I didn't vote

[Skidmore]

even after working very hard for Hillary during the primary and general elections. It breaks my heart, but I couldn't. On election day, I was admitted to hospital directly fom the ER. By that evening, I was being prepped for the first of several surgical procedures which took place over the course of the following week, with a followup procedure done a month and a half later. The surgeons saved my life and my arm, although it will never have full function again.

I want you to know somethīng. I'm in the age range and demographic that Trumpcare would kill. As it seems that it is cool here to mock rural elderly now, I want you to understand that policies would kill Democrats just as dead. My husband I are painfully aware of how fortunate we are that our crisis happened when the safety nets President Obama and Clinton established for us were present. I was able to have health insurance in spite of having a preexisting condition and there was no lifetime cap in place. He was able to use FMLA to help care for me when I was at my weakest and needed someone. The rural hospital I went to daily for dressing changes has been able to provide those wound services because their importance was recognized in Obamacare.

I'm asking that you get focused. I know that, if Trumpcare had been in place several months ago, I would have died. Now, I leave you and will return to regenerating nerves and trying teach my hand and arm to work in spite of the significant loss of muscle.

[gopiscrap]

1. Prayers for your healing and

thank you for sharing this

[annabanana]

2. I am so glad that you got the care you needed when you needed it.

I'm hoping that this giraffe of a bill is so misshapen that it will not get the votes.

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. Exactly and part of the "focus" you ask for is making sure people understand the

2 party system.

Crucial that they understand it, because people like you and I will die if they dont.

[Skidmore]

5. And this is why we educate,

one person at a time

[Eliot Rosewater]

8. I was just thinking how lucky I am I only will have to pay $500 copay for a

colonoscopy on top of $1600 a month in premiums.

Anywhere else this would be absolute insanity, but here I am considered fortunate

And THAT goes away when the fascists get their way

[get the red out]

4. Thoughts for you

And thank you for working hard for Hillary.

I hope you heal well.

[Wounded Bear]

6. Don't care about your voting or not, as long as you're OK...

In the grand scheme of things, it's true one vote either way doesn't make that much difference.

But I'll get a little cheeky and say, your case is one of the reasons I like our system of mail-in voting here in WA. I know you can't actually plan for an episode like yours, but still, if you could have mailed in your vote early, it might still have been counted.

I don't usually mock those elderly rural folks myself. I live in a pretty blue state that won't feel the brunt of the Repub efforts to kill Americans as badly as many others. It is hard sometimes to feel empathy for those who routinely vote against their own best interests because they fear they may be helping other, 'less-deserving' folks. The logic of that kind of stance escapes me.

Best wishes on your recovery and rehab. Welcome back to the fight.

[democrank]

7. Wishing you all the best and sending positive thoughts, Skidmore.

Medical emergencies and/or catastrophic illnesses have a way of prioritizing things.

Stay strong and keep believing.

~PEACE~

[Jim Beard]

9. I am really sorry about your medical problems. It is difficult alone to recover

without worrying about what the insurance company will do. Good thing they removed the lifetime cap.

I am 70 years old and have always felt proud to go to the polls and vote on election day. I always felt powerful and proud but with story and my odds of having Medical problems on election day, I voted early this year.

I wish you good luck in your recovery.

[Lifelong Protester]

10. I am so sorry for your hospitalization.

I am in that rural elderly demographic, too, and I don't know what will happen to us in the future. Get Well wishes being sent your way.

[LoisB]

11. I wish you well with your recovery.

[DownriverDem]

12. Best of luck!

Good thoughts coming your way! I hope you see progress everyday! The people I have a problem with are those who didn't vote for HRC because they didn't like her. WTF? When you looked at the two parties, you saw a major difference. I will never get those who ignored what the parties stand for. Everyone should be clear now what trump and the repubs stand for. It is so tiring and dangerous to have to fight the fight again after the progress we saw for the last 8 years. We would continue to move forward with HRC. Now all we have is from the repubs is going backwards.

