My Mother Was Dying of COVID. Being Poor Made It So Much Worse.
Published in The Washington Post. I realized long ago that there are two separate and very different health-care systems in this country.
Homelessness in Erie, PA: A Single Mother’s Struggles and Where She Turned for Help
Co-published with Erie News Now. Facing homelessness, an Erie, Pennsylvania woman turned to Community Shelter Services for help.
A Day After Giving Birth, I Was Asked Back to Work. America Needs Paid Family Leave.
Co-published with The Guardian. The US has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries. Yet Senator Joe Manchin struggles to understand why paid family leave …
SNAP Benefits Put to the Test in Erie, Pennsylvania
Co-published with Erie News Now. To get a better understanding of what it is like for those who rely on SNAP benefits, Erie News Now's Jamison Hixenbaugh …
My Mom Can’t Afford Hearing Aids. The Pandemic Reminded Us Why She Needs Them.
Co-published with The Washington Post. Compounding medical crises essentially cut her off from the world.
Seniors and Staff Caught in the Middle of Nursing Homes’ Quest for Profit
Co-published with The Guardian. The cycle of buying and selling care homes has led to shortcuts, closures, even fraud – and imperiled vulnerable residents’ health.
Rehab in a Nursing Home During a Pandemic: A Patient’s Story
Co-published with Pittsburgh City Paper. For people with disabilities, an extended stay in a rehab or nursing facility during a pandemic can be especially worrying.
Transfer Trauma: America’s Seniors Suffer as Care System Pushes Them Between Sites
Co-published with The Guardian. Unequal payment plans drive some corporate nursing home facilities to shed – or in some cases “hospital dump” – residents, distressing delicate …
Concern Over Suicide Rates During COVID-19: There is Still Help Available
Co-published with Erie News Now. During COVID-19, there is concern that the suicide rate may increase due to stress, anxiety, and other factors.
Stress and Boredom During COVID-19 Leading to Increased Drug and Alcohol Use
Co-published with Erie News Now. Other factors include a lack of routine, and concern over the state of stimulus checks.
Kee’Miyah & The Boxoplentys
Co-published with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In southwestern Pennsylvania, an 8-year-old child copes with poverty in her community with the power of storytelling.
A Shelter on Horseshoe Island
Co-published with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As family financial woes mount and his mother's cancer encroaches, Anthony Brown's mind drifts to a place where he can still …