Stein Family Says Thank You, Looks To The Future

After a whirlwind week that saw their family featured on the front page of The Huffington Post and $30,000 raised to help them pay their overwhelming medical bills, the Stein family is back with a message of gratitude and hope for the HuffPost community.

TampaBay.com visited the Steins at home on Sunday morning. They discuss how amazed they are that the Huffington Post came out in such strong numbers to support them. Gary Stein thinks of them as a symbol of the hardships faced by families across America.

If you are one of the more than 900 people who gave to the Stein family, thank you for your generosity. As the Impact section grows, there will be more opportunities to give, volunteer and take action with the causes you care about.

Thank you for following this story, and thanks for your continued commitment to making an impact.

WATCH:

You can see how much money continues to be raised for the Stein family via the widget below:

Comments

[PhineasGage730]

How can I set up a payment for myself. Times are tough...GIMME MONEY!

seriously...

[arcanepsyche]

Make a website with a paypal button, you could do it in about half and hour. Though good luck getting people to donate without the aid of Huffpost and the MSM.

[Tiger99]

What a great thing to be occuring here on the Huff Post... It would be even better if HP would match the contributions dollar for dollar... Think of the impact that would make....

[ChelleAgain]

Yeah, sure, but as an ongoing project, when the spotlight they give is worth so much? I think perhaps, every project should kick off when a donation from HP, but I don't think $30,000 is reasonable.

[arcanepsyche]

I agree. Maybe HP gives 5% of the amount or something.

[Beegood]

It is such a shame that people have to be reduced to charity as the only option for paying medical bills. It is a national embarrassment.

[lordjin]

true, but it is also a testament to the good nature of Americans.

[christopherflynn]

a great optimistic statement which I hope will never be eradicated from our shores. We are, indeed, a good people and need to recog nize the misfortunes of not only our own, but citizens of the world in which we share with others....

[ChelleAgain]

I don't think they're being reduced by asking for charity, as it doesn't reflect poorly on them, but on health care in America. None of these people standing in the way will ever have to choose between their health and the health of their child, but their not needing charity doesn't elevate them one bit.

[stillfresh]

This is all nice, but it's really how Bush envisioned we "privatize." Someone needs a doctor and can't pay? Pass the hat. This society is so depraved that the rich get care and the poor don't -- were it not for that hat. I've been to too many fundraisers for friends in need of money for medical bills. It's always a reminder that this country needs Medicare for ALL!

[quiviran]

I think we need to start with the names of their health care providers who could not find the wherewithal in their profit structure to avert this families tragedy, and still have the gall to keep sending bills. These providers are not Americans by my definition.

[lordjin]

a big part of the reason i decided to contribute is my profound fear of blindness. I am an intensely visually oriented person. My fascination with contour and light have led me to living as an artist and photographer. If I didn't have this, my life wouldn't be worth living.

To have once been able to see the world, with all its joys and horrors and everything in between, only to have it all removed, the faces of your loved ones only a faded memory enshrouded in darkness... when it all could have been avoided -- this is a personal offense to me.

[Aabby]

Your heart is in the right place but a handicapped (blind in this case) person’s life is certainly worth living. One can adjust to live a rich and full even an artistic life with the right resources and support.

[jollyelle]

it's nice and all, don't get me wrong.........but once again, the people with little give what they can.

Telethons and disaster relief should not always fall on the backs of compassionate people who are just getting by themselves.

[ChelleAgain]

Of course you're right, but what's the alternative at this moment?

I think anyone who donated is keenly aware that this is all just a band-aid, and that we can't do it all. That's why anyone who donated needs to also hold to the fire the feet of politicians who hold the key to reform.

Of course, without belaboring it, donating to Olbermann's efforts for free clinics not only helps people, but is designed to send a message to key players:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33213245/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann

https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1000863&code=NAFC2009

[stillfresh]

Olbermann's intentions are good, but if it works, the cynics will see private donations as a system in and of itself. Remember? Privatize?

[Mr Pervis]

You're welcome Stein family! Good luck & God Bless!!

And thank you to the generous HuffPo crowd who donated that $30K. You folks will make fine Republicans.
.

[christopherflynn]

as if we want to be.......... :)

[deepfreezevideo]

What a sweet couple, and what a brave Mom.

[Matt7]

Repeating/moving this “following up” story to the “Impact" section to get the cheers and approval expected from the original story?

