National Cancer Survivors Day

NHLife — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:13:00 GMT

Today is National Cancer Survivors Day. Did you know that there are over 11 million cancer survivors in the US? This sounds like a big number, but when you stop to think about the number of people that have been lost to cancer, it really puts it all into perspective.

This week, Standup2Cancer.org launched their website. For only $1 you can donate in the name of a family member, friend or co-worker who has struggled with the disease in any of its forms. You can create a star in their name and the star will be part of a "constellation" on the website. Funds that are raised will go toward cancer research. If you're like me, you probably thought that Federal funding for cancer research was a regular and ongoing source. However, many Federal grants have dried up.

It's time to take this into our own hands. All it takes is a buck (though you can donate more). Since most of us know someone who currently has cancer, is a survivor, or has been taken from us too soon because of this insidious disease (which is most of us), this is the perfect way to honor your loved ones. I know I did.

Did you know that every minute someone dies from cancer? It's true. We are that close to a cure for many forms of the disease. This is our chance to try and make a difference, to ensure that our children might just see a future without cancer.

Imagine it.

On Friday, September 5, the "Big Three" networks will host an unprecedented primetime fundraiser for StandUp2Cancer. The goal is to put an end to cancer by raising enough money to help fund cancer research for years to come. If you want a sneak peek, their website is already up and running at http://www.standup2cancer.org/.

It might be the best dollar you ever spent.

The girl that broke my heart today

NHLife — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:30:00 GMT

The day was going along fine today despite that it was a Monday and one of the busiest days of my week. Until I overheard a news story on Fox News Channel in the background. I was broken-hearted, tears ran down my cheeks, and I was suddenly on a mission.

The story was about Jayci Yaeger, a 10-year old girl that is dying in a Nebraska hospital from terminal brain cancer. Her dying wish was that her father be by her bedside as she passed. The problem is that her father, Jason Yaeger, is imprisoned for dealing the drug methamphetamine. He is serving his final year of a five year sentence at the minimum-security Yankton Federal Prison Camp in South Dakota. He requested a furlough to be with his daughter while she died, only to be denied because his request didn't meet "extraordinary circumstances". Really? If this isn't an extraordinary circumstance, I'm not really sure what is. What is more extraordinary than the death of a little girl?

If this man was a violent criminal, I wouldn't be writing this blog. But, I feel that this prison system is punishing a dying girl rather than a prisoner. Hasn't she suffered enough? When her father calls her, tears roll down her cheek. It breaks my heart that she cannot have her daddy by her side so that she can die in peace. This is not about Jason Yaeger, who has offered to extend his sentence when he returns; it's about a little girl that doesn't have long to live. In fact, it seems as though she is hanging on until her father is at her bedside.

Whether it's fair or not, this situation does not reflect well on Yankton Federal Prison Camp and it doesn't reflect well on its Warden J.D. Whitehead, his prison (as if a prison needs a good reputation) or the entire prison system. It's disgusting and appalling that a warden would use his power to keep a 10-year old terminally ill child from her dying wish. They are violating their own rules (that offer furloughs - or at least supervised leaves for situations like this). They may have their reasons, but I can’t think of any reason that justifies this unconscionable despicable act.

So, I emailed the warden and the governor (even though it seems that the governor cannot step in because it is a federal prison). I realize that I'm not a constituent, but I am a human being. Hundreds of others have also called, sent letters and emails. I just hope that those letters get into the right hands before it's too late.

If the warden can sleep at night and live his life without a conscience, good for him. But there is a little girl out there that doesn't have much life left in her and I hope he never forgets that he could have granted her dying wish.

If you want to send a note to the warden, you can do so by emailing YAN/EXECASSISTANT@bop.gov.

Update: It's nearly 1 a.m. as I write this and I just sent off an email to the President, Vice President and the Attorney General of the United States. I'm not expecting the emails to actually reach those people, but if this could tug at a few heartstrings, well, you just never know. If anyone doubts my story, please do a google news search and read for yourself.

Update (3/27/08): Jason Yaeger was allowed to visit with his daughter for approximately 30 minutes on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. This seems to be due - in part - to the hundreds of letters the warden received in response to little Jayci's story. Letters and emails came in from all over the country. Still, it was not a furlough. I will not understand (without an explanation from the warden) what the problem is. He'll likely be let out again when she passes and - to me - it seems like a waste of money to have guards escorting him back and forth four hours one way for a thirty minute vist when he could have had a furlough. But something is better than nothing and I'm glad that he was able to be with her for one last time before she passed.

Update (3/28/08): Jayci Yaeger passed away. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. While I'm pleased that her father was able to see her before she passed, I am sorry that he could not be there as she passed.

Live Free and Blog : cancer

National Cancer Survivors Day

The girl that broke my heart today