[Ligyron]

13. So sorry to hear of your plight.

Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery.

Kick butt on your PT.

[rurallib]

14. Thanks for your story. The rural hospital situation is really scary

Once Trumpdon'tCare goes into effect it will only be a couple of short years before they start closing. Economics, you know.

This will hugely impact states like Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas - essentially that wide swat of America from about Indiana to the west coast.

Couple that with an insane "insurance" situation and there will be a lot of people dying that shouldn't be.

[sheshe2]

15. Healing vibes are on there way.

I am so sorry, Skidmore, I had no idea that it was that serious. Take your time and heal, my thoughts will be with you and your husband.

[williesgirl]

16. I, too, am in the elderly rural demographic. Moved out here

Almost 14 yrs. ago when I took temporary emergency custody of 2 abused teenagers from WI. They were from a VERY rural area and I didn't think attending high school in Fairfax, VA was in their best interests. That 1st year was really something. I needed duct tape on my mouth every time I left the house! As a feminist, it was tough. But, it didn't take too long for me to realize most folks I'd encountered were basically nice, just grew up with less-enlightened family and friends. These folks are interested in understanding our differences, and some actually have changed their positions on issues at times. If I were 10 years younger, I'd run for office.

My advice to Dems trying to earn rural votes is to put away your talking points and ask what's important to your audience. Have real conversations. Ask open ended questions. Your audience will appreciate your honesty and sincerity.

[citizen blues]

17. Thank you for and the main poster for speaking out.

Another practical, economic perspective is that we need those in rural red states just like they need us in more urban blue states. If we didn't have the midwest, the rest of us would be importing our food. Conversely, if they didn't have the tax base from the blue states, they wouldn't have the roads or easy access to markets. Each one's life would be harder without the other, so how about each of our sides showing our neighbors a little hospitality.

[calimary]

18. Your situation is an excellent example of WHY trumpcare (aka DonTCare)

Will. NOT. Work.

I looked at those pro-trump folks across the street from us at the Breitbart protest in West L.A. yesterday (Sunday, 3/12) and the first thing I thought of, with everything I've read so far, is - THERE'S a bunch of people who've been danced down the garden path. They've been sold a bill o' goods by a world-class CONman, and they bought it in full. And they're about to pay for it, rather painfully. The only thing that would spare them a lot of suffering is this blue state and Democratic governor - who believe in the Affordable Care Act and have attempted to implement completely rather than being obstinate and digging in their heels and refusing to cooperate. That's what's happening in the red states with those GOP governors. All the trumpsters in those states are about to take it in the shorts. Bigly.

[Moostache]

19. I wish you a full recovery, and absent that as full as possible.

I always hate to hear things like your story...because I know that I am in similar water if I ever lose my job or get forced into the individual market. As a hypertensive diabetic with a history of renal cell carcinoma, there is literally no chance in hell I could ever afford an individual insurance plan no matter how badly I might want it (and no number of skipped I-phones or 'choices' will ever change that).

Hopefully you receive the care you need and this abortive bill in Congress is defeated to prevent wider spread carnage in our nation. Best wishes for both outcomes...

[Hortensis]

20. Wonderful testament, Skidmore. Thank you.

I am sorry to hear about your reduced function and wish you well on regaining it, but glad to hear you are part of a well functioning pair.

[Laurian]

21. Oh, Skidmore......

Hugs and healing thoughts for you and sincere appreciation for your husband's devotion to your care.

The absolute craven disregard the Republicans exhibit toward their fellow human beings is dumbfounding. Purely hateful.

[pnwmom]

22. Thank you for sharing your story, Skidmore. You couldn't personally vote, but your work

helped bring about other votes, and your words now I'm sure will have an impact, too.

You are right. There may be more DT voters who suffer from his policies, but the Democrats affected are just as real.

We all need to treat this as the emergency it is.

On to write a few more postcards for Wednesday.

[grantcart]

23. Hope you are feeling better and good luck in the future. Stories like yours is why I always

vote absentee on the first day that the ballot hits my mail box I have it filled out and send it back.

