Make it Mean Something!

I have lost family members, students and co-workers who were diagnosed with cancer and some even have passed but truly it wasn't until my eyes and heart were opened to the devastation of cancer when I walked alongside Jami and her fight with Melanoma.  You see when I look back I remember sitting in her living room the summer before she was diagnosed again and she was complaining that she had been to a number of doctors for stomach pain and they couldn't do anything but give her antacids! Then that phone call, the first drive to Spokane, the nights spent with Jonna, Kristi and Jami, Gold Rush, Bible readings in bed, hospital visits, sleepless nights...all the while seeing Jami fighting, fighting through the pain, fighting to do whatever it took to win the battle.  When the decision was made that the fight was going to be over it was like my heart had been ripped out and yet all I could think about was Jonna and Kristi, the fight was theirs too.  The team that they made was a fierce one, one that was unstoppable, one that one day I hope to model my own life after.

They taught me so much in four short months, they taught me that a lifetime of love could not be broken by cancer, they taught me true love still exists.  They taught me to keep seeking the truth and from these lessons I began my search for the truth.

I went on a search for the truth of cancer.  What I found might be common knowledge but I wanted to share anyway!

My search began with the "Stand Up To Cancer" site, what I found there was the annual research report of all cancers, US State facts as well as a breakdown of each cancer.  The information there although at times was overwhelming it was very user friendly.  You could easily find every kind of cancer and the statistical facts as well as the specifics of what it is and who it affects.

The information that jumped out at me was:

• Total deaths in 2016 for both females and males totaled over 595,000 of which almost 14,000 of the victims were due to Melanoma.
• The cost of all cancers were in excess of $75 billion with almost 40% were uninsured, the concern with the uninsured is that those without insurance are most likely to be diagnosed in the later stage and less likely to win the war on cancer.
• I think the scariest statistic that I found was that men have a 44% chance and women have a 33% chance from birth to death of being diagnosed with some form of cancer.  Although we now have a 69% chance of survival the thought that there still is no cure for cancer is unbelievable.

Prevention is always in the forefront of the information that was presented.  Whether it is a healthy diet, physical activity, strong emotional health and of course regular doctor appointments, these are things that everyone needs to be mindful of.  The interesting part of this was how many cancers are impacted by genetic makeup.  So not only getting moving but getting talking to our families about the medical history so you can be prepared!

Next came the one place that I am sure most go to:  American Cancer Society.
This site is not only home to information but also ways to become involved.  Whether it is through donations (Stand Up had this option too) as well as volunteering.  You can drive cancer patients to appointments,  volunteer at events or a 100 other ways!  Actually made me want to get involved...seemed easy to do and I am sure it wouldn't be too tough!

The ACS leads the way to research and have donated over $4 billion to find a cure!  Their stance on finding a cure was summed up in this article:
https://medium.com/what-will-it-take-to-end-cancer/defining-the-end-of-cancer-913bc1bddddc#.a46bh4osg
Please take a minute to read it!  Eye opening to say the least.

You see more than anything I want not only Jami but so many other lives not to be have lost to cancer in vain.  I want all of us that have been touched by this horrific disease, no matter what form of cancer, to do something!  Make this a life cause of all of ours...let's put our actions where are hearts are.  Volunteer, donate, write letters!  You see there are lots of issues today that can take our minds off of the issues of the heart.  Let's not just pray for a cure, let's do something about it!

If you are interested in volunteering with me please let me know!
Check out:  https://www.cancer.org/involved.html

My March to an Awakening

After eight years of being told that guns were going to be taken away I am now wondering if there is some wasted fear in some of the angst we see and hear today.    If the guns are still intact maybe the woman’s womb will be too?  Curious about the number of women I know and love that headed to Washington DC, Portland and Seattle for the Women’s March I decided to head to the march here in Richland.  The Tri-Cities is home to about 200,000 with the majority of elected offices filled with Republicans, this area is not known for non-traditional news, entertainment and certainly not social/political thought.  Not that that I think anyone would say they are censored or threatened into silence (some may I suppose…) but the political activism is pretty nonexistent.  So it is with these facts in my head as well as many posts from people I respect on both sides I decided to attend the march, listen to what the speakers had to say as well as the people in the crowd as well.  I donned a pink scarf and I was on my way.

