Mississippi Rep. Jeffrey Guice Tells Mom Of Diabetic Child To Buy Supplies ‘With Money That You Earn’

A Mississippi mom is fighting mad after asking her state representatives to help families with the costs of treating children with Type 1 diabetes but was met with a very unexpected response. Nicole Nichols emailed the Mississippi House of Representatives to advocate for Type I diabetic kids whose Medicaid in Mississippi won’t cover the needed diabetes supplies and medications for them to stay healthy, and stay alive. Mississippi Rep. Jeffrey Guice responded to her request with this email, which she posted on her Facebook page, “Living in the World of Test Strips“:

“I am sorry about your problem. Have you thought about buying the supplies with money that you earn?”

Nichols responded to Guice’s curt reply with a lengthy followup of her own, detailing the costs of diabetic supplies for just one child, in this case, her daughter. In her response, Nichols noted that the cost of insulin alone is more than her mortgage payment every month, but there are many other expenses involved with the care of a child with Type I diabetes. As if the family doesn’t have enough trouble trying to meet the expenses of caring for their daughter, Nichols’ husband also has Type I diabetes. But for the benefit of Guice, Nichols wrote down the monthly costs for her daughter alone.

• Humalog insulin – $400 (two vials) per month
• Lantus insulin – $150 per vial (backup for insulin pump failure)
• Test strips – $300 per month
• Insulin pump supplies – $375 per month
• Dexcom CGM sensors – $300 per month
• Glucagon syringe – $450
• Ketone strips – $80
• Approximately $150 per month in other expenses, such as glucose gels and alcohol swabs

For those bad at math, that comes out to around $2205 per month, and that’s just for Nichols’ daughter. That’s $26,460 annually.

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After detailing some of the supply expenses their household faces, Nichols asked Guice if he earned enough money to pay that much every month for necessary medical supplies.

“While you may, my husband and I, unfortunately, do not. We are working individuals, with college degrees, a small home, older but reliable vehicles, and without Medicaid to cover the LIFE SUSTAINING medications and supplies that my child needs, we would be homeless.”

The tale of Guice’s harsh response shows signs of going viral, with posts on Facebook pages such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and Daily Kos picking up the breaking story. So far, Nichols has not reported getting any kind of response from Guice, but comments have been disabled on what appears to be his own Facebook page. With nearly 5,000 followers, it doesn’t seem like this is a fake profile put up in response to the brewing controversy.

Among the posts selling boats, honoring veterans, and commiserating with the suffering of cancer patients, Guice posted an ironic meme touting his straight, Christian, Caucasian, gun-toting values. The meme also talks about not attacking other people’s beliefs and specifically states “I don’t make hurtful comments,” but it’s fair to say Nichols might disagree, as well as all the people reading the story as it goes viral.

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There are many posts on the Facebook page regarding religion and how “We need Jesus in the White House, schools, homes, and hearts.” The meme did not mention any need for Jesus in healthcare or ensuring the health and saving lives of chronically ill children.

While Guice’s response may have angered and frustrated Nichols, the story is drawing attention to the plight of Mississippi families struggling to pay for supplies to keep their diabetic children alive. For Nichols, there is only one bottom line that matters to her, and she continues fighting toward that goal.

“Insulin literally keeps this little girl alive.”

[Image via Nicole Nichols Facebook]