I Might Not Get to Vote

[KarenC]

I can't believe this is happening! I almost always vote--even in elections that only include local issues. And I've never been more concerned about the outcome of an election in my lifetime. And unless something good happens before Tuesday, I'm not going to be able to vote!

A week ago last Wednesday I went to the doctor. After my blood tests came back, he sent me to the ER. I was admitted for what was supposed to be a couple days' stay to get my platelets up. Unfortunately, I didn't respond to the treatment and I'm on my 11th night in the hospital.

A few days ago I decided to look into absentee voting from the hospital. It was too late to request an absentee ballot by mail and I had to be admitted to the hospital 5 days or less before the election to be able to get someone to pick up a ballot for me.

In the end, it won't really matter. Illinois will go to my candidates for President and Senator whether I vote or not. But the Democratic candidate for state rep's family is deeply involved in a scandal and I really want to vote for the republican candidate for that seat. Plus it feels really awful not to participate.

On a Disney note, my doctor showed me a note he'd put in my chart for the doctors responsible for me at night. It said "sprinkle pixie dust to encourage platelet production". I guess the Disney store (which is just a few blocks away from here) must have been out because it didn't work yet! (Although the REALLY awful reasons to have too few platelets have all been ruled out so I guess the pixie dust is working in the most important way!)

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Originally posted by KarenC
I can't believe this is happening! I almost always vote--even in elections that only include local issues. And I've never been more concerned about the outcome of an election in my lifetime. And unless something good happens before Tuesday, I'm not going to be able to vote!

A week ago last Wednesday I went to the doctor. After my blood tests came back, he sent me to the ER. I was admitted for what was supposed to be a couple days' stay to get my platelets up. Unfortunately, I didn't respond to the treatment and I'm on my 11th night in the hospital.

A few days ago I decided to look into absentee voting from the hospital. It was too late to request an absentee ballot by mail and I had to be admitted to the hospital 5 days or less before the election to be able to get someone to pick up a ballot for me.

In the end, it won't really matter. Illinois will go to my candidates for President and Senator whether I vote or not. But the Democratic candidate for state rep's family is deeply involved in a scandal and I really want to vote for the republican candidate for that seat. Plus it feels really awful not to participate.

On a Disney note, my doctor showed me a note he'd put in my chart for the doctors responsible for me at night. It said "sprinkle pixie dust to encourage platelet production". I guess the Disney store (which is just a few blocks away from here) must have been out because it didn't work yet! (Although the REALLY awful reasons to have too few platelets have all been ruled out so I guess the pixie dust is working in the most important way!)

KarenC, I'm sending some pixie dust both for those stubborn platelets and that you get to exercise your right to vote!

 

[DisMN]

Would it be possible to get out for a few hours to go vote? I remember when I used to work at the hospital, we'd have patients who would leave for a family birthday or something special and come back later in the evening.

As of last night my husband thought he wouldn't be able to vote either because they gave out a new schedule for him at work. After a few phone calls to check out his options we've figured out a solution for him....I hope you have similar luck!


I'm sorry that you're platelets are doing weird things to you. Hope the docs get it figured out and that you can get back to normal soon! My mom has an unexplained platelet "thing" going on and all the bad reasons have been ruled out for her too....it's just a matter of keeping track of when they get low now and giving a transfusion when necessary. Platelet pixie dust and prayers headed your way.

 

[LoraJ]

The most important thing is for you to get better. P & PD for you.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Wishing you the best, Karen. I do hope you get to vote, but more importantly, I hope you get well very soon.

 

[KarenC]

I talked to the doctors about leaving to vote...they aren't encouraging because if I get bumped around bad things could happen. My brother, an MD, warns me that if I leave AMA my insurance company might get picky about paying bills and believe me...I'm going to need insurance to cover this stay! Just the medicine that they are giving me is multiple thousands per dose.

Thanks for the pixie dust all. DisMN...there's a law that employers must give you time off to vote...hope you get that worked out.

 

[DisMN]

Originally posted by KarenC
I talked to the doctors about leaving to vote...they aren't encouraging because if I get bumped around bad things could happen. My brother, an MD, warns me that if I leave AMA my insurance company might get picky about paying bills and believe me...I'm going to need insurance to cover this stay! Just the medicine that they are giving me is multiple thousands per dose.

Thanks for the pixie dust all. DisMN...there's a law that employers must give you time off to vote...hope you get that worked out.

Oh bummer about not being able to leave but I agree with the others, your health is more important.

We know about hubbys work place HAVING to give time off but it does come down to the fact that it just might be impossible for him to leave the job site......something they didn't know soon enough for him to be able to get an absentee ballot.
They are working with him though to find a solution and if we time it like clockwork he'll get his opportunity to vote.

Good luck with those platelets!!

