–Update September 29, 2009 – Anthony’s appeal was denied and as of 3pm today, his nurses were pulled from his case. If anyone can help, please help! –
–Update September 28, 2009 – Anthony’s situation is still very precarious. It is possible he may lose his coverage in the next 10 days. If you can help and bring attention to his cause, please do anything you can!–
Almost a year ago, I met a very sweet gentleman online. We got to talking and slowly became closer and closer friends. It wasn’t until months later that he told me had ALS – Lou Gehrig’s Disease. His name is Anthony. I believe the reason he took awhile to tell me about his disease is because he wants people to get to know him for who he really is, for the real person inside. With or without the disease – I consider him to be one of the greatest friends I’ve ever had.
That’s the thing with Anthony – he is not just his disease. He is just like anyone else. He has family and friends. He has likes and dislikes. He has good days and bad days. He has dreams and passions and desires. He is brilliant and funny and sweet. He reaches out to people and makes friends. Every day.
I traveled 1,000 miles to visit him not once, but twice this summer! I am proud and happy to call him my friend, and cannot wait to visit him again.
Anthony was diagnosed with ALS in 1997 – when he was only 29. The prognosis for ALS patients is usually 2-5 years from diagnosis. He has been living with the disease for about 12 years now. Over the years he has lost the use of his limbs. He is paralyzed from the neck down, but still has full sensation. He can use his computer and keep in contact with the entire world with the help of a headtrack that moves the cursor with his head movements. Anthony cannot swallow, eat, or breathe on his own for very long. He lives his day-to-day life with the help of friends, family, and 24 hour nurse care in his home. He is on a ventilator and feeding tube, and has to have suction of his lungs every several hours. Patients with ALS usually die of respiratory infection and failure. The fact that he has made it 12 years with this disease is a testament to his spirit and strength.
From his Facebook group: “I tell you Anthony’s story because he has just learned that he will be losing his TennCare coverage beginning September 9, 2009. Without this coverage, he will be unable to receive the private nursing care that he requires. This will leave his care solely in the hands of his friends and family in order for him to remain at home. This would be a tremendous undertaking, especially considering that both of his family care givers are disabled. His only other option would be a nursing facility. However, there are no facilities in the local area who will accept a patient on a ventilator, so Anthony would have to go to a facility that is hours away from the family and friends who have helped him to fight for his life. Taking this day to day contact away from him is tantamount to a death sentence, if not in body then certainly in spirit.”
Help!
If you would like to help, please join his Facebook group and/or contact the elected officials in Tennessee. Even if you do not live in Tennessee, it couldn’t hurt to contact these people. If you don’t use Facebook, in the Facebook group, there is a sample letter to send to elected officials, and information for how to mail, e-mail, and call each of these people.
If you are a journalist or blogger and can share his story publicly – please do! Share this story here, or from the Facebook group, or from other articles. Some articles that are already out there:
Lou Gehrig’s Patient Kicked Off TennCare (Nov 6, 2009)
Lou Gehrig’s patient loses TennCare fight (Oct 2, 2009)
‘Tank’ battles bureaucracy and Lou Gehrig’s disease (Video) (Sept 20, 2009)
Hardin Co. Man Fights for Healthcare (Video) (Sept 8, 2009)
Facebook Friends Rally for ALS Victim Facing Loss of TennCare (Sept 6, 2009)
Please help spread the word with just a click, using the buttons below!
Tags: als, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, anthony meeks, bureaucracy, health, injustice, insurance, lou gehrig, tank meeks, tenncare
