We begin the Chapter “The Hobbit” by gaining the knowledge that Mary Anne was diagnosed with stage four cancer, stage four being the last step before death. Following after we are introduced to a scene on the pharmacy in which we learn how medicare works and the struggle of a woman without the funds to pay for her mother’s medication. Soon after discovering that Mary Anne took it upon herself to pay for the woman’s bill we learn more about her family. Having had married after an engagement on the first date, we are walked to memory lane as we are told Mary Anne’s careers and how the love her children have for reading was built after she would read to them as a child.The author then refers to a book from the past, which he was highly obsessed with called The Hobbit, as the problem of Thanksgiving being possible that year comes into the picture. As the Chapter concludes the author, father and brother spend Thanksgiving with a friend and the get a taste what Thanksgiving would be like without Mary Anne.
At this point in the book we can take it upon ourselves to realize that Mary Anne Schwalbe is a human being with a heart of gold, but also an observant human being. As the author talks about Medicare and its ability to only provide for so much medicine. His mother reaction wondering what happened to people who could not afford has personally made me think of this as a problem we take for granted on a daily basis. He then writes, “ Universal health care was always a an issue Mom cared about, and the more cared she got , the angrier she became that good medicine wasn’t available for everyone in the United States.” (Pg 63). After reading this quote I could not agree more. Many of the time low family incomes become more and more in debt trying to provide medications for their low ones. Medications that may sometimes be generic instead of the actual medicine they required. I feel that a lot of the times the pressure this family members have to provide for their sick one is at an old time high. Having had family members who have passed away from cancer I am familiar with the expenses this unpredictable sickness comes with, fortunately my family was many times capable of covering the cost. However, I feel that if we were not able to come together to help with the expenses, everyone of us would feel guilty of the pain our sickones would have experience. What are your thoughts on the issues of medicare/ do you agree that families should have to pay full prices? If you disagree with medicare terms how do you suggest we fix it?