It’s sad that Grassley didn't back health plan

I am disappointed that Sen. Chuck Grassley could not find the compassion to support health care reform.

Last October, my daughter had Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a severe auto immune response, usually to an antibiotic, where your immune system starts attacking you in addition to attacking the antibiotic. Your skin peels off similar to a second-degree burn and your mucous membranes slough off from your eyeballs, to mouth, to throat, to stomach, to intestines, and beyond.

She spent eight days in the burn unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Since she has already suffered from this life-threatening disease, she would have been denied health insurance coverage on the grounds of a pre-existing condition. Since she would have been denied coverage, she would have been consigned to a life of worry, medical-induced poverty and possibly even premature death.

With the courageous vote of the Democrats in Congress, my daughter will not be denied coverage and will not face such a grim and uncertain future.

What has me disgusted, in the run-up to the vote, is that Grassley scared people with talk of death panels. My burning question: Are you on my daughter's death panel?

Tim O'Brien

Fayette