"Chasing waterfalls" for Linda
“Every thought we have is a tangible energy with the power to transform. A thought is not only a thing; a thought is a thing that influences other things.” -– Lynne McTaggart
Good afternoon, everyone.
Many of you, if not most of you, have participated in Daily Kos Groups and/or blogathons, so there’s a very good chance you’ve had some interaction with Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse, organizer extraordinaire, She Who Makes It Happen, one of the most generous and unselfish individuals I’ve ever known. Her name is Linda and she has been a very dear friend to me and to many others for over 12 years.
Linda is a fighter, a relentless source of energy and goodwill. If she saw you struggling with how to do something, she’d be the first to help you. If you’ve ever felt down and blue, there’s a very good chance that if Lin saw this, she’d give you a gentle hand up and reassure you that she’s there for you. This is the extraordinary person Linda is.
Although she has many passions, she’s known as our eco-warrior because the Earth, the air, the water, the land, the “critters,” anything and everything in nature have been her driving force for most of her life. Lin has worked tirelessly on climate change and protection of the vulnerable areas of this place we all call home.
Something else about Lin? She also cares deeply about social justice and has worked to end hunger in America, be an advocate for Native Americans, indigenous and First Peoples, and anyone in need, anyone who’s ever felt marginalized because of color, gender, faith, sexual orientation, age, ability.
At this time, our dear friend Lin is fighting for life, fighting for breath. Her sister, Laura, is her full-time caregiver.
The Story
Meet my sister, Linda McClure. Her friend Aji said, she’s been a warrior her whole life: for everyone, for environmental and climate justice, for the wildlife and natural resources. She’s had a successful career as an environmental lawyer, practicing on the side of Mother Earth. She’s an activist, a community/activism organizer, a writer, a sister, and friend. She was so honored when Bill McKibben stated that he could "think of no higher praise than 'great organizer,' and you're one of the greatest!
She’s in the fight of her life, and she needs our help.
Five years ago, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. She completed a rigorous and difficult treatment protocol that enabled remission, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.
Since April, she has experienced severe pain in her right knee, right leg and ribs. Because of her medical history, she was concerned that her breast cancer had returned. She sought additional screening, but her mammogram turned up no evidence of new disease. Since then, her condition has progressively worsened, with severe joint and bone pain, first in her legs, then spreading through her body, and finally culminating in what doctors stated was fracturing of ribs. She continued to seek medical tests to obtain a diagnosis and treatment — her concerns were dismissed as simply arthritis and fractured ribs treated with pain pills.
Last week, Linda finally was able to see two specialists who ran diagnostic tests showing her breast cancer has now spread to her lungs and her bones.
She has been told that she has only months to live, possibly only weeks . . . except for the possibility of pursuing clinical trials or perhaps aggressive chemo. A surgical biopsy this week will determine options available.
I am hoping to raise $30,000 to cover our regular bills of $4,000 a month for housing payment, utilities, food etc. which would be needed for 6 months for the beginning of a fighting option (like clinical trial or specialized chemo) or will cover end of life if no other options. Linda is on current leave of absence from work and I work very few hours so that I can take care of her.
In addition to this base of $24,000, there are medical expenses piling up with increased co-pays: each CT her co-pay has been $500-$700; and her co-pay for lung biopsy is $3,000.
And we need medical equipment for breathing that is not covered by insurance. We have purchased a nebulizer and oxygen equipment that is 62 pounds that I must push around so Linda can walk to the bathroom. We need to purchase a truly portable "oxygen purse" for around $3500 that will enable her some mobility at home and hopefully outside our home.
Linda and I are very close; we have lived together for nearly three decades. She is my North Star. Without her income, there is the very real possibility of losing a roof over our heads, even as I face the prospect of losing my sister and best friend. We are trying, in what may be a very short time available to us, to raise sufficient funds to ensure that Linda can get the medical (and, if necessary, palliative-care) treatment that she needs, that her day-to-day needs will be provided for, and that we can keep our home while she fights this battle of — and for — her life.
Please help us remove the burden of basic survival from her shoulders, so that she can focus her energies on the battle ahead of her.
In gratitude, Laura
Today, I’m asking you in all humility, to consider giving any amount you can to help these ladies, who have no income but major medical expenses. If you can give $5, that will help. If five people can give $20, there’s $100 to help provide for the ladies who have cared and nurtured so many of us. Every dollar adds up and no amount is too small.
Instead of focusing entirely on medical details, I also ask that you join me in remembering your positive thoughts and experiences about this extraordinary individual, our Lin. I have so many, many memories of happy times with Lin, the way she held me in her white light during my own fight with lymphoma ten years ago, the way she kept in touch with my family while I was AFK for months after a bone marrow transplant, the ways that Lin, Aji and I had almost daily “making sure you’re okay” emails for years, keeping each others’ spirits up and providing a safe place to vent.
We are magnets. When we emit positive energy (thoughts, feelings, and vibrations), we attract more positives to us.
When we dwell on the negatives, we attract negatives ~ sapping our energy and strength in the process.
Love is the antidote to fear.
Five minutes of positive thought and energy for Linda will uplift her. Reading your happy memories in the comments will comfort her. If you can donate any amount of money to help with her medical care, that would be very much appreciated.
If only for one day, let’s flip the script here and send some love and healing energy to our Sprit Sister, LIn.
Thank you, all of you who have read this and are willing to help someone who has helped everyone she’s ever worked with or known.
(Title inspired by the one and only Edwidge Danticat)
