him 45 minutes before my Uncle called me to let me know that Jesse had been rushed to the hospital because his heart had stopped. The last thing we talked about was going out for my birthday the following weekend. My Aunt is now stuck with paying off his concrete pump, his truck for the pump and the second mortgage they took out. None of us had money to bury Jesse and it took 3 straight weeks of fundraising before we could get him a proper burial. My aunt (who is 59) is currently working 7 days a week to pay off the above listed. She should have the truck paid off this year hopefully. My Uncle (who is 62) is no longer capable of working and is on permanent disability due to having severe health complications, of which he had a major surgery for a month prior to my cousin's passing. It is a good thing my Uncle was a Vietnam Vet had the VA to cover his medical expenses, or my Uncle would not be here either....if only his son would have had the same type of coverage. I can still remember my Uncle crying out that it should have been him who was dead and cried to God to take him (my Uncle) instead of his son, upon learning that his one and only son was dead. My cousin left behind heartbroken family and at the time, a 5 year old daughter. He was only 25. Jesse's daughter will never be able to see her daddy in this lifetime again because a basic necessity, a public service of our great nation has fallen into the hands of greedy and corrupt indviduals who's goal is to exploit our less fortunate and make a profit at their expense. It is an absurd system (regardless of what class of citizen you belong to) who's main focus/primary concern appears to be how much money they can make off you, rather than your well being. It is not right and it needs to stop. Thank you for taking the time to read Jesse's story and my condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one due to our faulty healthcare system. I hope one day we will never have to hear stories like the ones being told here again.
