Dear McCain, My Mother Had The Same Brain Tumor You Have

This is my mom.  She died of a glioblastoma – the similar mind tumor Senator John McCain was once simply identified with – on January 10, 2015. It was once virtually six months when they discovered and got rid of *maximum of it. This image was once taken proper after that operation.

Although my mother had the similar prognosis as McCain there may be one essential distinction between them.  She didn’t have insurance coverage and, as a result of she lived in Florida, she didn’t have Medicaid both.

She had fallen on exhausting occasions – in truth, she eternally lived in exhausting occasions as a result of psychological well being problems – so she labored at a laundromat and made sufficient to be self-sufficient.  Self-sufficiency wasn’t essentially one thing she was once excellent at however she was once doing ok at it on the time. That was once what my brother advised me, a minimum of; I hadn’t talked to her in two years.

My brother is the one that pressured her to visit the emergency room.  She hadn’t been making sense for a pair months, in line with him.  But on that day he discovered her babbling at the flooring in her sizzling potency – the AC was once damaged and it was once summer time in South Florida.

It was once on the health facility that they discovered it – this fatal mind tumor that steals away your existence, your soul, you in a blink of a watch.  My brother referred to as and advised me what was once happening; I threw on my “let’s fix it” emotional armor and headed to the health facility. From that time on I used to be her caretaker and I had no thought what to do.

The trust that gaining access to emergency room services and products counts as gaining access to well being care doesn’t cross muster.  After the emergency is over, then what?  What are you intended to do?

Just like John McCain, my mom had the glioblastoma got rid of and was once prescribed radiation and chemotherapy.  But, she didn’t have insurance coverage so she may no longer practice via with the remedy.

No one troubled (no longer even the health facility social employee) to provide me essential data like having a glioblastoma is one in every of 88 sicknesses that routinely qualifies you for Medicaid.  I needed to determine that out for myself. It took me virtually 3 months to get her licensed.

Unfortunately, ahead of the ones 3 months had handed, she had had any other emergency health facility talk over with because of irritation in her mind.  The steroids they put her on made her acquire a ton of weight and he or she didn’t seem like herself.  I believe this was once exhausting on her; she at all times cared about her seems to be and attached it fairly to her sense of self esteem. The power and hope that she had proper after her craniotomy was once long past and he or she was once dropping her thoughts.

My mom was once fortunate sufficient to be authorised right into a scientific trial program on the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. It is appearing promising effects and strangely Medicaid licensed it.  But she wouldn’t move.  I couldn’t even get her to visit the radiation oncologist.  

I will be able to’t let you know what number of appointments I needed to cancel.  Every day I’d say, “You are going today.” Every day there was once a unique explanation why she couldn’t move however the actual reason why that she wouldn’t move was once that she was once scared.  She idea they have been killing her.  She idea I used to be looking to kill her.  

The paranoia grew and far of the time it was once directed at me. It was once episodic in the beginning, however in opposition to the tip become a lot more common. I must were extra tolerant on the time. When I consider it now, I will be able to’t believe being that scared.  

I am hoping that Senator McCain’s remaining days don’t seem to be like that; I wouldn’t want that on any person.

Those months would were other if she had had medical insurance.  I’d have identified what to do, and if I didn’t, I’d have identified who to name to invite.  Who is aware of, if she had insurance coverage perhaps she would have long past to the physician so much faster somewhat than finishing up within the emergency room.  

I notice that possibly she nonetheless do not have had that lengthy to are living.  But, possibly what time she did have would were longer, would were more uncomplicated, would were extra delightful for her.  Maybe she would were in a position to understand her grandchildren.  Maybe – simply perhaps – she wouldn’t were so fearful.

In the tip, it was once in truth Medicaid that allowed her to die in peace.  I used to be in a position to place her in hospice as a result of Medicaid.  As exhausting because it was once to peer her slumbering 24 hours an afternoon from drugs, it was once higher than her being mindful whilst going totally loopy.

Not having insurance coverage quickened my mom’s loss of life and having Medicaid made it more uncomplicated for her to die.

That is my mom’s glioblastoma tale. Senator John McCain’s glioblastoma tale might be massively other as a result of he has medical insurance.  And, don’t get me incorrect, I’m so satisfied he does.  I’m satisfied for him and for his circle of relatives.  

It has been 3 years since her prognosis, two and a part years since her loss of life.  I’ve [surprisingly] grow to be an activist protesting regulation that can take well being care from hundreds of thousands of other folks put forth via John McCain’s personal celebration.  

With simplest 12,000 other folks identified with the tumor a yr, no longer many of us perceive what the senator is up towards. I do.  Perhaps there’s a reason why for that; possibly I’m supposed to inform this tale.

Health care is a proper, no longer a privilege.  Dying of most cancers gracefully must be a proper, no longer a privilege.

John McCain has been in Congress a very long time and he is likely one of the Most worthy legislators in D.C.  He has the facility to offer protection to other folks from having the similar enjoy as my mom, I simply hope he makes use of it.

Originally revealed on ProgressiveNationWNC.org.