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 9000
Needles (Documentary)
Starring Dearth family
Directed by: Doug Dearth
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9000 Needles
9000 Needles
is both an inspirational and a frustrating journey. Devin Dearth
has had a stroke. He is breathing through a tube – but comes
back from near death.
Then he begins
physical therapy and the battle with his insurance company. Almost
immediately the restrictions start and his assistance is up. He
is sent home to deal with it.
His loving
family does not know what to do. Devin is a 200 pound ex-body
building champion; he is no wilting flower even as his body wilts
like a dandelion in a heat wave. His wife is petite and just due
to physics, she is not able to (literally) carry the burden, his
caring brothers are each willing but around the clock care is
becoming impossible.
Devin’s
brother Doug discovers a program in China that addresses stroke
recuperations like Devin needs. With help from their family’s
church, funds are raised and a wheelchair bound, drooling, nearly
blind Devin leaves for the 12 week program – his family
supporting him via web and switching off physical visits.
Devin receives
a mixture of Western and Eastern medicine that is unheard of in
America. Within a week he can lift a recently paralyzed leg…by
the time he leaves he walks out; albeit assisted.
9000 Needles
references the acupuncture treatments Devin received in China.
His road to rehabilitation is amazing. A “normal”
healthy man is taken down in a moment by a stroke. Healthcare
(?) deserts him. His family mobilizes and helps their own. Without
their love and support, he would be in a state run nursing home,
his family financially destroyed, and – no doubt –
tax payers eventually footing the bill instead of insurance he
bought to protect himself.
The documentary
moving and motivating. “Insurance companies run healthcare,”
is one of the greatest lines of the film. The allowed quotas,
restrictions, and discarding will anger you. Not to get political,
but the film makes you wonder how a few lobbyists have convinced
a nation, that national health care is Socialism, and not just
ethically correct – especially from what the rest of the
world considered a super power.
Snack recommendation:
Organic veggies and humane hormone free anything.
Buy
9000 Needles
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