14/10/2025
This memorializes and mourns the loss of Wayne, a leader from Wisconsin. Wayne passed away on October 10, 2025.
"My name is Wayne and I’m from Wisconsin and my story starts by saying I had a medical year in 2009 and by stating our healthcare system is broken, the most expensive in the world, does not provide world class care, thus denying a basic human right to millions of poor and low income workers.
I was insured but could not access care because of the deductibles for 10 years. By 2009 I could not walk without a bad limp, and had a lipoma on the back of my neck the size of a 12’ softball. I felt and looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame -- outcast from society.
In Jan 2009 I fell on black ice, due to lack of mobility. I had surgery to fix my broken bone near the ankle, and rotator cuff surgery in March. My church had insurance which covered my deductible and had hip replacement surgery in July.
The insurance company billed for 3 surgeries, when I originally only needed one-- increasing the cost of healthcare for everyone.
Poverty is the 4th leading cause of death in the richest country of the world. I personally know of 2 people who died because they were denied their human right to healthcare.
Sadly, these cases are the norm and not the outlier.
We demand universal healthcare. Prior to joining the Poor People's Campaign, I had lost hope of ever seeing change that would protect the future of my 9 year old granddaughter who is with me today and the suffering of all people from the denial of our right to healthcare.
I learned by joining Poor People's Campaign that we have the power to change the system, together. We just need to exercise that power by organizing.
Raise our voices together - We won’t be silent anymore."
Rest in Power, Wayne