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Dad Chains Himself to Electric Meter to Save Daughter's Life
Filed under: In The News
Many of us at one time or another have experienced he desperation of not having enough money to cover the monthly bills. While that situation is uncomfortable and stressful, it generally isn't life-threatening. But for a father in Highland Park, Florida, getting behind on his electric bill did become a life or death situation.After having several strokes and seizures, Tony Duncan found himself out of work. For over a year, he has been unable to find a new job or collect unemployment because of his medical condition. He managed to keep up on his bills for a while, but in July he stopped paying his electric bill. When the past-due amount reached about $2,000, Gulf Power threatened disconnection.
Having your power disconnected is bad enough, but for Duncan it could have fatal consequences for his 5-year-old daughter, Makayla. She has some pretty serious medical problems of her own and relies on a feeding tube and other medical apparatus that require electricity to operate. But Gulf Power was adamant and gave Duncan until Friday to pay up.
On Thursday, in a desperate attempt to keep the power from being disconnected, Duncan chained himself to his electric meter. His ploy worked. No, it didn't make the power company realize that they were risking a child's life over $2,000. Duncan's stunt made the news and an anonymous donor came forward to pay off most of the amount he owed. Other good Samaritans also chipped in with not just money, but job offers.
Perhaps Gulf Power has another story to tell - one that doesn't make them sounds like total monsters. But hooray for the caring people of Highland Park who came to the rescue of this struggling family.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 7)
11-18-2008 @ 1:14PM
strugln_mom said...i am so in a bucket of tears rite now....and as far as the utility company does not care, it all depends on the person you deal with...my friend had a $1300 + electric bill, the young man came out to disconnect saw she had small babies and left it on but did give her the disconnection notice and told her to try and pay as soon as possible before some1 else comes out and find it is still on
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11-18-2008 @ 11:37AM
VoiceOfReason said...I agree with what most of you have said, in that there are several areas where this fell apart.
He should have budgeted his usage better so as to not drive an electricity bill up to $2000. That seems excessive.
There are programs that big utility companies offer for people who are of low income.
I don't live in Florida so do not know of any local programs that can help him find some sort of work. Since the baby is adopted (that information was found by clicking the link "chained himself to an electric meter" in the article), she should already be on some sort of state assistance, which would cover any of her medical necessities.
Being a pediatric nurse, I can say that a feeding tube does not necessarily require electricity. It would only require electricity if she's on continuous feeds. Her father could work with her doctor and give her an ounce or two every few hours via gravity instead of continuous mode. Gravity feeds are just that: gravity. No electricity required.
I wonder if he has any respite care to help him out since he is unwell himself. Hopefully his stunt will get him the help he needs. It sounds like "the system" has truly let this family down.
All we can do is pray that they are both ok.
And if "we", collectively, don't believe in prayer, that's ok for you. As for me, well, I will pray for them.
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11-18-2008 @ 1:36PM
Kelly said...If you are a pediatric nurse then you know that a gastric tube, if not cared for properly, ie: sterilization techniques, which last time I knew would require, at the very least HOT boiling water, which would require, hmmmmm electricity??????, can result in life threatening infections!! If this child is on a gastric tube then one can only assume this is one of many issues this child faces. This family lives in FL. Do you not think that climate control for a special needs child might not be something of priority as well? Please, think before you speak.
11-18-2008 @ 5:06PM
Darrell said...Evidently, none of you have the knowledge of how life support systems work. It takes a lot of money and I know this because I used to work with people who were on life support. I am a Missouri Certfied Nursing Assistant, and that is not like a regular CNA. I also have knowledge of people who have Spinal Cord Injuries. In fact I am one very lucky person, because my neck was broken at the C-2 Vertabrae, and am considered a C-2 incomplete Quadriplegic. In essence that simply means, that I get to feel the pain that a regular C-2 Quad can't. So my suggestion to you, is to stop running your fingers and thoughts about something that you know nothing about.
11-18-2008 @ 11:37AM
another ky girl said...Thank God there are still people out there that are truely selfless and are still willing to help someone in need. I wish there was a way to help all of the people out there in these situations
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11-18-2008 @ 11:42AM
VoiceOfReason said...According to the article from the local channel six (click on the link in the article), this child is adopted.
It takes someone with a heart of gold to adopt a child with special needs.