 

[jfulcer]

That's a bummer. At least you knew your vote would have counted. DW and I will be cancelling each other out on election day, so I might as well not vote. I'm hoping she thinks the same thing and doesn't vote and I will and my vote will actually count.

 

[DisMN]

Originally posted by jfulcer
That's a bummer. At least you knew your vote would have counted. DW and I will be cancelling each other out on election day, so I might as well not vote. I'm hoping she thinks the same thing and doesn't vote and I will and my vote will actually count.

ohhhhhh SNEAKY!!!!!!!!

 

[poohandwendy]

See, now that makes me mad...anyone who is hospitalized should be allowed to vote via absentee ballot as long as they make sure to turn it in on time...no matter how long they have been in the hospital. There should be no deadline for picking up the ballot, IMHO.

That rule is stupid....

I hope you feel better and can get out of the hospital soon!

 

[Maray]

a speedy recovery.
11 days stay?
Listen Missy, they would not keep you that long if it wasn't necessary.
So you just take it easy and get well, ya hear.?

If the election is lost or won by ONE vote.... then we will all come yelling at you,LOL, okay?

Seriously, take care and I understand your disappointment.
Maybe the pixie dust will kick in soon and you will be released Tues. We'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Keep us updated.

Hugs, Marilyn

 

[luvthatduke]

Prayers & Pixie Dust - hope all is well very soon for you!
I agree w/others that your health is most important,
but I sure wish there was a way you & others could vote.
It really doesn't seem fair...

Blessings &

 

[SoonerKate]

KarenC -- Please call your local League of Women Voters.

Your situation is not unique. You will be able to vote, most likely through an emergency absentee ballot. You can find your local league here: http://www.lwvil.org/local_leagues/ . They will know how to help you and exactly what to do.

 

[KarenC]

Well, it worked out! They let me out of the hospital yesterday. I'm not out of the woods, if I have any more bruises I'll have to go back, but I am so happy to be home. I don't know what lies ahead for me, but for now I'm going to assume that I am going to continue to get better and this is only a temporary bump in the road. I'll deal with anything other than that when I have to. I feel fine, except for the biopsy site. And so far, the mega doses of prednisone I'm taking aren't making me crazy.

Just in case my time at home is only temporary, I've already gone to the village hall and filled out my absentee ballot. I feel much better that I got to vote. I think the rule about hospitalization within 5 days of election day is just plain wrong!

And I felt like Rip Van Winkle coming home from the hospital. In the 11 days I'd been away, the tree in my backyard went from green leaves to bare. And Kerry Edwards signs sprouted all over my traditionally Republican neighborhood--with only 1 Bush Cheney sign the whole way home!

 

[Microcell]

Glad to hear that you got to vote. Now if you could only feel better!

My Bush Cheny sign mysteriously disappeared along with the rest of the neighborhoods. There are more Kerry signs because the mentality of the other side is more mature!

 

[Mary Ellen]

KarenC - Your situation is another reason I like early voting - you never know what could prevent one from getting to the polls - weather, illness, accident.....

 

[wilderness01]

My Bush Cheny sign mysteriously disappeared along with the rest of the neighborhoods. There are more Kerry signs because the mentality of the other side is more mature!

Oh come on, that is a stretch don't you think? It is just the opposite in our neighborhood, ALL the Bush/Cheney signs are up and the Kerry signs were torn down and thrown on the side of the roads. I'm sure you don't call that mature now do you? Just because one or two people act like idiots does not mean that a person voting one way or not is an idiot. The elitism of SOME people who post here who are obviously voting for the Bush is just amazing.

Now I did find it interesting that they showed on the news how they set up a sting of sorts with hired people to show up at Bush or Kerry's rallies wearing the other canditates t-shirt. At the Kerry rally there were two people dancing around the people with signs so you couldn't see their shirt. Weird yes. Wrong yes. BUT at the Bush rally the people were escorted out by an armed police officer. How is that for mature? At neither rally did this people open their mouths. It was all caught on tape. So how is that explained? Just like the wrinkle in Bush's back at the first debate was explained? Or his lack of service to this country and NOT serving in Vietnam? Oh yes, those records are missing and can't be proved. Give me a break. There are immature people on both sides, just not one party.

I for one can't wait until this election is over and the country can move forward.

 

[KarenC]

For the record, I hadn't heard of any complaints of yard sign vandalism around town. We're still pretty civil around here. But I was quite surprised to see the large number of Kerry Edwards signs in front of homes that are worth at least $600,000 to over $1,000,000. I wasn't seeing Gore signs in front of these houses in 2000.

 

[wilderness01]

large number of Kerry Edwards signs in front of homes that are worth at least $600,000 to over $1,000,000. I wasn't seeing Gore signs in front of these houses in 2000.

 

[wilderness01]

KarenC,

Glad you are out of the hospital. Hope you are all better soon.