Why This Woman Who Died Needs Health Care

Editor's note: This story was submitted by Tamara Maze Gallman. She works at the Department of Health and Human Services.

In 2004, I went to work for the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. I was excited to begin my job and loved all the possibilities. I still remember attending employee orientation and completing my new employee paperwork. For my health insurance, I chose the least expensive and least amount of health coverage. I was 31 years old and thought I was healthy. At that time, I believed health care was something I could worry about later. It wouldn’t affect me.

But on May 4, 2011, that changed. My home in Rockville, Maryland, was destroyed by a natural gas explosion. The catastrophic event rocked the neighborhood.

At 3 a.m. that night my husband and I woke up on the lawn of our home with a fire blazing around us and massive debris scattered across the lawn. The explosion ripped through the house and ejected us from the second story of the home, and we landed in the backyard. Pieces of our home rained down on us while we were still trying to figure out what was going on.

We were both rushed to the closest trauma hospital, Washington Hospital Center. Thankfully, my husband had minor injuries. While in the ER, I died and was revived by the emergency room staff. They discovered several things were wrong with me. Second- and third-degree burns to my foot, leg and right arm; numerous fractures throughout my body, including my neck and most of my ribs; my pelvis was completely shattered; my spine was severed; and my leg was broken. I also had fluid in my brain and suffered two strokes. I lost the equivalent of half my body weight in blood and had to get numerous blood transfusions.

Since that day, I continue to have numerous and ongoing health issues, including being paralyzed and living as a paraplegic. I have had 26 surgeries — and maybe more to come – some minor, but most of them major.

I have been in and out of rehabilitation and acute-care hospitals averaging a hospital stay at least twice a year. I estimate I have probably spent at least 450 days of my life in a hospital since the accident. I often see my neighborhood emergency room once a month. I have dealt with multiple hospital infections that have required extensive medical treatments. I am considered medically fragile and a complex case. I have so many rods, pins, medical devices and metal plates in my body that my friends jokingly call me the bionic woman.

One day I was healthy and paid into an insurance plan that I very rarely used. Then, I became one of the millions of people whose life is completely dependent on access and use of excellent health care. I imagine when people mention rising health care costs they maybe picture someone like me. I can’t give you an exact number, but I’m almost certain I have millions of dollars in medical costs.

And, I sometimes feel like a burden on the system and ask myself: What is a life worth?

Before the accident, I didn’t even have a primary care physician. Now, I have five doctors, three of which are specialists. I have home health aides as well as physical and occupational therapists. Despite the drama I have endured in the last few years, and the emotional upheaval regarding my health, I feel blessed.

One of the many reasons I feel blessed is because I have excellent health care.

I still work for the federal government and therefore have health insurance; I’ve never had to choose between eating and purchasing my medication. I have never once gone to the doctor and had a life-saving procedure denied. I have never had to worry about a break in my health coverage.

There is no doubt that I would be dead if it were not for the presence of God in my life and excellent health care. I have listened to the health care debate and heard both arguments. I understand that health care is expensive. I am a living example of the complicated nature of health care and its policies.

But, I want people to stop and take a minute to talk with one another and actually listen. Many of us have our own stories and lessons learned that can really shape and improve health care policy. We need to start asking the people the right questions so we get better answers. I truly believe we can improve this system, and we must not give up until we find something that will work for everyone. I think it’s possible. Some would say if this happens it would be a miracle.

Well, I believe in miracles, I can’t help it. I’ve already died once, and I'm still here to tell my story.

Tamara Maze Gallman contributed to this article as a citizen and not as government employee. The views expressed are her own and do not represent the views of the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States Government.

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