Check On Jim

Happy 32nd Birthday

Dad — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:41 +0000

Today is Jim’s birthday — 32 years old. It has been over 2 years and 8 months since the transplant. Jim has gained considerable weight and is looking and feeling good. He is busy working on his projects and his company. There is much to celebrate today.

Jim Improving

Dad — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:15:26 +0000

Glad to report that Jim is improving this evening and was able to eat. He also gave his presentation as scheduled this afternoon. Jim is scheduled to return home tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Jim Sick In NYC

Dad — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:30:24 +0000

Jim is in New York City tonight attending a conference — just found out that he is sick. He has aches and is throwing up but no fever — not sure what is wrong. We hope it is not the flu — or the swine flu. Jim missed his conference today trying to take care of himself. Jim is suppose to give a presentation tomorrow at 2pm and then leave Wednesday morning. Jim is monitoring his temperature and taking medicine for the congestion.

Two Year Anniversary

Dad — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:00:10 +0000

Today is the two year anniversary of Jim’s double lung transplant, and it still amazes me every time I see Jim.

Jim Over Flu and Celebrating

Dad — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:45:47 +0000

Jim is over his flu. Today, Jim and the rest of the family are celebrating the new President Obama. Hurrah!

Jim has Flu

Dad — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:47:26 +0000

Jim caught the flu a couple of days ago. He is taking some over the counter cough suppressant medicine and the coughing is under control. Yet, Jim has the typical flu symptoms, including aches in his legs.

What’s Happening with Jim?

Dad — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:24:33 +0000

I decided to post an update since it has been a while. Jim is gaining weight and is doing well medically. Also, there has been considerable celebration with the election of soon to be President Obama and Jim has even launched a new web site: whitehouse2.org. You can also follow his weekly youtube commentary and see recent videos of Jim in the digital flesh.

The entire Gilliam clan is looking forward to universal health care soon — there will be some serious celebrating when that happens.

Here is some exciting news about an organ transplant where the organ was grown from the person’s own stem cells. Too bad the Bush administration has been blocking stem cell research in the US. Be glad to get Bush out of office.

The second anniversary of Jim’s lung transplant is just a few months away.

Happy Birthday Jim

Dad — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:22:41 +0000

Today is Jim’s 31st birthday and I am pleased to report that Jim is doing well. He has gained a lot of weight and has good energy. With so much turmoil going on in the world, it is nice to have something great to celebrate. There is hope for the future and it begins on November 4th. I hope everybody votes wisely — millions of people need health care in this country. It’s a right and the right thing to do.

Have a good birthday, Jim.

Documentary about our struggle with health insurance

Jim — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 02:34:02 +0000

Jim here. My story and my Dad (who normally does the posting around here) are featured in a short film by Christopher Sprinkle (This Brave Nation) that is premiering Sunday evening in 300 house parties and online at Firedoglake.com at 7pm ET.

We’ll post the video here when it’s available. You can watch the trailer now:

Brave New Films made this in concert with the Healthcare for America NOW coalition, a big media and organizing campaign to, well, you know.

I’m very proud of my Dad for getting involved in the film, and telling the truth about the scams the healthcare insurance companies are pulling on the American people.

One-Third of Uninsured Are Chronically Ill

Dad — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:39:32 +0000

A new study is out on the uninsured with the shocking result that 1/3 of the uninsured are chronically ill. This is a health care disaster:

“These people are going to end up with complications of their illnesses prematurely. They will be disabled early. They will probably die younger. It is a major public health disaster,” said Dr. Oliver Fein, president-elect of Physicians for a National Health Program and professor of clinical medicine and public health at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. “Longer-term, there will be expensive admissions to hospitals, usually through the emergency department, due to diabetes out of control and congestive heart failure because of hypertension.”

I doubt if the actual number of people who died due to lack of health care will ever be known, but this period of denying health care to the population will eventually be viewed as hideous and despicable. Meanwhile, politicans like McCain (and most other Republicans) believe they should be entitled to great health care while denying it to millions of others.