Dear Senator Dodd:
I am a resident of Connecticut. I just heard you have prostate cancer. I am very sorry to hear this news. I'm sure it's a frightening revelation that has sent your entire family into a tailspin.
As far as I know, however, you are now surrounded by expert medical practitioners who are giving you detailed plans on how to treat and cure your cancer. These experts are plying you with statistics on what treatments work, setting appointments for you, counseling you on your choices. You've likely been told that there is every hope for a cure and a full life ahead of you, after all, you're only 65. That must be a huge relief in this time of crisis.
Let me tell you what happened in my family when my then three and four year old daughters were dealt an equally frightening diagnosis back in 1999. My husband and I were told that our daughters had autism, and that it was a lifelong condition with no cure. Did I mention the girls were ages three and four? No cure.
The neurology "expert" who diagnosed the girls had no treatment to offer. In fact, the only "prescribed treatments" were external therapies. All of which we had to pay for out of pocket. In our first months following diagnosis, we were spending $800 a month just on speech therapy. A decade ago.
Getting an autism diagnosis isn't much different in 2009 than it was in 1999. Doctors still tell worried Moms and Dads that there is no cure, to plan for a group home for the more severely impacted child, to rely on the public school system for "treatment." Three years old, and your little one's life is "over." Astounding, isn't it?
I believe your Senate health care plan will cover your cancer treatments without question, correct? It must be a big relief to know your family will not go bankrupt so that you can live a full life, pursue your career in public service and maintain your masculine dignity.
Perhaps you will go to sleep tonight fearful of the surgery and the possible side effects of treatment. You might even awaken several times with worry. Who could blame you?
I''ve been doing that for ten long years, Senator Dodd. Autism aside, you well know that tens of millions of Americans without healthcare insurance remain sleepless when they or a loved one become ill. And I know you're fighting to change that. Thank you.
I hope that when you return from your surgery, you will continue to fight for healthcare for all Americans. And thank you for co-sponsoring the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act which will provide research into prevention, treatment and a I hope a cure for autism. Because I could really use a good night's sleep.
Thank you. I wish you well.
Your constituent,
Kim Stagliano
(PS) Could you please pull Senator Lieberman aside and ask him to sign onto ATAA too? He's unwilling so far. My girls and I would appreciate it.
Well, we may be broke, have autism in our family, but dammit we have nice teeth!
Maria D.
My family too has been affected by cancer and autism. I wish you good health and a speedy recovery. Our son is 15 years old now and I worry every day for what the future holds for him . We spent over $30,000 per year for last 9 years to help him with medical treatments (and they have greatly improved him) but this of course caused us massive debt (house is mortgaged to the hilt and credit cards), affected our other two children's lives and now that my husband lost his job...it has pushed us into bankruptcy and now possibly the loss of our home. Autism is so prevalent, unfunded and must be brought to the forefront in healthcare before we lose generations of childrens and ruin hundreds of thousands of families. Thank you
Don't get me wrong though. I've seen what cancer has done to several of my family members. BUT! many have lived long happy lives before getting cancer and they received the best of care through INSURANCE when they did get their cancer conditions.
But when it came to our one twin son dx'd with regressive ASD, right after he turned 4 years old in Aug 2007, we found out wth AUTISM was:
http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/664709
Shortly after putting the ^^ above video together, we found out the the HARD way that our Insurance company will ONLY PROVIDE to our then 4 year old son...ie:Ritalin! and we live in a STATE that now MANDATES they MUST provide therapy! - But what a joke and an expensive one at that!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmSvDb9jot
Thank you for all you do Kim. Thank you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmSvDb9jotk
Well said Kim. I hope he hears you.
Our health insurance system is so messed up. Imagine if you lost your car insurance when you changed jobs. Or if your insurance company said, "Oh we only cover damages to the LEFT bumper in accidents on the Northbound lane, not the RIGHT bumper heading South." I have an implant in my mouth - just the post - because I really can't spring for the crown since we no longer have a health savings account since Mark became self employed after losing his job twice in 08 (that was fun.) I finally get an implant - and it's in my mouth. Now THAT's depressing! :)
KIM
Miles White - Abbott - $17,395.00 an hour
Fred Hassan -Schering-Plough - $15,677.00 an hour
Bill Weldon - Johnson & Johnson - $13,022.00 an hour
Ron Williams - Aetna - $12,656.00 an hour
H. Edward Hanway - CIGNA - $6,373.00 an hour
Angela Braly - WellPoint - $5,127.00 an hour
We need single payer. Dodd knows this but is crafting a welfare for the insurance industry bill instead.
Godspeed, Senator Dodd.
Maurine Meleck
My son with autism has never had that luxury. Insurance covers none of the therapies his doctors have prescribed over the years. We have paid thousands upon thousands of dollars out of pocket and watched him get better. Thank God, so far we've been able to...
It is time ... No, it is long past time that families like Kim's and Angela's and Barbara's and mine have access to the medical care their children with autism need...
I hope that Senator Dodd reads this letter Kim and I hope it resonates. Thank you for writing it.
Unfortunately every word of Kim's letter to you is true. I do hope that you will support the ATAA and that you will also support coverage for our military dependent children by insisting that the Armed Services Conference Committee retain language from the House version of the NDAA that will provide treatment coverage for our children under the basic Tricare program. Our children every where are being discriminated against because they have autism. This has got to stop. Our children deserve the best shot at recovery every one else is afforded. Children with autism are people too.
Kim, beautifully said, as usual. Thank you for reaching out to Senator Dodd.