[Peace-discuss] Healthcare and Daughter Nadine

[bdyskant at hearthstead.net]

Hi,

Barbara here, still AWARE in western NY State.

Healthcare has gotten more personal since my 17-year-old daughter Nadine
was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia last May.  At best, she is
facing a chemo program of approximately 2 years and, after about 5 years,
a lifelong yearly monitoring for any kind of cancer.

So far we have "health insurance" although my husband has to stay at his
job to keep it, about 100 miles from Rochester, where Nadine and I are
located during her treatment  -- he misses being able to be with the
family.  And we don't know what will happen 5, 10, 30 years down the line,
how she can maintain the care she needs, how everyone who needs care will
(or won't) receive it.

I know we have it "better" than many people -- still the whole issue
touches me even more deeply now.

However, we're all at risk -- everyone -- from having illness or injury at
any time.

I'm just writing this personally to urge us all on in fighting for
single-payer healthcare for everyone -- we know it's what we need.

What a nasty, cruel, profit-ridden system we've got, and what a heroic job
we have ahead to lift us all out.

Love and peace,
Barbara

PS -- For friends who want to follow our personal "journey" I'm keeping a
journal at barbaranadinestory.blogspot.com.  If you're in our area, give
us a "shout".