"Little Red Wagon" with Frances O'Conner and Anna Gunn (2010)

When Hurricane Charley hit in Tampa, Florida back in 2004, 7 year old Zach Bonner, played by Chandler Canterbury, didn't wait for the usual school fund raiser to pitch in. Instead he took his little red wagon and set out to elicit support for the victims of the hurricane. That effort morphed into the Little Red Wagon Foundation which has provided relief for the estimated 1.3 million homeless children in America. He even received the Presidential Service Award in 2006 for his efforts.

His motivation was simple, “"These kids don't have a home, they don't have a safe place to sleep at night. They're out on the streets not because they want to be, but because it's out of their control.”

The story also delves into the life of this extraordinary young boy and what may have motivated him in the first place. Coming from a broken home has not been easy for him and he stands up by standing out.

As his organization expanded into the national arena, he found himself doing battle with the local politicians, and even other charities as they all try to take control of what he has started and put their own spin on things. His journey was like Homer’s Odyssey, with triumphs and near pit falls aplenty as he navigates the tricky world of politics and the media in his quest to help others.

By 2007, Bonner began his "My House to the White House" project, with the goal being to raise awareness about the problem of homeless children. That year he walked 280 miles from Tampa to Tallahassee, Florida. The following year he covered the 250 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta, Georgia. And finally, he walked 668 miles from Georgia to Washington D.C.

When that march was done he didn't stop. From March 23 to September 14, 2010 he walked an incredible 2,448 miles from Tampa to Los Angeles. This film chronicles the story of one little boy, from a broken home, who set out to heal a nation, and the effect that his actions had upon his own family.

The movie was filmed in 2010, but not released until 2012. Still, I wonder how I missed his one. Outstanding performances by all make this a wonderfully uplifting film to watch. And the best part is that it’s really true.

Death Panelist?

This was written one day prior to a Federal Judge granting a Waiver to Sarah Murnaghan on Thursday. The Federal Government is not expected to appeal the decision. But, the fact still remains that this family was put through what amounts to more than just an abuse of process; they were subject to the kind of treatment we were told would not be tolerated under the current administration. This problem could have been resolved with the stroke of a pen, as it was for a major campaign contributor several years ago; when he was seeking permission to import an illegal medication, unavailable for you and I. 
 
What is wrong with the Democratic Party? They seem to be rudderless; lacking in courage to do the right thing in this case about the 10 year old girl, Sarah Murnaghan, in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is in need of a pediatric lung transplant, but, according to existing health care regulations, she cannot have one until she is 12. To be fair, there is currently no pediatric lung available for her, but there is an adult one which can be modified and allow the girl to live. But the Democrats will not even discuss an exemption to spare her life.

Naturally, the Republicans, and conservative talk radio are having a field day with this issue, trumpeting the rise of the dreaded “Obama Death Panels.” Republican leaders are calling for HHS Director Kathleen Sebelius to make an exemption to the rule and allow the girl, who has about 2 weeks left to live, to get the lung. As of this writing, not one Democrat has even made a statement in defense of; or in opposition to; the inaction of the Director, whom they chose.

Some are ranting that if they make this exception it will open the flood gates for more of these “special circumstances”, thus bankrupting an already overburdened system. This is nonsense. Here is an opportunity; ready-made; to show true bi-partisanship on this issue, and yet the two parties cannot put down their war hatchets long enough to save this little girls life. It’s shameful, and at the same time, very suggestive of what lies in store for most Americans in the future.

Bureaucrats will be making decisions on whether you, or a loved one, will be allowed to live. Does that constitute a “death panel”? I don’t think that it does, but it’s awfully hard to understand why Ms. Sebelius, who has the power to make this decision, will not even comment on the issue beyond stating that she will have the issue “investigated”, a proposal which will certainly take longer than the little girl has to live.

You may ask, “What about the press? Where are they on this story?” And you wouldn't be alone. This is news of the most heartbreaking kind; a little girl being deliberately deprived of the one thing which can save her life; and yet the press is strangely quiet. They seem to believe that, just as a tree falling in the forest makes no noise if no one is around to hear it, they can ignore this story altogether. But you can be sure they will make a buck or two on it after the little girl has died.

There is so much blame to go around on this issue; but the biggest blame of all would be if you read this and do not make that call to your Congressperson, or Senator, and demand that something be done; even if you do not  really believe in this cause, then at least to dispel the Republican’s assertion that there really is a “Death Panel.” Unless; of course; there is.

I have spent Wednesday morning phoning my elected representatives from North Carolina to urge Ms. Sebelius to change her mind. Not only were the offices of the Democrats I contacted disinterested in doing anything about it, but Ms. Sebelius re-iterated her stance on this issue on Wednesday. I urge you to phone your Representatives and Senators asking them to intervene. I hope that you will, as the sands of time are quickly running out for Sarah.