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 is important.
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 decided to live on a budget of $31.25 for one
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 elders.
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 be a kid: Horseshoe Island.