Friday, December 15, 2006

Without comment

(much, because whatever i start to say turns into a lot of swearing, for several reasons)

this post by the former grannyvibe. vibrating, vibrant.

My diagnosis at the underfunded overcrowded public charity Hospital for the Indigent Damned was delivered to me by a 12-year-old rotating resident whom I never saw before or since. And even though I have an extremely aggressive stage-IV cancer, it was another six weeks before my treatment began.

According to a new study being presented this week at the American Society of Hematology convention, "Patients from deprived areas had a higher relative risk to die compared to patients from affluent areas...The existing deprivation gap in relative survival for both men and women confirms that cancer survival depends on socio-economic background and is inequitable." Survival: it's all about the money. I bet fame doesn't hurt either.

...Cancer survival depends on socio-economic background and is inequitable." And inequitabilty makes me bitter. Once upon a time, I had health insurance. Until I turned 50 and the premium outstripped my income. But it was a lousy limited policy, and even if I had been able to keep it, this cancer would have bankrupted me.

So, dear readers, let's review what we've learned today: The existing deprivation gap in relative survival for both men and women confirms that cancer survival depends on socio-economic background and is inequitable. I just want you all to read those words one more time. Especially the word inequitable. This means that some lives are valued more highly, and are more worth saving than others.

Anyone want to join me for a pint of bitters?


On edit: Her son still has a paypal button up, although she herself doesn't seem to.

Where to donate to grannyvibe

11 comments:

J. Goff said...

I'll join in some shots for the sheer point that I hope my liver gives out before I have to truly deal with this country's fucked up health insurance policies.

antiprincess said...

so sad.
what else can you say?

Eli said...

Sigh. I wish I could say I was shocked or surprised, but it's more like a confirmation of what I already knew.

I bet income is a pretty good predictor of favorable outcomes in legal proceedings, too.

The deck is stacked, and the dealer never changes.

SulaPeace said...

My God why doesn't she have a donate button? I went back to her site specifically for that reason. this is really sad.

belledame222 said...

I don't know. I want to read it carefully to make sure she's not actively opposed to fundraising on her behalf, because that's a project i've already pitched to some people. I know she was off the radar for a while; her son is/was posting updates on her and yes i think collecting funds. I'm not sure how deliberate it is/was to keep her stuff relatively low-profile; but, there's a reference to a "New Shoes for Liz" fund. someone suggested in passing maybe upgrade to a "New House for Liz" fund? which, well, anyway, i -would- like to get a more concerted effort going, assuming she's not actively opposed for some reason.

i "know" her from a v.c. as well as the grannyvibe blog, where she was as beloved (she left before starting grannyvibe) as she was as a blogger. it -really- sucks because well yeah i think she's a particularly decent soul, at least based on what i know of her and 2) she love(s)(d) life -so much-, you know: always interested in everything and everyone, dancing zydeco with strangers, reporting on life in rural Lousiana (she had an amazing long "diary" on the vc; she's a gifted and sensitive writer, along with everything else): her neighbors, the sociopolitical vibe, the joys of her house, domesticity, her garden...

Hahni said...

This is ironic because I was just looking for some info on her a couple of days ago. Visited the son's blog and he didn't have anything new posted about her.

belledame222 said...

No, it doesn't look like he's updated in a couple weeks.

This is the website address, btw, sulapeace; he has a donation buttons set up already/

Where to donate to grannyvibe

SulaPeace said...

Done, done and done. Thanks BD.

bint alshamsa said...

BelleDame, if you find out that she's not opposed to a fundraising effort, then please let me know. I'd love to participate. Her cancer is near the same spot as mine and she's from Louisiana just like I am. Everytime I hear about what's going on with her, I can't help but feel really connected to it.

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