On the Contrary

Monday afternoon I was out in my vineyard trying to do some erosion control before a big storm moved in.  I was in a particularly steep section and I slipped and caught my leg under me, tearing the patella tendons and dislocating the patella.  Needless to say I was immobilized.  I tried to move down to my ATV to get out of the vineyard, but the pain was excruciating.  So I was stuck in the vineyard till someone (my wife) came looking for me when I remembered I had my cell phone and, although reception is spotty down there, I got through to her and she called 911.

Within minutes there was a paramedic crew here from the El Dorado County Fire Station.  They managed to remove me from the vineyard with a minimum of pain and get me to the local hospital.  The local hospital (Marshall) did an excellent job of managing my care until I could be transferred to my primary health care provider, Kaiser Permanente, for surgery that evening and outstanding care. And when I got home my neighbors were there to help out.

In other words what could have been a very ugly experience was just a minor bump in the road because of the taxes we pay for our public services, the excellent medical coverage I have, which is a public plan (I am a retired federal employee), and a good community.  Public services and the taxes we pay for them may seem like they just weigh us down, but then like a parachute you have to drag around as dead weight, when you need it, it is critical.  Having health care is also critical and I am not special.  Everyone deserves it.  If this little episode doesn’t demonstrate how important our public services are, and how health care access for every one is critical, nothing will.