On my drive over I listened to President Trump’s comments at the CIA and decided that there will not be a speech I miss of his…if the crowd I was about to go into believe that President Trump’s intended policies were to take away their political or social rights I want to hear for myself.

As I pull up George Washington Way I could see the crowd already gathering…actually a larger crowd than I expected.  Lots of signs, lots of pink, people (men and women of all ages) all assembled in the cold sunshine of John Day Plaza.  Three speakers, one from the local Democratic Party, two others from Universal Churches (sorry, I am sure there was more said about their resumes but the speaker system wasn’t great).  All three spoke of unity and activism, both key components of hopefully what is wanted on all fronts.   There was also a song but I couldn’t hear even what song they sang.  What I could see and best take in were the signs that many were holding.   Signs that reflected a variety of ideals…global issues, reproductive rights, and yes hatred toward the newly inaugurated President.  Some were comical, some positive, some outlandish (in my eyes) and yes some that were meant to shock and awe but mostly there to educate. 

After the speakers we began to march around the perimeter of John Day Plaza, City of Richland and the police department.  It began to get chilly but as we walked many drivers honked, gave us thumbs up and yes some (thankfully only a few) gave us the bird.  I am sure there were many that were shaking their heads, had conversations in the car and most importantly began to think/question what in the world we all think we were doing!  You see that is why I went…I am beginning to truly question what I am doing, not only as a woman but also as a citizen of the United States.

As a citizen I have not only the right but the responsibility to cherish and participate in the First Amendment, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

You see, not only do I have the responsibility to cherish and participate but also to support the rights of others to do the same.  Freedom of speech covers all of those signs, even the ones that I didn’t agree with.  Freedom of speech covers both the President of the United States’ tweets and speeches he gives.  Freedom of speech covers both the good and the ugly.

I know there have been concerns about some of the protest not being peaceful, I agree some have turned ugly.  But it is with hope in my heart that the message of the protests are not lost by the actions a few.  It only takes a few to destroy the message of many well-intentioned protesters.  Who knows maybe there are some in the crowd today that could have or would have started and promoted violence…thankfully there were no murmurs of that whatsoever!

The last part of the First Amendment is about petitioning the government for a redress of grievances…translated to is the right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of, one's government, without fear of punishment or reprisals.

This is the most importang part of all of the amendments in my humble opinion.  For if we cannot voice our complaints regarding our government without fear we will be forced to suffer in silence.  Silence that is deafening and can bring about great damage.  Silence allows injustice.  What were the complaints today?  Complaints regarding the possibility of long fought legislative rights and freedoms that women have…why complain now when nothing has occur yet?  I began to wonder until I came to an epiphany…In 1870’s after the Civil War we legislated that all men had the right to vote.   It took only until 1877 to implement Jim Crow laws, in essence removing the right to vote that was enacted.  Then almost 90 years to march, protest and fight for legislation that would not only allow, without restrictions, not only the right to vote but also to allow free and equal education!

We can complain, we should complain but more than anything we should DO something!  Something that when we look back we can be proud of, may not be approved of by our friends and family, but actions that we believe in and can stand by.

I love my country, I love my community but I love the idea of activism even more after today. 

My Search Day Three--The Eve of a Change in the White House...but what about my house?

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

― Robert F. Kennedy-

I have always loved this quote as often we see ourselves incapable of making any real difference as we have no real "power". As a teacher, counselor, parent and friend I have never wanted to feel helpless or have those around me feel helpless either.

In our society I know that there seems to be a cycle of helplessness and security that effects all of us. Whether it is as a child/adult, employee/supervisor, voter/elected official, or any other that you can think of...we all are in positions that at one time or another may feel like there needs to be a change. Whether it is at home, in the work place or in our communities.

Those that are in the position of power, I believe it is up to them to make sure that the power is used to gather strength to support those that have no power.

This has been far more eyeopening for me since moving from the high school world to the elementary world. Those Owls that I see everyday have no power, not political, not economic and yet they are the ones who at times suffer due to the actions of so many. Learning what kind of power they have over their lives and their actions is a job not for the weak of heart!

I have seen this also in traveling and seeing firsthand the poverty that so many suffer with. Poverty that could be reduced by those in power, possibly not eliminated but certainly assistance could be given so that the cycle would not have to continue. We have everything in our society to do this but for some reason it has yet to make a dent in so many areas.

