My Story: Our Health Care Day of Service
From volunteer Nancy Peden, as part of our MyStory series: On Saturday June 27 I joined others in our community for a day of service as the President and First Lady have asked of us. I chose to work with health care as I have had lots of experience with surgeries, not enough insurance and my father was a family doctor.
Our offering, The Five Wishes, which we gave away freely, is a medical directive for how one would like to be treated if unable to speak for oneself. It was recommended by Shary Farr, our Congressman's wife. I felt my personal experience and our offering would be a good way to connect deeply with our community. I was not wrong. With the health care issue, people seem hungry for understanding and empowerment.
The location I chose was the Wellness Fair, the first ever, at The American Tin Cannery. This small shopping mall is just a block from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but has lost many tenants due to the downturn. I imagine now that there will be more Wellness Fairs in the future as it seemed a very good use of the space.
The Wellness Fair was a good match also for our table with our banner asking, in Obama-like design, What are your five wishes?
From the beginning when I had been contacted by the fair managers, we all felt it was a good "fit" for the health fair. Keeping fit and taking responsiblity for one's life, and having the quality of one's life decided by oneself and one's family, were the fair's obvious themes. So beyond learning of the many excellent health practictioners we have, getting cholesterol checked, watching doubles yoga, getting a massage from our Community College Massage program, discussing death, health care and the Five Wishes fit right in. And it was all free.
At about noon, the Pacific Grove Mayor Dan Cort, an avid runner, said a few words about the positive energy of the event and pointedly noticed that this was a day of service for health care issues.
I had little problem giving out my 50 copies of the Five Wishes and had many very moving conversations about the ups and downs of end of life issues. I felt privileged to hear the stories. (I purposely set up near a comfortable bench.) A couple of folks came by specifically because they knew I was there with The Five Wishes, which was a treat.
Of all the people I spoke with only one gentleman, an ex service man, was rude, not to me, but about Obama and health legislation. Laura, my lovely table mate, and I were able to take his obvious anger in stride. He bragged of the great health coverage he has for his twenty two years of service. I wish I had had a nice way to remind him that taxpayers made that possible and I am glad he has good health care as we all deserve.
I want to thank Shary Farr for her brilliant suggestion of our offering and as a way to continue the health care conversation.
The Five Wishes was an excellent offering to our community especially at this type of event. The attendees were of many cultures and some were tourists. Talking health care issues in this way, surrounded by "health nuts" and giving something so valuable seems to me a very good use of our day of service. Hopefully, we as a community can continue to serve so creatively and usefully.
More stories from our community on our My Story page.
