My dad went by ambulance to Mt. Vernon Hospital around 3 a.m. Saturday morning. I haven't been thinking too much about blogging since Saturday morning. But I'm thankful I have Outrage.com to come home to. My father was released from the hospital tonight - not sure why - but that's my own fault for not heading to Virginia right away. I never thought I'd be the kind of "adult child" that wouldn't drop everything and go running. But both my dad and my mom said to wait - there was nothing I could do while he was in the hospital, my sisters and brother are nearby (my brother lives with my parents) and there would be plenty to do later -- so everyone, including me, said.

Well I've just spent the last three hours trying to find out where all of the "hardware" the hospital ordered for him is tonight. Because it certainly isn't with my dad. He has pneumonia - the result of two fractured ribs sustained in a car accident that was completely the fault of the other driver. My dad grew up indoctrinating us with the mantra "there's no such thing as an accident." And I believed him. Well this one was - and nothing short of a magic wand -- or the other driver actually paying attention -- could have prevented this one.

But the runaround my mother, my sister and I have received tonight from a health care service provider has been beyond outrageous. If the hospital bed doesn't arrive, my dad will have to sleep sitting up in a chair. Odds are he's back in the hospital by the weekend. And don't even get me started about the hospital "care" he received. I knew this when Kevin's parents got sick -- and died -- of cancer a few years ago but I am now more convinced than ever that anyone who is against healthcare reform in this country has either never been a patient in a hospital -- or as never cared about anyone they know that has. It's an outrage of epic proportions.