Rensely's Story
When Rensely’s husband, Kenson, was diagnosed with liver disease, the doctor complimented her on her strength. She continued to be strong as she cared for him in his journey through a liver transplant. Eventually, as their resources depleted, Rensely had to go back to work to support the family. While their day-to-day survival is still tenuous, Rensely and her husband have decided to educate Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii, so that other families don’t have to endure what they did.
Discussion Questions and Answers:
How do you think Rensely managed to stay strong while supporting her husband through his diagnosis and liver-transplant surgery? (She had no choice, as the family’s sole caregiver. Like many people who are especially resilient, she knew that moving forward required her to remain hopeful.)
Why did Rensely eventually have to return to work, while caring for Kenson, and what devastating result did this have? (They ran out of money to pay their bills and were about to be evicted. She was forced to juggle the responsibilities of work and caregiving, but her income put the family over the Medicaid limit and almost eliminated their healthcare.)
What does Rensely’s story suggest about the importance of universal access to healthcare? (Low income families, like Kenson’s and Rensely’s, often struggle to make ends meet and pay for medical care, which is why universal access must be maintained. With accessible and affordable preventive care, Kenson could have learned earlier about his hepatitis B status, started treatment, and avoided getting cancer in the first place.)