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February 10, 2005
Miracle Workers and Million Dollar Babies
Over the last several months, I've been quietly admiring Frank Rich's New York Times columns. His columns alalyze the intersections between political and popular culture in refreshing and insightful ways. Today's column, in which Rich addresses the surprising controversy over Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby is no excpetion. According to the critics, Eastwood's film, which I haven't seen, endorses euthanasia, and conservative critics and pundits have been pounding this point home on talk radio. Like Rich (and Clint Eastwood himself), I find it odd that the man who played Dirty Harry and held elective office as a Republican has become a target of these conservative critics. I also find it strangely inconsistent that these critics are railing against the cinematic representation of one death on-screen when the number of dead people in Iraq doesn't seem. But that's another story.
But what I also found surprising, and somewhat disturbing, from Rich's column is the brief mention of a planned new show called Miracle Workers to be aired on ABC. According to another New York Times article, Miracle Workers focuses on a team of medical professionals who scour the country looking for people who need urgent medical care but cannot afford to pay for it. The show was produced by the same people who brought us Blind Date, but the creators promise that the show will feature no competition or contests. After all, people's lives are at stake here, ladies and gentlemen. We wouldn't want to do anything crass or exploitative. This show is just about taking care of people. Then again, a subtext of such a TV show might read: Why don't these people have health care in the first place? Where is the outrage that said sick people must rely on "miracle workers" in order to get the mediacl treatment they deserve? Of course, they get to be on a reality TV show. That makes them pretty lucky, I guess.
Posted by chuck at February 10, 2005 11:36 AM
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Comments
I have to reply to your comments! Your comment "Why don't these people have health care in the first place?" I have to say shows your ignorance! And it infuriates me. It seems you live in a closet, so let me educate you...
Over the past 12 months, both my husband and son were diagnosed with a brain mass. Both will require surgery and both could be left with serious deficits.
My husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago. He was 34 years old at the time. He worked as a V.P. of a construction company and we had health insurance. He had to stop working and go on disability because of the effects of the tumor and therefore lost health insurance.
I am now the sole bread winner, I own 3 web businesses that are very demanding plus I work 30+ hrs a week so we can have health insurance again. I also care for my 4 young kids and husband, with the loss of income; it is all we can do to make ends meet now.
Because of this, we can not even afford the flight across county to obtain the best medical care that both my Husband and Son deserve. Not to mention the cost of the medical care as the specialists we need are not in our insurance plan.
My husband can loose 1/2 his vision when this tumor is removed and he is already blind in his left eye since Birth. The tumor is starting to grow into the area of the brain responsible for hearing and he may loose part of his hearing as well. Yes, we could have the tumor removed locally, through our insurance, but then he will not receive the best care that is available to him.
Best case scenario he will not loose any vision or hearing through surgery, with an experienced surgeon. We have no idea what the future will hold from a health stand point for him. My son can loss muscle control from surgery, he is only 13 yrs old and has a long life ahead of him. I hope this show can at least help preserve the vision and hearing my husband has and that my son not be left with deficits.
Yes, we are being considered for the show. It is nice to see the popularity of reality shows finally being used to help those in need medically!
Maybe next time you should do some research before opening your mouth and making such ignorant comments!
B.G.
An upset Mom and Wife
Posted by: B.G. at June 28, 2005 9:55 AM
As for the new ABC show Miracle Workers, their continued use on the first episode of "wheelchair bound" was appalling. People who use wheelchairs are not tied with rope and strapped to the chair. The wheelchair is their legs, their means of mobility. For a show focusing on a variety of people with disabilities, I cannot believe they made not one call to an advocacy group for people with disabilities. I guess for those of us who don't use a wheelchair for mobility, we are "legbound" or "carbound." Come on, ABC, get with the program and do a little research!
Posted by: Jennnifer Boen at March 10, 2006 9:18 AM
BG, I somehow missed your comments earlier, and certainly I hope that your family members received the medical treatment they deserved. My point is that such a show shouldn't be needed. Everyone should have access to medical care, not just rich people or people who are lucky enough to be able to afford helth insurance.
I do think that a show like Miracle Workers can help people, but shouldn't people who need medical assitance receive it?
Posted by: Chuck at March 28, 2006 12:22 PM
Hello I am the mother of a 5 year old boy Michael Bohay, he was diagnosed at birth with multiple tumors, he has had 6 surgeries and numerous test my son has tumors that don't stop growing they are in his entire tongue the floor of his mouth his chin and they grow down in his throat. Michael has no tongue due to cutting the tumors out, they cannot get them all they come back faster and bigger. Are insurance will mot pay for Michael to be cured! There is help at Malformation hospital's there is a Dr.Yakes who we sent Michaels MRI copies to and he say's he can help! The treatment cost $45,000 eachh and Michael will need 10 or more! I have started a Fundraiser in the hopes to send Michael to Colorado. There is a little girl who has a very mild case compared to Michael's and she has news coverage through fox11 and many articles in the paper as well as support of thousands of people throughout the world! My question is why does my son seem to be invisible? Why can't he get help as well? My son has been through so much, how much can a little boy take will he ever get the help he deserves? The insurance should realize that he has a very severe case which his Dr's all know! He does have an article that was posted from the Whittier Daily news and I am grateful for that.but what about my son, if you can offer any assistance whether it's helping me with resources or financially so he can be cured please let me know. His web site is under construction but please visit it
www.freewebs.com/helpsavemichael.com
or call me @
(562)908-0608 ask for cynthia
Thank you for your time
Sincerely a worried mother
Posted by: cynthia-ann knifechief at October 2, 2006 6:15 PM