I work in hospice, and can’t describe the anger and sadness I have at moments. I say moments because if I let it fester I’d be of no help.

Like the young woman that recently passed - a few years ago she was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure in her 30s, so had to go on medication. Shortly after she lost her job and couldn’t afford it, so quit talking her meds. Next thing you know she had a stroke. A couple years later she has complications leading to another event, and now she’s dead.

Because lifesaving medicine and healthcare is too expensive, parents watched their child die.

If I remember correctly, the money goes to a guardian for the benefit of the child.

20 years ago I knew someone who’s husband was on a motorcycle and was run over and killed by a commercial truck driver (I think he was falling sleep or something.) She was a stay-at-home mom of 4 kids at the time. In the end between the settlement and the social security, she was able to continue to stay home to raise the children and college wasn’t going to be a problem either.

I haven’t thought of that family in years. In typing that out, I’m realizing that the American dream is still alive and well! Kids just have to be ready to sacrifice one of their parents to get it.

I just build ovens for a living, I didn’t think they’d actually use them.