DuPage vigil: Health care for all

When Janice Grimm was diagnosed with a brain cyst last week, the doctor turned to her and wanted to schedule a follow-up appointment in three months to make sure it was not cancerous.

There was only one problem: her health insurance runs out in 2 1/2 months.

The 46-year-old Naperville resident has been on supplemental health insurance since she was let go at her job of 11 years nearly 18 months ago.

"I'm scared to death," she said. "The clock is ticking and I don't know what I am going to do."

About 12 members of a Naperville church held a candlelight vigil on the corner of Washington Street and Benton Avenue as part of a national event aimed at supporting health care for everybody. A September Harvard study claims 45,000 deaths each year are linked to a lack of health care.

The First Congregational United Church of Christ members held signs encouraging drivers to support health care for everybody. Grimm's sign said "I lose my health care in 73 days."

With pre-existing conditions that include asthma and brain surgery 17 years ago - as well as the newly diagnosed cyst - Grimm knows it will be difficult to get coverage. However, she said that her personal story did not contribute to her attendance at the vigil.

"Even if I still had my job, I'd still be here," she said.

The national debate over public health care has been contentious and animated. During a Congressional recess in August, town hall meetings throughout the country ended in shouting matches between those against health care reform and those who support it.

The anger has died down since then as plans start trickling out of Congressional committees, many including concessions from both sides.

Despite the disagreements, the Rev. Greg Scheck Skiba of the First Congregational said the vigil may be political in that he hopes citizens are concerned about the outcome. But he said the vigil was not partisan because the group did not show support for a specific plan. They just hoped for health care that would make it possible for everyone to afford health care.

"It's about trying to provide services to the citizens of our country," he said.