Healdsburg and Health Care History

Sometimes I’m reminded how tight a community Healdsburg is when I witness a gathering as part of a U.S. “hot button issue.” We’re making history happen though public action and caring—that warmth and compassionate consideration are apparent when we just show up.

A diverse group of about fifty people, including me, attended a vigil on the Healdsburg Plaza, Wednesday evening September 2, 2009. I was only able to attend for the first half-hour as I had another commitment, but I got a chance to walk and talk to, and record on tape, these friendly, benevolent individuals. The most striking part of this small gathering is that as many people attended to support health care reform and the public option for others—children, grandchildren, spouses, and neighbors—as were there because they were without health care themselves, losing their health care, or were underinsured or “uninsurable.”

Carrying placards that read, “We can’t afford to wait,” “Health Care for All,” and “Americans Deserve Affordable Health Care Now,” the peaceful assembly received mostly positive and enthusiastic support from passing motorists. Some individuals shared their stories, thoughts, and desires for health care reform, reminding me that while there’s suffering among us, we all suffer.

Arlene Dalton has lived in Healdsburg since 1985, and was carrying a sign saying “My grandchildren don’t have health care.” She said, “I’ve been for universal health care for as long as I can remember as a voter and as a citizen, and I’m hoping this time we’ll finally get it right. It should include everybody.

Cynthia Branson’s poignant words spoke to the heart of health care reform and a public option. “I was 19 years old when my mother died of colon cancer because of lack of adequate health care coverage. My brother-in-law has had to put up with extreme pain because he couldn’t afford a hip replacement. It took him two years to save enough money due to lack of health care [coverage].”

The selfless thoughts went on: “I’m concerned with all the young people who have lost their jobs and who can’t get insurance now. My daughter has been laid off and she’s paying for COBRA now. My son has been laid off and he’s paying for COBRA.”

Andres Rialle from Windsor shared these words, “I was bought out—got early retirement—we lost our health care with the company; we tried to get health care for ourselves, but she’s [his wife] a breast cancer survivor. I went to the doctor once, and they said I had a preexisting condition. I got part time work and through that I got insurance for a little while, but it is going to run out.”

Healdsburg Senior citizen, Maureen Gradek stated “Two out of [my] three grown children cannot afford insurance. They are uninsured.”

Maurice Blout, retired with PERS, “I’ve been a member of Kaiser since 1972. My co-pays are $10.00 a pop, none of my medicines is more than $15.00, though some of them are worth hundreds of dollars. I’ve had numerous operations, a double bypass, it cost me nothing.” Standing vigil was his way to support those who don’t share his fortune. Blout’s final words to me were, “Everybody should have this kind of health care.”

He’s right—and as a community, we do care about what’s right, and we’re making Healdsburg history when we stand up to be counted.