Help Fight For The Rights Of Ventolator Patients

35 year old Anthony McKithen is a respratior patient and a quadrapedic who is cared for by his parents at their home in Florence, South Carolina. A few days before Christmas while the rest of us were trying to put the finishing touches on all of our Christmas plans, Anthony's mother was laying in a hospital bed fighting cancer, and Anthony was at home laying in a bed, gasping for air and waiting to die. Anthony was waiting to die because despite the fact that there are laws in this country which are intended to protect the lives and rights of people like Anthony, Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc. decided that they needed their money more than Anthony needed to live, so they disconnected the electricity at the family residence.

In August of 2007 there was a woman in Florida who was also on a respirator, and she lost her life because the electric disconnected her service and over a bill that was less than $200.00. This particular case made national news, yet there are still utility companies that dare to attack our most vunerable of citizens. Anthony survived without his respirator for 9 long and agonizing hours due to the fact that family members took turns respirating him through the use of a hand pump.

We have to send Progressive Energy Carolinas, Inc. and every other utility company in this country a message that these attacks on respirator patients is unacceptable, unlawful and immoral.