Please help this firefighter

[notstock71]

I am attaching a link to a local news story about a now retired firefighter:
Link:
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/17510619.html

Dale is a wonderful man who always went above and beyond and I can't say enough positive things about him. Dale was forced to retire due to medical conditions he developed while still working. Unfortunately the city of Omaha and Coventry Insurance decided his life is not worth $150,000 which is what he needs for the surgery. Omaha Firefighters local 385 held a fundraiser for Dale and his family late last year and raised much needed money for his family. This post is not asking for donations but instead asking for you to make a phone call. Please call the Mayors office and let them know that not only is Omaha watching their actions but people nationwide. The City needs to reverse their denial and help Dale fight for survival. Hopefully enough phone calls can convince the Mayor to do the right thing.
Omaha Mayors office phone number.
http://www.ci.omaha.ne.us/department...ne/hotline.htm

Thank you for your support!!!

[Mr70]

He's got my dime..

[TDW]

I will call the Mayor.

[firez]

Has his union contacted the IAFF as of yet. I am a 23 year Captain for a full time department and can not believe the story. [censored] in Canada there would be no questions asked,we have guys that retired 20 years ago coming down with work related health problems and they get all the backing needed. I will be at our union meeting this coming monday and I will bring this question up for our president to look into.Find out his Locals # for me . We constantly get scwewed over about contracts etc. but never on health related issues. With all the new chemicals and [censored] heads on the street the job has become a zoo.

[notstock71]

I am sure our local has been pulling all the nescessary cards to help him. Dale was refused any disability on his pension from the pension board. They said since he did lawn work and used chemicals that could be the cause of his lung issues. After the surgery he was doing very well, better than anyone thought he would. The issue of his lungs refusing his body is a fairly recent development. Dale is still covered under the same health care package all active members are. This is in place until age 65. The part that sickens me is that the Mayors office and Coventry Insurance are refusing to cover the bone marrow transplant since it is "experimental". http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif

As I posted earlier we had a fundraiser late last year and thru contributions from other Omaha firefighters and ALOT of community support roughly $150,000 was raised. That money was to help support the family so they could spend as much time with Dale as possible. I am not sure how much is left or if we need to do another fundraiser for them. Time is of the essence as Dale is not doing very well. How the Mayor and Coventry can call a bone marrow transplant "experimental" baffles me and they have basically said his life is not worth the money to do the surgery. I am hopeful that with some "pressure" (for lack of better wording) they will do the right thing here, cover the surgery and give Dale some more time. If you do not want to call there is also a link on the city site to email the Mayor.

Please help spread the word on the horrible actions that are happening. I would appreciate it. I guess in a small way I feel I am helping this great man and giving back a small portion of what he has done for me.
Thank you.

[notstock71]

[ QUOTE ]
Find out his Locals # for me

[/ QUOTE ]
Forgot this, Local 385, Omaha NE

[notstock71]

To those who took the time to call or email the city on Dales behalf, I thank you. The denial has been reversed and the transplant is going to happen.
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/17694564.html

[notstock71]

I thought I would update this. Unfortunately Dale has passed on, his suffering and pain is no more. While the City of Omaha and Coventry Insurance were fighting the transplant Dale came down with an infection that ultimately took his life.
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/19056744.html

[Norm reynolds]

Sorry to hear this, This is so sad because this did not need to happen
I hate it when There is a price tag on a life this is so wrong. And the sad part is it will happen again Hate to say this but this country is really getting worse each day
And our politicians do not even care I just hope some day the American people
Will wake up This should have been token care of with out Question
At lest he is now not in pain and in a better place