The murder of Jeanetta and other issues
July 12, 2014
I am a disabled veteran with a number of health problems since doing my “duty” in the military. My health deteriorated to a the point of feeling that I was near death and was, at that point, dragged into the local emergency room. I didn’t want to go, but my family was very concerned for me. While I was in the waiting room my spine felt that it was on fire with pain and my head throbbed. The TV in the waiting room blared while I tucked my spine into a more comfortable fetal position. My dear spouse talked to the receptionist and filled out papers. At the time, we had no insurance and very little money and we were treated with disrespect. It had been a very worrisome couple weeks of being bedridden and in a great deal of pain, weakness, dizziness and blurred vision, as well as significant weight loss due to loss of appetite.
“So, what’s the problem?” the receptionist asked in a judgemental, whiny tone.
“Maybe Luekemia,” explained my spouse, and to our horror, she laughed in response.
I have been wrestling with weakness, migraines, arthritis, and severe digestive issues for the decade since I have been out of the military, so her cackling was not a welcome response to our humility.
I waited for an agonizing amount of time, longing for my bed back home lacking the blaring television and fluorescent lighting, and then I gathered my strength, and shuffled out of there in shame.
There is something wrong with this picture. Where is the healing and empathy in our health care system. I was treated the same in the urgent care clinic as well. It was a breath of fresh air to find Dr. Nicole Grimm, who truly does have compassion for the ill, and has sought to get to the bottom of my issues.
When I learned about the murder of the mentally disabled woman in the hospital this last week, I was horrified. I can empathasize with this woman’s desperation for respect and sympathy. I am not a weapon carrier and cannot exactly empathize with her pulling out a knife, but I did have a string of verbal weapons that came to mind while waiting in the ER waiting room.
My friend did some of her nursing clinicals at the Bonner General emergency room and said that it was unbelieveable the atrocious gossip that went on with the staff about the patients. Some people, granted, are not truly in need of medical intervention. Some people come because they have no place else to go and they are in need of reassurance. While others just need a smile and love because they are alone in this world and in need of a bit of healing energy. I guess the ER staff is looking only for trauma, and they cannot extend any help to the 95% of the patients who just need a little compassion and interest in their failing bodies.
Our local police acted out shamefully upon this poor citizen. Aren’t they paid through their training to detain people? Haven’t they learned how to detain men with guns? Don’t they have tazors and stun guns? Couldn’t they have wounded the woman instead of murdered her?
They are definitely not understaffed in Sandpoint. I can drive around busy Spokane for a whole day and see no cop car whatsoever. In Sandpoint, however, it is not uncommon for there to be two vehicles side by side with smiling cops enjoying a good chat. We live in a peaceful community and there are more cops per capita than probably 90% of the country. I am afraid, honestly, I mean what if I loose it and get a little mental due to the PTSD I suffer as a veteran? Could I be murdered by a “Peace Officer?”
I pray for the soul of Jeanetta Marie Riley, may she rest in peace (free from the abuse and violence that she was victim to her entire life). If we walked in her shoes and felt what she felt we could be murdered to. I am so sorry that she did not have the opportunity to have the help that she sought. Honestly, what is wrong with this picture?... Hospitals that are annoyed with their patients, and cops murdering the very citizens that they are hired to protect. Are we looking to have a sterile society like Hitler sought, and view all of the needy and disabled as disposable? Who will be humiliated and murdered next?