The case for disability insurance

If you don’t have a policy, run, don’t walk, and buy disability insurance.

Shawn Murphy would run to buy coverage, but he can’t dash anymore since having a stroke in April. Half of his body is partially paralyzed, and he can’t get help from our state to keep a roof over his head.

If ever a gentleman deserved a helping hand from tax dollars, it’s Shawn Murphy. We can spend $87 billion to rebuild Iraq, but we can’t pay to ease the struggle of a stroke victim in our own country.

That’s baloney in my book.

Al Pierce of Lynnwood, whose wife died Jan. 10 in her sleep, let me know at Christmastime that their son’s best friend was living with them. Murphy, 39, was working for Video Only in Lynnwood at the time of his stroke.

He became disoriented in his apartment and luckily his neighbor found him. After being in a coma for three months, his father took Murphy to Oregon, where his father lived, to help him recuperate.

Two weeks after he settled in Oregon, Murphy’s father died of cancer. Murphy was moved by his stepfamily into an Oregon assisted living facility where he was the youngest resident.

"The place was nice," Murphy said. "It was interesting talking to World War II veterans, but there wasn’t much I could do with 88-year-olds."

Murphy’s good friend, John "Jackie" Lefebvre, son of Peggy Pierce, asked his parents if he could bring Murphy to their home temporarily. The men used to enjoy hanging out at Sunis on Highway 99 in Lynnwood where Murphy sang karaoke. Al, 55, and Peggy Pierce, 59, were kind enough to open their home. She cooked for her son’s friend and her husband helped the stroke victim get in and out of the shower.

"Shawn will get better," Al Pierce said. "He will go back to work. He just needs a little help in the meantime."

When we chatted during the recent snowstorm, Peggy Pierce seemed fine, though she was nursing a neck injury from a car wreck. I was stunned to learn she died the Saturday after our visit. I had enjoyed meeting the nice couple who took in someone in need.

Shawn Murphy grew up in Everett near his grandfather’s lumber mill property, which is now Naval Station Everett. Murphy’s Corner, at 132nd Street SE and the Bothell-Everett Highway in Mill Creek, is named for his family. The Cascade High School graduate received two degrees from the University of Washington.

His mother died when he was a freshman in college.

"My dad was always my go-to guy," Murphy said. "He used to tuck me in at night. No matter how old I was, he tucked me in."

As far as living with relatives during his recuperation, Murphy’s much older brother lives in California and his sister already has a roommate in Everett. The former sales manager really needs to be in an assisted living facility for the time being.

"I assumed I could get state care in Washington," Murphy said. "I’m as much Washington as anybody can be. My life is turned inside out"

At the time of his stroke, Murphy had medical insurance. He had just applied for disability insurance at his workplace, but there is a timing dispute as to whether the disability policy will kick in. He was on state assistance in Oregon, but can’t get state help in Washington.

Murphy was denied money by the Department of Social and Health Services because his doctor said he was able to return to work part time this month at his old job. According to Doug Sevin, DSHS program manager, Murphy applied for a General Assistance Program, the only DSHS program available to single adults with no dependents.

"We collect medical evidence and compare it to our regulations and see if it meets our requirements for work," Sevin said. "He has medical records, as I read it, it was to go back to the job he had."

A doctor in Longview said Murphy could go back to work part time. As we talked, he held his left hand in his right fingers to keep the left hand from shaking. He could walk haltingly with the aid of a cane. A scar up the side of his head indicated where doctors removed part of his brain that swelled after the stroke.

To me, it looks like Murphy needs more time to recuperate. He needs a place to live and money to get him by. I hope he receives Social Security disability, perhaps his last hope for an income to tide him over. After he was denied help from DSHS, he said he told them this is his life, not a joke.

"I’m not mad, I’m frustrated," Murphy said. "A lot of illogical decisions are being made about my life that I have no control of. I’m sick. I’m in a bad situation."

He looked at me with his right eye. He is blind in his left eye since the stroke. Murphy has very little feeling in his left leg and foot. White matter coagulated in the left corner of his lip. He couldn’t feel half his face to know his appearance was amiss.

"I’ve been a good citizen," he said. "I just need some help."

I don’t know where he’ll find assistance. Everyone, especially single folks, better think about disability insurance.

Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451 or

oharran@heraldnet.com .