There are more and more ways for young adults to get involved in the fight for health care reform, and Young Invincibles is another worth checking out. The group is made up of 18 to 33 year olds committed to making sure the voices, and needs, of the millions of uninsured young adults are heard. Hopefully their website will have more to offer in the future, but for now you can read about their mission and sign up to receive more information.
Its really important that young adults speak up and get involved. Dealing with a serious illness is difficult enough. Trying to do it when youre uninsured shouldnt have to happen to anyone, but does far too often. Our family was in that very position last year when my husband was diagnosed with a recurrence of Hodgkin's Lymphoma. No one should have to scramble to come up with $1500 for additional meds after 8 hours of treatment and blood transfusions, but it happens. The added stresses of being uninsured certainly dont help with recovery or healing!
It seems like the only fitting thing to say right now is from the words of my husband, Rick: "I'm involved, you should be too." Quit complaining, start doing.
Showing posts with label young adults. Show all posts
Showing posts with label young adults. Show all posts
Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Building Resources In Cancer Knowledge & Services
or BRICKS for short.
My name is Charissa, a lot of you know that already, but for those of you who dont allow me to introduce myself. Im a 33 year old mother, women's healthcare worker, sometimes photographer and music maker, and perhaps most importantly- a widow. My husband Rick passed away on March 17, 2009 of Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the tender age of 31.
In the 3 short years I spent with Rick I learned a lot about cancer, the injustices of our healthcare system, and how few resources are dedicated to addressing the basic needs (and ultimately the survival rates) of young adults diagnosed with cancer in their 20s and 30s. After Rick's passing I knew that we had worked too hard for too long for me to keep all the little bits of knowledge I had learned to myself. My desire to help young adults with cancer did not end when Rick's life did, but rather was fueled by it- I knew that now more than ever I needed to dedicate the exhausted and frazzled remains of myself to fighting this fight, and that by doing so I could make something positive come out of this experience. One key lesson that I learned from my husband was that every experience, even the negative ones, had value. They can all teach you something if you let them. This is to be no exception.
And so, over the last 6 weeks and 3 days, BRICKS was formed.
The name probably matters only to those of us who knew Rick, and maybe even fewer of us who were privy to the stories of his childhood. He liked to tell a story of how one summer he spent the days moving roughly a ton of bricks from one side of his parents yard to the other. It seemed like a tedious task, laboring in the sun, brick by brick, back and forth. He could see no real reason for the task, yet still felt accomplished at its completion. Maybe thats the lesson for those of us who are faced with a cancer diagnosis- there may be no reason why, but the dedication to seeing it through is the ultimate accomplishment. Maybe it is only later that we realize the lesson we were to learn.
So, now begins my task- brick by brick building a structure to support young adults in my community. The details of my goals and objectives will be discussed over the next several weeks, and I hope that you will stick with me. I look forward to the great potential in this effort, and know that through my actions I am making my husband immensely proud. There is so much work to do, and I only hope to rise to the challenge.
My name is Charissa, a lot of you know that already, but for those of you who dont allow me to introduce myself. Im a 33 year old mother, women's healthcare worker, sometimes photographer and music maker, and perhaps most importantly- a widow. My husband Rick passed away on March 17, 2009 of Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the tender age of 31.
In the 3 short years I spent with Rick I learned a lot about cancer, the injustices of our healthcare system, and how few resources are dedicated to addressing the basic needs (and ultimately the survival rates) of young adults diagnosed with cancer in their 20s and 30s. After Rick's passing I knew that we had worked too hard for too long for me to keep all the little bits of knowledge I had learned to myself. My desire to help young adults with cancer did not end when Rick's life did, but rather was fueled by it- I knew that now more than ever I needed to dedicate the exhausted and frazzled remains of myself to fighting this fight, and that by doing so I could make something positive come out of this experience. One key lesson that I learned from my husband was that every experience, even the negative ones, had value. They can all teach you something if you let them. This is to be no exception.
And so, over the last 6 weeks and 3 days, BRICKS was formed.
The name probably matters only to those of us who knew Rick, and maybe even fewer of us who were privy to the stories of his childhood. He liked to tell a story of how one summer he spent the days moving roughly a ton of bricks from one side of his parents yard to the other. It seemed like a tedious task, laboring in the sun, brick by brick, back and forth. He could see no real reason for the task, yet still felt accomplished at its completion. Maybe thats the lesson for those of us who are faced with a cancer diagnosis- there may be no reason why, but the dedication to seeing it through is the ultimate accomplishment. Maybe it is only later that we realize the lesson we were to learn.
So, now begins my task- brick by brick building a structure to support young adults in my community. The details of my goals and objectives will be discussed over the next several weeks, and I hope that you will stick with me. I look forward to the great potential in this effort, and know that through my actions I am making my husband immensely proud. There is so much work to do, and I only hope to rise to the challenge.
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