Hi gang,
This is humbling to have to do. Your all so awesome and I know times are tough, I really really hate this and doing it but it is what it is. Let me explaine a little, and I'll glad answer any questions and Fred thank you so much for permitting this.
If it is ok I show you guys the press release I used and currently I have the city of Pittsburgh paper wanting to do an interview and our local tv news too.
Ask anything I'll share it all.
Let me jump to currently, I am on dialysis and had 2 transplants in life before, both worked and lasted 12 years each.
I'm back on dialysis trying to get on the transpant list, I have a failed strees test so I get stints put in.
Oh by the way I have excellent health care but NO dental. I go for the denatl expain and need all kinds of work. thing's from general dentistry stuff to periodontal work before they will conciser me. The dental work was all caused by my anti rejection drugs from past transplants and should be medical.
So I'm a health 43 year old guy that can't get listed
Let me post the press release, ask what u would like, I don't mind and this is what is wrong with out system right now and why the news are coming out.
To: <Name of Media>
RE: Failure of US Healthcare System / Patient Advocacy
My name is Alan Checca and I am dying from
End-Stage Renal Disease. I am in desperate need of a kidney transplant, which I cannot get because of outrageous HealthCare bureaucracy. I have previously had 2 kidney transplants; both of which went off without a hitch. My first kidney transplant was July of 86, my a second transplant was September of 98.
When I went into active kidney failure on June 15, 2009 and started kidney dialysis on August 22, 2009, I had no idea as to how much the process of receiving a life saving transplant has changed; nor was I prepared. I have, in no uncertain terms, fallen victim to the flawed U.S. HealthCare system.
I have been turned away from the life-saving organ transplant, by the Transplant Coordinator for Allegheny General Hospital, due to some logical and some illogical reasons. The first reason was due to a failed cardiac stress-test; which I corrected by having two stents put in my cardiac vessels to repair and maintain the blood flow issue in my heart.
The second reason, which is where the U.S. HealthCare System has failed me, is because of bone loss in my jaw and a poor dental exam. The poor dental exam and loss of bone density is a direct result of the combination of ant-rejection drugs and other medications that I have been on most of my life. One of the reasons for confusion and frustration that I have is that because the dental issues and bone density issues are a direct result of the anti-rejection medications I take ---why is this not covered by my medical insurance? There lies the conundrum. To me this is a
major failure of the U.S. HealthCare System. I have been told by the Allegheny Hospital Transplant Team that I have to be my own Patient Advocate in both medical and dental aspects. I need to have everything from general dental work to periodontal care done; and the out-of-pocket cost could range anywhere from 10,000 to an excess of 30,000 dollars, which I do not have. I am currently working with the
NTAF to collectively raise money for my dental/bone density issues.
I fear that I, like many other Americans, have become a lost file number among many in the failed U.S. HealthCare System and will
die as a result of it. Can anyone help me?
[FONT="]BIO:[/FONT][FONT="] Alan Checca. D.O.B: 04/27/1967. Age: 43. [/FONT][FONT="]524 North Chestnut Street, Derry, PA 15627, Wife: Kristin, 2 children: Johnathon 20, and Jessica 17. [/FONT][FONT="]Volunteer services I have worked with: Forest Hill / Chalfant Rescue 8 , Monreovelle FDC #1 , North Huntington Rescue 8 , Derry VFD, The County Sheriff Reserve Unit. Currently working as a sign maker and have for the past 20 years. I have had to scale back hours from full time to a few hours a week due to health issues. I am still volunteering with the Sheriff Reserve Unit and on a medical leave from North Huntingdon Rescue 8.[/FONT]
