I spoke at a peaceful demonstration recently. I have now attended quite a few since Trump took office for a second time because silence is not an option for my conscious. My husband and I recently asked ourselves, "If this were the Civil Rights Movement, would we have stayed at home?" We answered no. And, so, now we are active in Pennsylvania attending events, visiting Representative Fitzpatrick's office, and calling elected officials. When I took the mic at this particular rally organized by Doylestown Action League, I was moved to speak about young people who have chronic illness. My call to action was this:
1. Check on your neighbors who may be in need - we cannot afford to isolate ourselves from one another.
2. Do not assume someone with an illness is ok - young people with chronic illness often times do not appear sick, but they are. Ask how you can help.
3. Visit our aging population - they are lonely and are losing healthcare and security.
4. Donate to organizations that help coordinate transportation for those unable to drive. The sick cannot afford to miss their medical appointments.
5. Educate yourself on National Organization for Rare Disorders!
After speaking, a mother of a young woman my age came up to me. She thanked me for speaking and shared about her daughter who lives in an apartment and receives all in-home care because her disease is so serious that she, her mother, can no longer manage it on her own. Her daughter has Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. I admit the sadness on this mother's face pierced my heart because I have seen that same sadness in my own mother's eyes. She explained how Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services helps her daughter have some independence by providing the care she needs exactly how she needs it in her own home. Interestingly, she then described to me what her daughter was like before she got sick. Her expression completely changed the more she spoke. She was full of life and laughed as she told me about her daughters' passions, and then sadness returned. Tears rolled down my face. Her daughter does not deserve to be this sick. No one deserves to be. So, consider one of the "calls to action" I shared or continue the conversation with me.
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