Many of you know that I am on a journey to find the truth, the truth that I can share with others. I have my spiritual truth that I hope and pray is a light to others but it is the other types of truth that I believe go hand in hand with my spiritual truth I am seeking. Some of the truths that I find may be contrary to my spiritual truth and that is okay. I am not called to know all the answers but I am called to be seeking the truth. On this journey I hope that others will join in and share with me their truth, for how else will I find truths if I only focus on my journey and not those also who walk with alongside me?

My Search For Truth Day 2

For those just joining me in this journey of truth...I have a goal for this year to research out facts for stories/rumors that come out in the news media or Facebook.  I want to be armed with the truth and here is Day 2 of my Search:

It's not about abortions it is about healthcare. Fact Checking today's hysteria about Planned Parenthood, an organization/business that has assisted women AND men in accessing medical help for 100 years. I have never been a patient/client at PP but know plenty of women that have. Many couldn't afford birth control, needed medical advice but couldn't afford to go to the doctor OR needed screened for cancer. I am one of the many that have had excellent medical care AND parents that I could go to for medical advice/assistance but am also one that knows firsthand that not all women have/had that. So my question today is "Will the reduction in PP funding of $500 million by the Federal Government shutdown PP as we know it?”

The nitty gritty of it that I can research is that through the Medicaid process that low-income women are able to access the assistance they need...let's get one thing straight though...abortions are NOT covered by ANY dollar that is given by the Federal Government. The majority of services covered by the Federal Government involve birth control and emergency contraception, breast exams, gynecological care, HIV testing and counseling, pregnancy testing and options counseling, testing and treatment of sexually-transmitted infections, and men's health services.

This is key as we have a huge medical crisis in the United States, even with Obamacare (ACA) we have millions that can't afford the basic health needs of themselves and their families. This being said we not only need PP but we need the other agencies/businesses to be funded as much as possible by the Federal Government.  I don’t know that PP is the most perfect place for all women but I do know that women (and men) have a clinic that is safe for them to go to for not just reproductive issues but health screenings as well.

In a perfect world (for some) we would not need Planned Parenthood, we would remain celibate unless we were going to procreate.  Sex would only be used for procreation and then for those of us that cannot (or choose not) create a human we should not have sex.  For what other purpose does sex have then to procreate? 

*I am being sarcastic as we know even the most staunch opponent of PP has had sex at some point just for the sheer pleasure not to create life. 

But the world I live in, and so do you, is not perfect!  We have sexually-transmitted diseases that kill, the latest is Zika, yes a sexually transmitted disease, and without clinics such as PP poor women would not have the resources to get the condoms and counseling they need in order to keep themselves healthy as well as the lives of others.  We have children whose parents needed not only PP but possibly other counseling to help them make better choices!  Choices that would break the cycle of poverty.  I am not here to say that ALL the patients/clients of PP are poor, but that is exactly who is being overlooked in this debate!  The elected are not poor, the elected have resources, the elected have money, the elected have power!  The elected I believe have the responsibility to love and support those that they represent, even those that they do not reflect.  Elected officials are by far the ones that have the most resources, resources that should be fact checking and reflecting the desires of all the people, not just the ones that can afford healthcare.

PP is not for everyone (it actually is for everyone…) but for those that feel safe walking in the doors of the clinic, it should be a place where the elected financially support.  Are there other free clinics?  Yes, in many areas, but in looking there are many, many counties here in America that PP is the only option.  Taking away the $500 million will shut the doors to these clinics and then without the ACA where are we putting the poor then?  I don’t live in a large metropolis and my history of working in small rural areas have shown me that without PP those options are just not available…and if they aren’t available we, as a people, are saying that they aren’t important and that to me just isn’t acceptable.

Let's not forget that we are in this together...and what we truly need is more funding and research not reduction in funding!

If you are for the removing of the funding for PP I would urge you to do as I have, research the actual availability of options out there, research the clientele that need healthcare and above all research the truth.  Read articles that counter your opinions, read articles that will shed light on what is reported.  I did, I found more facts than opinions, I found that the “truth” on both sides is really meat in the middle, yes meat not meet, there is meat in this story, meat that should be highlighted so that tax dollars go to those that will best benefit.

And yes, here is the information I found in my research... http://www.businessinsider.com/defunding-planned-parenthood-abortions-donald-trump-congress-paul-ryan-republicans-2017-1

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/planned-parenthood/