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11-18-2008 @ 11:42AM
KIDBULLETS said...SO MANY NEEDY AND DESERVING PEOPLE BY, FOR THE MOST PART, IN SITUATIONS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL. MAKES ME WONDER SO MUCH MORE ABOUT BAIL OUTS AND GREEDY CEO'S SENDING JOBS OVERSEAS. CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME......FIX IT HERE FIRST!
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11-18-2008 @ 12:15PM
teresa said...Los Angeles Dept of Water & Power will shut you off period!, They do not care if you have valid medical , and they don't care if you have never been late before. They will not work with you! Edison is also the same in California, late, tuned-off, period.
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11-18-2008 @ 12:18PM
Heather said...She spelled Hiland Park wrong.
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11-18-2008 @ 1:01PM
STEVE said...GREAT IDEA...JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CHAIN TO SAVE THE LIFE OF YOUR DAUGHTER...WAY TO GO DADDY!!!
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11-18-2008 @ 12:23PM
deb said...I'm afraid that my feelings on the parents shown(except for 2 of them)not the stars-is that they've sacrificed their children -not made sacrifices.Ask any child in USA if they had a choice between money & Dad-Mom what they'd choose-You'll have your answer.The stars are not relevent because everyone knows they aren't sacrificing anything..
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11-18-2008 @ 12:32PM
deb said...The 2 i refered to in my previous post were the parents whose child may not live through high school and the Dad who chained himself to the meter.
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11-18-2008 @ 12:39PM
deb said...When you figure out what copassion is you will have a right to say what you said.Circumstances have changed over the years and quite frankly I DON'T know too many who aren't having a rough time & they ARE people who could afford what they had planned in their lives previously.You are ignorant-wait'll it happens to you or one of yours.
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11-18-2008 @ 12:41PM
deb said...That last comment was for marla
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11-18-2008 @ 2:32PM
K-FallsDan said...This country will heal and be whole again. This is proof that you cannot hold down the American spirit!!! We will get there, God bless America. This story made me feel good. We all need to feel good sometime.
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11-18-2008 @ 1:30PM
Kelly said...You can't tell me that a utility company can't create a fund for situations like this. Given the fact that gas prices have now fallen below $2 and oil and energy companies have been raping us for years it's time for them to step up to the plate for people who obviously need help.
God bless those that did step up.
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11-18-2008 @ 1:34PM
DIana said...Perhaps Gulf Power has another story to tell - one that doesn't make them sounds like total monsters.
I did not quite get that comment in the article....Gulf Power did nothing good here! Maybe Gulf Power should have been the ones going to employees and the community asking for the help for this family. After all Gulf power claims to be active and care about their communities. To think an innocent child could have DIED over $2000! That is pathetic Gulf Power! Thank god other people in this country have hearts unlike the MONSTERS who clearly run and work for Gulf Power! All the charity in the world they can give to does NOT make up for this 5 year old they apparently deemed worthless! Gulf Power has a huge service area....a simple note in the bills telling about this family I bet would have brought in hundreds of thousands to help keep their power and other utilities going!
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11-18-2008 @ 1:45PM
Philip Mercadante Jr said...Theres real people in America that need help..why bail out the auto makers?? look at my life Pres Bush- read my blog..http://philipmercadante.blogspot.com
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11-18-2008 @ 2:07PM
peachx13 said...Francis- people who have strokes don't necessarily have paralysis! My dad had an aneurysm (which is considered a stroke) and has no paralysis. Sure, he has memory loss and briefly lost taste buds, but the point is that there are many, many different results from having a stroke. Don't judge people when you don't know all the facts.
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11-18-2008 @ 2:20PM
mesubr said...I have known these people for over 20 yrs. And they had this problem last year, the bay co residents paid there bills. But when i saw it on our local front page of the news herald this year i knew that i had to say something. you can look them up on baycoclerk.com . Then type in there name and you will see that they have been arrested over "DRUGS" And about 50 bounced checks . They both are able to work and they have 24 hr care for the baby so that they can work .The baby isnt as bad off as they make it seem its just that she knew how to get FREE child care. and if you look at the story lines on the Newsherald .com you will see that she is smoking with the phone in her hand when the people let her know that the bills were paid and them some....these people are committing a crime by taking advantage of others just because they chose to do drugs and not pay there bills with the money the DFC gives to them.........
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