Health and Family Life of “the Other American”
by Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D, MPH.
The following article was published in the Stillwater News Press on December 05, 2001.
Health and Family Life, a Collective Responsibility! It is 6 AM on Wednesday morning; Cindy is awake but still feeling sleepy, already frustrated with family demands for the day, and unsure of what lies ahead. For now, Cindy has to get her three kids (ages 7, 9, 11) out of bed, prepare them for the 7 AM bus ride to school, then leave the family’s trailer-home at 7:30 AM, and drive 30 miles off the county line to start her cashier’s job at a Supermarket. Cindy has to be at work at 8 AM, and quite troubled with the thought of dealing with a supervisor she describes as “nasty”. Mark, Cindy’s husband works part-time at a hog processing plant, left home 30 minutes earlier, to drive 55 miles north on the interstate, for the first shift of work. Because of his part-time work status, Mark does not qualify for health insurance and other benefits. He hopes to become a full-time employee and get benefits, when business improves.
While it is still morning, Cindy lights her fist cigarette to “awaken” herself; wished she did not have to get up this early, wonders why the school bus has to come so early for the kids, wished the husband had been around to help with the kids, and wished she and her husband had “better jobs”. “There should be a way out of this dead-end job, that stretches everything around me so thin, except my bills”, grumbles Cindy. The school bus arrives and the kids are off to school. With little time left for breakfast, Cindy hurriedly makes a cup of black coffee, grabs a couple of glazed doughnuts and drives off to work, sipping coffee and trying to take bites from doughnuts whenever she must stop for the traffic light. It’s been a smooth drive so far, but before Cindy turns into the street towards the supermarket, she is pulled-over by the local police, later given speeding and no-insurance citations. Cindy is forty minutes late for work because of the police pull-over, clock-in, explains reasons for her lateness to her supervisor and starts her shift assignment. Though deeply worried about her family’s situations, she tries to force an occasional smile while serving the customers.
Wow, its lunchtime! Cindy goes to the work-place cafeteria, orders four slices of sausage, pepperoni and extra cheese pizza, and a 48 OZ cup of coke, with options for free refills. “Break-time isn’t long enough”, she says, but before reporting back to work, Cindy goes out of the store and hurriedly smokes two more cigarettes, “hope this burns this 30% of extra fat on my body” she mumbles. While still on break, Cindy hears her name on the intercom, requesting her presence at the Customers’ Service (CS), desk for an urgent phone message.
She picks up the phone, and on the other end, a message goes: “Yah, this is Gary, principal of Dopeville Elementary; Mandy your daughter has recently been sent to my office for starting fights, and twice caught smoking cigarettes in the bathroom, all in violation of school policies. Well, the purpose of today’s call is to sadly inform you that Mandy, had an accident on the Monkey Bars during PE this morning; she probably has a broken arm, and has been transported to the emergency room at Dopeville Memorial hospital. A parent is needed at the hospital to provide family history and health insurance information. Cindy sighs with disgust, gets permission for an early clock-out and drives to the emergency room (ER). On her way to the ER, Cindy has these worries: she has a sick child, no health insurance, possibility for job-loss while staying at home with a sick child. She does not qualify for Medicaid, has a police citation for traffic and insurance violation, and has limited family income but unlimited bills to pay. Cindy might not live on your street, but there is “a Cindy” somewhere on “the other street or community”. Be understanding and supportive of underprivileged individuals and families in your community.