First off, I must commend Governor Bill Ritter and the Colorado Legislature for pushing through a change to prevent predatory lending in Colorado. If you pay attention to this stuff at all you will find that Colorado has the had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation for most of the last year or so. This is really sad because a lot of people were not educated on what they were really getting into. Sure some of that falls on the consumer, but when you are intentionally getting someone into something that is going to f them over in a few years, well you are a jerk.

The new law requires mortgage brokers to be licensed and the rules around it are nice. It seems on news articles posted today most Realtors and existing mortgage houses are pleased with the change. Legit businesses and brokers have nothing to worry about, it’s just those scum bags that roll in from out of state trying to pounce on people. So yay, something good. Now hopefully we can work our way off that foreclosure list.

Now onto other things in the news, Andrew Speaker, it’s all over the place. The TB patient who terrified a nation. Ha, the damn media loves to spin shit and create mass hysteria. Granted I was a little concerned at first, but as usual the news loves to report on only some of the details and not all. Now we seem to have the whole story and it’s really not that sensational after all. Sure there are very real concerns about passengers on those flights and anyone else he may have been in contact with, but everything is being followed up on.

I bring this up because I spend at least one day a month at National Jewish where he is currently in isolation being treated for his extreme drug resistant TB. I was there last week before he arrived and I asked a ultrasound tech what the feeling was in the hospital. This was down in radiology and he told me some of the folks were nervous and talking about donning multiple masks and all that. I was a little concerned because this institution deals with patients like this all the time. So if they are worried should I be?

I was back there yesterday and things were much different, the media presence is absurd. What a bunch of assholes, yeah I mean you media asstards. There is a guy from the media sitting in the patient waiting area using the phone for patients to call in his report while people wait for their appointments. Granted he technically wasn’t doing anything illegal and couldn’t be made to leave, but show some God damn respect for people. These news reporters are so concerned about themselves and their careers they don’t care about the impact it has on others. National Jewish is a leading research hospital, they have a lot of very sick people come in and out of those doors, people who may even have something far worse than TB. National Jewish deals with TB patients all the time, and has a history as a Sanitarium for TB patients in their past.

My point here is I understand the and respect (to an extent) freedom of the press, without that America would not be so great. However, sometimes we need to step back and think about someone other than ourselves. That reporter could have asked to use a private room to make the call instead of doing in front of patients. NJ is a great place, they are very compassionate and understand these types of things. I just wish the folks working for media outlets shared the same compassion for human life.

I will preface this post, as I am a hypocrite sort of. A long time ago I gave blood, it was a less than pleasant experience. However I did it. I felt proud about doing something to help others. The only problem, after that experience I stopped giving blood. Mainly because I thought about how horrible I felt after the fact (physically). I have always promoted and encouraged people to donate blood.

Now I am an a situation in my life where I depend on those that donate blood and blood products. I get my insurance statement each time I get an infusion. Each infusion costs approximately $6,700 of that about $6,300 is for the actual blood product I receive. Granted the hope is in the future costs will come down as processes improve, but part of the cost has to do with supply.

I am fortunate that my insurance covers these costs (for now). They may not in the future and for many other patients, they can’t get coverage or just don’t have insurance.

I am a prime example of an excuse maker, “I don’t like the way I feel afterwards” or “next time.” The fact of the matter is donating blood and blood products (plasma) is not just about helping people that are in accidents or surgeries, but helping people with all sorts of needs.

For instance I receive infusions of IgG. The product I received comes from hundreds or thousands of donors. People exposed and immune to various colds and other illnesses. This is used to build up my deficient immune system. There are many many many people who are in much worse of a situation than I am and need these same types of infusions.

Stop into a cancer center any day of the week and you’ll see cancer patients who immune systems are shot from their cancer treatments. They receive these same types of infusions. There are children born with the same deficiency I have who need this as well.

While you can’t direct where your donation goes in this case, because of what is needed, just giving blood and blood products helps keep a balance. It’s not really asking that much.

Now before everyone jumps down my throat, sure, this sounds typical. The guy who wouldn’t help is now asking for it. That is a fair statement. I am not the only one though. It is human nature to avoid things we either don’t understand or don’t enjoy. Sometimes one has to overlook the small negative impact something like donating blood has on their body because of the benefit it creates for many others. Kind of like the theory of Utility.

Obviously it will always be an individual decision, and some people can’t give blood for various reasons. Some just don’t want to. That is just a fact of life. All I ask is if you are capable of giving blood, and you just keep putting it off, don’t. Most office buildings, malls and hospitals do blood drives throughout the year. It doesn’t take much time and it does make a big impact on many different lives. Don’t be like me, making excuses then finding that you are in need and being the person asking others to donate. It is an awkward feeling and doesn’t seem fair.

Here are some links on donating blood and other products (plasma):

• American Red Cross
• Bonfils Blood Center - Colorado
• How is Plasma Used?
• Blood Products

I am in such a foul mood, I think I’ll try and bring you all down with me. I had to get a CT scan today. If you have ever had one of your abdomen before you’ll know how much it sucks. You have to drink Barium and lots of it to coat your stomach and intestines. Since Barium has zero nutritional value once it gets through your system, it wants out. One way or another it wants out, and it’s coming out one end or the other.

So you lay there, trying to take your mind off the notion that if you cough you just might crap the table with this lovely liquid you spent an hour drinking 4 bottles of. After suffering through 20 minutes of passing back and forth through the halo holding your breath you are done and free to go.

Free to go really means, go get changed and find a bathroom ASAMFP. Of course if you are shy finding a bathroom is a challenge because, well lets just say, the train is coming into the station and it ain’t stopping. Having others around can be a bit uncomfortable as there are often unpleasant noises accompanying the expulsion of Barium.

Ok, now if that didn’t just brighten you say maybe this will. Sitting at a hospital all day waiting for tests and other appointments you see a lot of things. Mostly they elderly, which bothers me enough. Namely because it makes you think of your own mortality, but at the same time it makes you sad because you never want to see people that are sick. However, today was worse because sitting near me were three different families with infant children waiting for CT or X-rays. X-rays aren’t that big of a deal but the CTs are and I feel so bad for those little babies and their parents.

I always get the comment from the older folk that I am too young to be going through any of this garbage, but in reality it’s these infants and young children who are really too young. They haven’t lived their lives yet and already they are struggling.