My Father's Story - Part 2

This is part 2 of my documentary short that describes my father's journey through the social medical system in Italy. Far from flawless, this social health care system allowed my father to have medical assistance until his death. Without social health care, my father would have died at home of a common cholecystitis.

In the process of assisting my father, I lost my job and my health insurance. I basically had to put my life on hold in order to stay next to my father.

It's been the darkest chapter on my entire life. I felt vulnerable like never before. But my father taught me the power of hope and perseverance, necessary to reach any goals.

I started a journal during my night shifts, where I tried my best to recollect what happened during those endless 5 months, 3 of which I was physically there, next to my dad, day and night.

With my sisters, my mom and the help of wonderful assistant nurses we were able to be next to my dad 24/7, unless he was in intensive care, where almost no one was allowed.

He couldn't move much. His body, stiffened by 10 years of Parkinson's, prevented him to properly move his legs and his arms. We would massage his feet, legs, arms, hands and back on a daily basis to avoid skin sore and infections.

During those 5 months, I couldn't stop thinking about he fact that my father was right all along:
"Everyone deserves a chance to survive, to be assisted by doctors in an emergency medical condition or in a pre-existing one. Simple. We cannot gamble on human life, putting a price tag and a number on each one of us. We cannot let insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations control the "Heath Game". We have to give the choice of abortion to women who need it for medical and serious personal issues."
These were his words. I honor his life. A generous, kind man, who only brought peace and love to his family and friends.

A video on Youtube might not change the minds of those who are still in doubt regardin Universal Health Care Reform, but I hope at least it will plant the seed of compassion, necessary for a change.

I love you, Dad.

Enza Sebastiani
www.enzasebastiani.com

Shot with an isight and a consumer digital camera, edited in iMovie 8.0.5 by Enza Sebastiani.

No copyright infringement intended as this video was produced exclusively for educational and non-profit purposes.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Health
• Care
• Reform
• My
• Father's
• Story
• Part
• Italy
• Rome
• San Camillo
• Forlanini
• Parkinson's
• cholecystitis
• gallbladder
• stones
• reform
• senate
• house of representatives
• washington D.C.
• government
• pelosi
• public option
• imovie 8.0.5
• apple
• isight

[Lotusblossom1967]

Thank you for sharing your father, your family and your story with us all. I too would be proud to have had a father such as yours. Thank you Enza. XXX

[ih8u2be]

@Lotusblossom1967 thank you for your kind note. Yep. I have been definitely lucky to have him in my life. :)

[ZOEgirlXO]

Wow....thank you for sharing. This brought tears to my eyes as it reminded me much of my own father who spent a very difficult 6 months battling multiple myeloma and kidney failure secondary to it. Although health care was not an issue in his case, the perserverance seen in both my dad and your father is amazing...and just as I am sure you are, I am so happy to have been able to have him in my life but also that he is no longer suffer -- and I know I will see him one day again.

[ih8u2be]

@ZOEgirlXO thank you for your kind comment. One day we will all be together again...

[bkbkcat]

If I can find the way how to make video, I also want to make one for my pa and mom, I miss them. your story make me remember them.... thanks... you good daughter.

[ih8u2be]

@bkbkcat Thank you for leaving your comment. Yes, I miss my dad dearly, but I feel his presence on a daily basis.

[ih8u2be]

@samboodee: thank you. blessings to you and yours too!

[Yusser89]

thank you for sharing this..Actually my father( who was in perfect health condition and never suffered from any disease) had suddenly suffered heart attack and stroke, and then bedridden for 3 years. We were with him, taking care of him. We did what we could do, but he was dying. He passed away in July 2010.

The difference is that in countries such as Libya, Jordan, and Malaysia, most of the nurses are not as you described. They are from different category, feeling less, devils not angels!

[Chris112ize]

I am so sorry for you. :( Although he is gone to a better place.:)

[riquediz]

he is an a better place no pain or anything. And he will always is looking at you from up there so dont be so worried hope i helped

R.I.P