The act of bringing the issue to light, exposing the plight of desperate individuals and encouraging people to get involved was a good thing. H O W E V E R . . . I’m bothered by the repeated subhead, “journalists should not just be passive observers,”

Paraphrasing a comment on the original main page story on this same subject: “Reporting on/exposing the subject is the job of the JOURNALIST. If that job is done well, others might be moved to act to make a difference.” Especially in the case of "news," it is NOT the job of the journalist/reporter to shape, slant, censor or create the news.

Many embrace the oft-promoted concept of separation of church and state. Similarly, in my opinion, there's a difference between reporting and proselytiz­ing/promot­ing a cause. There are various sections of a newspaper reserved for op/eds opinion pieces, special interest stories, etc. Here, (too) MANY stories are opinion/persuasion pieces at their core. Maybe posters are the ones making the mistake; assuming its "news," when it's really just "current events -- my way."

The follow up story might have been more palatable, absent the subtitled comment. (Especially following the two full-day, 3" headline, "Joe Biden Should Resign" and the many other "Whatever the President Just Did, It's Not Enough" stories). Maybe THAT'S the real burr under my saddle.

[stillfresh]

Journalists are also columnists, where opinion is the entire point.
Signed,
A Journalist

[SEQUOIABISON]

While it is very generous of Huffpost readers to make contributions, it is a disgrace to be living in a country where this is necessary. When one of us has a physiological problem we should not have to depend on the kindness of others for our survival.

This is what the healthcare bill is all about, giving dignity to our fellow Americans instead of making people grovel, go bankrupt and beg for charity to deal with their ailments.

[stjam8]

Human dignity is a throw away in this country. There is no shame. This country has become all about making a buck at the the cost of even the well being of our planet. Tell some people about the dire need in this country, And they respond with talk about personal responsibility. They want to believe that people are to blame for their misfortune. Inspite of the many people who are lost their jobs because of the economy . Or that so many people are losing their homes and business to try to pay for Health care. This country could improve with a healthy dose of shame. The worship of money above all else has made this country poorer!

[mairs]

Wanting to believe that misfortune can be completely avoided by preaching personal responsibility is simply a defense mechanism. Of course much that is bad can be avoided through being responsible for oneself, but it is not a sure thing. This defense mechanism insulates people from being afraid.

[Hirnlego]

Full agreement.

[Papalote]

It is time to slay the behemoth! Please support the healthcare public option by signing Anthony Weiner’s Petition (D-NY) : http://countdowntohealthcare.com/petition/

[zohar nissan]

sorry to say that, but that sum can't be regarded as a lot of money for their medical needs. it is sufficiant for a few months...
a true Health Care system would have treated them as they need. that what's the true pool of money of a social Single Payer system would have enable to do.

..without underestimating the generosity of the donors.

[gale4786]

Enough with this family! What about the article a few days ago that mentioned a few different people in need? Are those people not deserving of charity?

[mairs]

You keep repeating that they don't deserve it. Why does it bother you so much? Just let it be.

[ChelleAgain]

Oh, that argument is as old as time. You can't help every one, and the guy down the street might need it more, because there's almost always someone who needs it more -- so help no one. People who are so inclined, can justify passively watching others suffer.

There is a current trend in this society to convince people that they're solely responsible for their success -- that the Law of Attraction loves them -- and so anyone with less just has a poor attitude, and therefore deserves to suffer. It's guilt-free self-involvement.

[gs-425]

uhhhh, yes they should.

[sassy]

I'm still waiting for HP to do an article on Keith Olbermann's efforts to fund free health care clinics which has raised over 1 million dollars so far from donations. Keith himself donated $50,000 and thousands of people have donated to this cause.

[stjam8]

Thanks for bringing it up. I have donated money for the free clinics. I thought it was a great idea. It is discouraging, to hear some comments with the attitude "I got Mine". I have tried to explain to these Peole we are all One Pink away from being in the same boat. I also have left this information on other stories in other papers. Since Ms. Huffington Is always on MSNBC, I thought there would have been a story about this as well.

[ChelleAgain]

There was an article initially. They didn't update it and let it drift away. I donated $500.00, because I feel the clinics could have a huge impact.

But to the present subject, I'm very happy for the Stein family and hope this health care mess will be sorted soon. That we had to do this once because the system is in shambles is bad enough, but I'd hate to see this good people go back into debt. Mr. Stein made the only decision a mother could in that situation, but she should have never -- not in this country -- had to make that choice.

[ChelleAgain]

Here's the transcript and Keith Olbermann's special on Health Care:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33213245/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann

And here's the link to donate:
https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1000863&code=NAFC2009