Thanks to all who read this email when I posted it the morning of the historic healthcare reform vote. So many of you sent me emails telling me you made calls. Your work paid off!
My husband Shannon and I were both on the evening news last night talking about the need for healthcare reform and young adult cancer.
Are you tired of me posting, writing, and speaking about the healthcare reform bill? I am. But too bad because cancer is a dead horse that needs beating and by passing healthcare reform and eliminating pre-existing conditions clauses, we will prevent thousands of cancer deaths. The bill ain’t perfect, but it is still likely the most historic and worthy bill of my lifetime.
Our Congress woman has been a long supporter of the bill but we knew we could make a difference by trying to target congress people other than our own. We were interviewed at a healthcare rally in a very conservative district, but the fight was successful. The congress woman issued an official press release saying she will vote yes!
The word from behind the scenes is that any one in favor of health reform needs to continue to do the following up until the time of the vote on Sunday late afternoon:
1. Keep calling congress!
2. It does not matter if your representative has already decided yes. Call others who have not decided.
3. Call the list of people below, tell them politely that you are a concerned citizen (cancer patient?), you are in favor of healthcare reform, you are not in their district but the eyes of the country are on them and their vote directly impacts you.
The last ten years of my life have been so impacted by cancer and health insurance issues. I am taking all of my anger and exhaustion from the experience to try to turn it into something good for the next cancer patients who will follow in my footsteps. It would mean the world to me if you would do the same. Let the calling begin!
Lots of love,
Kairol
Brian Baird – Washington (Vancouver, Olympia) - (202) 225-3536
Paul Kanjorski – Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Mount Pocono) - (570) 496-1011
John Tanner – Tennessee (Union City, Jackson, Millington) - 202-225-4714
Earl Pomeroy – North Dakota (Bismarck, Fargo) - (202) 225-2611
Lincoln Davis – Tennessee (Columbia, Jamestown, Rockwood) - 202.225.6831
Mike Michaud – Maine (Bangor, Lewiston, Presque Isle, Waterville) - 202-225-6306
Bill Foster – Illinois (Batavia, Dixon, Geneseo) - (202) 225-2976
Kathy Dahlkemper – Pennsylvania (Erie) - (202) 225-5406
Chris Carney – Pennsylvania (Clarks Summit, Shamokin, Williamsport) - (202) 225-3731 Chris Carney just changed his vote to yes! Thanks Rep Carney for supporting young adults with cancer!
Steve Driehaus – Ohio (Cincinnati) - (202) 225-2216
Stephen Lynch – Massachusetts (Brockton, Boston) - 202-225-8273
Rick Boucher – Virginia (Abingdon, Pulaski, Big Stone Gap) - 202-225-3861
Loretta Sanchez – California (Garden Grove) - (202) 225-2965
Dan Lipinski – Illinois (LaGrange, Oak Lawn, Chicago’s southwest side) - (202) 225 – 5701
Joe Donnelly – Indiana (South Bend, LaPorte, Michigan City, Kokomo) - (202) 225-3915
Marion Berry – Arkansas (Jonesboro, Cabot, Mountain Home) - (202) 225-4076
Jerry Costello – Illinois (Carbondale, Belleville, E. St. Louis, Granite City, Chester) - (202) 225-5661
Nick Rahall – West Virginia (Beckley, Bluefield, Huntington, Logan) - (202) 225-3452
Solomon Ortiz – Texas (Corpus Christi, Brownsville) – (202) 225-7742
Thanks Congressman Ortiz for declaring that you have changed your mind and will vote YES!
Alan Mollohan – West Virginia (Morgantown, Wheeling, Clarksburg, Parkersburg) - (202) 225-4172
“Everything Changes is, without doubt, the most forthright, emotionally sophisticated, and plain-old valuable book of its kind I've seen.”
