JIMBLOG#2: The Recovery Begins

[Note: In the first installment of this blog series, we learned that Jim Freeman, one of our stalwart volunteers, had seriously injured his leg while working as a self-employed carpenter. He had to undergo major surgery, and now is recuperating at home in Verona. Because he has no health insurance, his story is a reminder of the issues that will continue to burden Mainers until we have universal healthcare in our state. You can send your thoughts and good wishes to Jim at contact@pat2006.com.]

It is now Wednesday morning, and Jimmy has been home for four days. He stayed home to recuperate on Sunday, but on Monday there was a rally in Old Town to highlight the proposed burning of demolition debris at the old Georgia Pacific mill in the middle of town. No matter how much his leg ached, he had to be there.

Overall, Jim's leg is feeling better, and he has been able to decrease the amount of pain medication he is taking. The outing on Monday was tiring, but he wouldn't have missed it if he had been in a cast up to his neck. The ongoing struggle to protect Maine's environment is his first priority.

On Tuesday, Jim stayed home again and rested. Staying home is hard on the pocketbook of the self-employed, but he was not yet ready to go back to work. Having no health insurance creates a complicated situation, because you need to get back to work to pay the medical bills that will be arriving shortly. But, if you go back too soon and have a relapse, then you risk being out of work even longer.

Jim kept his leg raised and followed his doctor's orders as best he could so that he could go to the gubernatorial debate at the Maine Center for the Performing arts. The least he could do was to be there to cheer for Pat, a candidate who will bring universal healthcare to every Mainer.

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