Health Care Talk (HCTalk.com)

[Denver Dave]

message from John Dunegan

NAME: John Dunegan

EMAIL: john_dunegan@yahoo.com

ZIP: 80222

Senator Aguilar

Thank you for your efforts to bring health care reform to our state. I am
offering to tell you our story should you need more people to testify on behalf of the bill in the future.

My baby girl, Aine (Awn-ya) spent a week in Children\'s Hospital in February of 2010 with RSV Bronchiolitis. She actually had to be taken to Children's from our family doctor by ambulance. I've never even been in an ambulance before, and now I was riding in one with my baby as the patient. I've never been more terrified than I was that day.

There were a couple of scary moments in the hospital, including once when she was surrounded by 5 doctors and nurses trying to help her breathe. Until you've been there, seeing your child surrounded like this, I don't think anyone can appreciate the feelings I had during this time.

She did recover, and we did leave the hospital the morning after watching the 2010 Super Bowl from her hospital room. Later in 2010, we tried to get private insurance as neither my wife and I had insurance through our employers. We were turned down twice as they considered a 17 month old baby uninsurable because of the previous hospitalization.

We have had to apply for the state insurance for children and are awaiting approval just hoping that something doesn't happen in the interim.

There is something completely wrong with a system that denies health insurance to babies. It's not just broken, it's corrupt and unethical and I would relish the opportunity to expose it for what it truly is.

Thank you again,

John R. Dunegan
Denver