Words from the Coalition: Reactions to Deborah Shank’s Story

We wanted to share with you a sampling of the responses we’ve recieved from our campaign to raise money for the Shank family. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far - and additional thanks to those of you who have given us feedback, shared your stories and told us your experience with Wal-Mart’s health care plan.

• “This same thing happened to my wife also. She has a terminal lung disease and is currently in the hospital now, because of complications from a botched gallbladder surgery. We sued the doctor, but my walmart insurance stepped in and took our settlement money. I am a manager at walmart, and i can’t believe that the company that I work for, could do this to me , and my family, but they did. I still have to work for them, because I need the insurance for my wife’s constant hospital stays. My life is ruined because of all of the debt that I am in, through no fault of my own. if you want to know how much walmart cares for families, just talk to my wife or me, and you will hear the truth.we were victimized first by the medical system and then by my own employer. i don’t know how the walton family, and the corporate leaders at walmart, can sleep at night. they should all be ashamed of themselves.”
• “I have a sister that was seriously injured recently in an accident at her local Wal-wort store. You might be interested in how the store and the corporation responded. If so, contact me and I will put you in contact with her, if you choose, with her permission.”
• “After watching this video, my heart went out to the Shanks and my respect for Wal-Mart has lowered even more! No sane person (pardon me, that wasn’t meant to be a pun) would ever do something as cruel and hateful as what Wal-Mart did to Deborah Shanks. Though I’m a bit to young to give a donation to her family by myself, I hope prayers are enough for right now!!”

• “Deborah Shank’s story is indeed a tragic one, a disgrace that anyone anywhere, but especially here in the “rich” United States, should become bankrupt through injuries, especially those incurred by someone else’s negligence.  I totally sympathize with the urge to create a private fund to help her.  Altruism is to be encouraged at all levels to create a kinder, more supportive society.  Some of our most rewarding moments as a family have been those we have shared with the less fortunate.  This morning, for example, a teenager from Honduras who needed a new prosthetic eye, flew back home after spending almost two months with our family as a Healing the Children host family.  We all gained tremendously from her presence and she now looks wonderful with her new eye.  However, when changes need to be made at the systemic level, which is painfully obvious with our health care “system”, I believe charity can actually be counterproductive.  For every Deborah Shank who benefits from a well-publicized campaign on her behalf, there are many, many more languishing in despair.  The solution is to change laws, and change societal priorities.  Charity in these kinds of cases only postpones the changes that urgently need to be made. Thank you for all that you do.”
• “Wal-mart destroys lives they went into the small town I lived in and built a store, forcing the small business to close and go out of business leaving my home town a ghost town. Then they cut off their layaways and forcing single moms to sturggle even more to buy their children Christmas presents...they take all the cheaper products off their shelves leaving us to have to buy the things that cost more.” - Tjuana Boulanger
• “We should make Wal-Mart step up and pay for the care that Deborah earned by being a contributing employee...if we stand together and fight we can bring justice not only to Deborah but all of us who have seen their health benefits and retirement shrink or completely disappear...Come on America its time to fight for our EARNED rights!!!!”
• “I am a nurse and was shocked to see that you only want to raise $10,000 for Deborah Shanks’s medical expenses!  With the high and rising cost of health care, and with her expensive medical needs and life-long dependent continueous care, it may pay her expenses for only about one to (at the most) three months.  She needs more like a million or more! Please consider raising the amount considerably.  If Wal-Mart Watch can only contribute $5,000 (which is very generous of you but she still needs a whole lot more), then, maybe you could say that you will contribute “X” amount with a goal of reaching over a million dollars (or something like that).”
• “What is the United States coming too?  Wake up people!! Hearing about Deborah Shank makes my stomach ache and very angry.  Because we all need to support ourselves/family doesn’t mean a business has the right to take unfair advantage of our efforts in make money for that business. One hand washes the other.  YOU THINK!  The underhanded tactics and back stabbing employees by businesses is at best illegal and so so sad sad sad...”
• “I work for Wal-Mart, employed by, and have not brought home a pay check for 3 months due to a job related accident that workmans’ comp will not pay.  The doctor released me for light work but until the doctor releases me in full, even though I’m still employed, Wal-Mart says they have no work but will hold my passion until I’m released.  I will never be released in full until the injury is repaired.  I’d love to help Deborah and my heart goes out to her and family, but with what.  All my best to the Shank family.”

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Friday, November 30, 2007

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