Rep. Guice meets with mom of diabetic child
Rep. Jeffrey Guice met with the mother of a diabetic child Wednesday, days after telling her she should buy her daughter's lifesaving medication instead of relying on Medicaid.
Nicole Nichols of Richland said on her Facebook page, Living in the World of Test Strips, that she met with Guice and received a "formal and informal" apology. The two met in Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn's office, Nichols said.
Guice, R-Ocean Springs, could not be reached for comment. He previously told The Clarion-Ledger, "I don't do interviews."
Monday, Nichols sent an email to each member of the state legislature asking for help navigating Medicaid so she could get the monthly diabetic supplies needed by her 8-year-old daughter, Bella.
Bella, a Type 1 diabetic, has had an insulin pump for three years. For the last six months, Nichols said she has reached out to 23 companies trying to get Bella's necessary supplies.
Guice responded to Nichols' email and said, "I am sorry for your problem. Have you thought about buying the supplies with money that you earn?"
Guice's comment made national headlines. He issued a written apology Tuesday night.
Wednesday night, Nichols posted that she had met with Guice and, "Rather than focus on the actions of one individual, I would love to thank the amazing number of people who have taken the time to offer their supportive comments, emails, and words of encouragement."
Nichols declined to comment on the specifics of the meeting with Guice, saying she would "rather focus on the positive instead of the negative."
"What began as a plea for guidance has developed into a collective recognition of the hardships placed on families throughout the country by excessive medical costs," Nichols said. "Whether it be a chronic illness or a badly timed case of the flu, no parent should have to worry about providing adequate medical care for their children."
Nichols said she has been in touch with Medicaid since the article was first published and feels "great strides are being made to resolve the issue."
"It does appear that progress is being made," she said.
RELATED: Rep. Guice picked a fight with the wrong person
In light of Guice's comments, Mark Jones, the communications director for the city of Clinton and a father of a Type 1 diabetic child, issued a challenge to state legislators to support the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi with a $10 donation.
"The diabetes community was shocked and dismayed at the callous disregard for the plight of many individuals with Type 1 Diabetes by Representative Guice," Jones said. "As noted thoroughly in recent days, many persons with diabetes and parents of children with diabetes work multiple jobs and forego bill payments in order to pay for the supplies required to keep themselves or their child alive. For persons with Type 1 diabetes, these supplies are luxuries that make life more comfortable, these supplies are critical to the daily treatment of diabetes to sustain the life of a person with diabetes."
Gunn accepted Jones' challenge and pledged to donate $100 to the foundation.
"Diabetes is a serious disease that affects a large number of our state’s children and adults,” Gunn said. “I am more than willing to help support this cause and will encourage my fellow members to do the same. I, personally, am going to donate $100 in hopes that we can help these families, while also raising awareness about one of Mississippi’s biggest health problems.”
Kaitlan Sudduth, spokesperson for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, said she has received a flood of responses in the last week and greatly appreciates any and all donations.
"Considering this week's event with the comment by the legislator, it means a lot that Mr. Gunn would do something like that," Sudduth said. "I do think that even though this necessarily wasn't a positive thing, it was in regards to diabetes awareness and what the diabetes foundation does and how it helps people."
Jones noted that with the cost of monthly supplies, many families struggle to provide for their children.
"With monthly supplies for diabetes management costing an average of $2,500, and potentially more, many parents are forced to make serious decisions regarding living arrangements, jobs and food every month," he said. "In those times of uncertainty, The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi has become a constant source of peace and support for individuals with diabetes and their families."
Contact Sarah Fowler at sfowler@gannett.com or 601-961-7303. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.