If you care about health care reform and GLBT rights read this about a friend in need

Dear friends,

If you care about health care reform and if you care about the rights of GLBT people, this is a story you will want to read, and a situation I hope you will feel inspired to help out.

On May 11, her 34th birthday, a friend of mine, Jodee, who lives with her partner Sara in Austin, TX, had a mild-moderate stroke in the left temporal lobe of her brain. She's recovering now, but the immediate result was that she lost mobility and feeling in her right arm below the elbow, which seems to be slowly coming back.

The cause is three blood clots that have been discovered in her brain, one at the base that has restricted blood flow from her carotid artery by 60%-80% and two more near the center of her brain. She's in imminent danger, and needs surgery to remove the clots and put a stent in her brain to release the blockage.

As horrible as that story is, it gets worse because of the unfairness of our health care system and straight up discrimination against GLBT people in being granted full rights in our country.

Jodee is uninsured because she is diabetic, which insurance companies consider a "pre-existing condition" that renders her uninsurable. Because she is in a long term, loving, lesbian relationship which is not considered a legal marriage, she is not covered by Sara's insurance. Jodee and Sara have access to doctors who WANT to help her but are unable to because she has no access to insurance.

The medical bills incurred as a result to date are staggering and will further sky rocket in the months to come. They are also struggling with lost income due to Jodee not being able to work and Sara needing to miss work to help care for her.

They need your support now, and in the future. They need money now for things like prescription drugs which cost them hundreds of dollars a month, and to replace lost income just to cover immediate living expenses.

But they also need funds to deal with mounting medical bills and to cover needed medical procedures could literally be life saving.

Jodee is slipping through the cracks of a health care system that her life now depends on, and any donation will help make a difference.

Challenge yourself to give the most you can. Jodee is a vibrant, beautiful young woman who deserves every opportunity to address this crisis and get the health care she needs to improve her changes for a healthier future.

If you are on Facebook, more information about Jodee and her situation can be found at this open group site.

A PayPal account has been set up to make donation easy. More information about donating and a link to the PayPal account can also be found on Facebook.

If you are not on Facebook, contact the fundraising organizers by email.


Thank you for reaching out to Jodee and Sara in their time of need.
Please pass this along to your networks and anyone who might be willing and able to help out. Share this on your pages if you are moved to do so!

Thank you!!!!!

Ann