UPDATE: An update on my sister's cancer diagnosis [View all]

[hamsterjill]

First, my great thanks to all for the warmth, prayers, vibes, light and good thoughts that I received through DU. I love my DU family and I know that I can always come here for sensibility, compassion and friendship. Know that I appreciate that.

I had posted about my sister's illness here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029241288

We have now received the diagnosis and results of the PET scan and it is not good, unfortunately. The cancer is Stage IV colon cancer and it has spread to some areas of the chest and some areas of the abdomen. She has already had surgery to remove the actual tumor. The oncologist feels that, with proper treatment, she has some time left. We are grateful for that.

We are beginning the process of trying to figure out how we can afford to get her the treatment that she needs to prolong her life. Know that I, and all members of my family, are tenacious and dedicated and strong. We will go down every rabbit hole, we will call every phone number, we will leave no stones unturned as we try to get my sister the help that she needs.

I find it ironic that the timing of this coincides with the release of the details of Trumpcare. If I wasn't convinced before that Republicans hate poor people, well, I am now. And I was convinced already - that fact was merely clarified again with the release of the details of Trumpcare.

I am going to keep saying this until my last breath - NO PERSON, whether wealthy or poor, whether Black or White, whether male or female, whether young or old, whether good or bad - whatever - should EVER be denied care to sustain their life when care that would sustain that life exists. What in the hell do we have medical research for if not to sustain quality of life?

We need single payer now. We need to stop accepting anything less. We must demand it. We must be the vehicle for change. We must be the force. And we must not stop until we get every single person in America covered for health care. Not access - but actual coverage.

I invite you each to stand with me. I am in Texas and my fight is going to be a hard one. But I will not be silenced. I will be vocal, and I will be insistent.

I know my family is certainly not the only family facing this. I know there are many. It makes me so sad and it hurts a great deal knowing that a whole political party - actual human beings - don't care, hell, don't even acknowledge, that there will be needless suffering and pain. Callous assholes.

But rest assured, as our numbers grow, so shall our voices for change. It will take time. But we will win. We will win because we are never going to stop until we get single payer. Because it is the right thing to do.

And I hope that when those times come that I need a shoulder to cry on, someone to set me straight with factual information, or those times when I just need to know that others understand - that I can come to DU for that. I know I can count on that.

I thank you all for the fact that you care about one another and that you care about humanity. I cannot believe that I live in a world where some people do not care. THAT is what makes us different!

With love and friendship,

Hamsterjill