[gademocrat7]

24. Sending healing thoughts and hugs.

Thank you for all your hard work during the election. Take care. We will resist.

[colorado_ufo]

25. Great and powerful testimonial.

Warm thoughts your way!

[vlyons]

26. I hear you!

almost a year and a half ago, I was hospitalized for 3 weeks with serious heart failure. Going to the hospital saved my life. I was so weak and depressed that I seriously thought about eating my pistol. I'm a 70 yr senior, and without medicare, I'm sure that I would be dead. I'm quite frightened that this stupid republican regime will wreck social security and medicare. They certainly don't give a rat's ass for ass.

[guillaumeb]

27. You have my thoughts and wishes for your recovery,

and your post is excellent. Recommended.

[brer cat]

28. Sending good vibes your way.

We need to fight to keep the safety nets unbroken, because the republicans want to render them asunder.

[Fast Walker 52]

29. thank you for the important message and wishing you the best!!!

[femmocrat]

30. Best wishes for your continued recovery, Skidmore.

At one time, the president would have loved to hear about positive-outcome stories like yours. It is so sad that now no one in power seems to give a f*ck if older, poorer, sicker people live or die.

I wish you the best as you continue to heal.

[sinkingfeeling]

31. Wishing you a full recovery.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

32. the unnecessary stress that accompanies the Thump administration is unhealthy.

At the doctors office today I lost my composure when he doubled a prescription dosage and added another. This on top of a study drug and countless other meds for my hubby. They are all expensive. I want to do the right and healthiest thing for him. But it is stressing me out because of every other medical expense one acrues in one's "golden" years.

[Blue_true]

33. You had a good reason for not voting. We need to work

to blowup Trumpcare in the crib, and if we fail at that, remove republicans wholesale in 2018.

My state has 11 days of early voting and voting on Election Day. I voted early. I wish more states allowed early voting.

[jimlup]

34. Best wishes to you

and i completely agree. Time to get focused on preventing the Republicans from taking away our basic rights.

Your circumstance on election day is one to take note of. We need to push for early voting laws and make voting ahead of election day more accessible.

[Doreen]

35. Your heart was in the right place even though

your health was not. I am glad you are alright and that you didn't get stuck in that situation by Tump dontcare.

[lillypaddle]

36. Healing vibes coming your way

Such an ordeal made a little easier because of the safety nets. Hang in there.

[randr]

37. My sincerest wishes as your recovery continues

You point out an issue that I hope we all take note of. I do not know if you had a chance for early voting where you live or not. I imagine you must have been preoccupied with your condition leading up to your surgery and not as focused on the election. I would encourage all DUers' to support early voting wherever they live and recognize the importance of having more that one day to cast a vote. Voting numbers are increased in every State that enacts early voting.

[hamsterjill]

38. Great post! Thank you!

You are officially "excused" for not voting. I think you had a legitimate reason.

I'm in my late 50's, and Trumpcare scares the hell outta me. I remember thinking, when the idiot Tea Baggers started talking about "death panels", how stupid it was for them to be spreading stupid shit like that. We all know the truth about "death panels" and Obamacare. Nothing to fear from the ACA.

But now, I feel that I (and others my age and older) will be the target for the Trump death panels. They see us as no longer useful to society, and want to purge the scourge of us. All for more money to line their already golden-laden pockets. It makes me sick. Makes me literally want to puke.

Because I was raised with some morals and some compassion, I cannot comprehend another human being wanting a fellow human being to die. It's simply unthinkable. But yet, these people not only want that to happen, but they are building it in to their agenda FOR it to happen.

We have GOT to fight back. We have got to fight back harder than we have been. We've got to organize, and we desperately need a centralized leader to come forth to take charge of that organization. If not, we are doomed. And I don't know about the rest of you that are near my age, but I'm not finished yet.

Skidmore, I wish you well in your recovery. I'm glad you were able to get the care you needed at the time you needed it. I want that for all of us.