Angela's Story Just Can't Be Summarized. It's Just Too Complicated!

I've been sitting at the computer for a couple of hours now, trying to capture Angela's story in a way that everyone can understand. After pouring through two years of her "Care Pages", I've just realized it's just too complicated. So, I've decided to select one of the most meaningful pieces of prose Angela wrote over the last year. I think it captures alot of what she's been facing, most recently with the behemoth insurance company who has denied two appeals from her doctors for coverage of her liver transplant.

I think it will be quite apparent that Angela has a wonderful talent of putting her feelings into words we can all understand:

"I have been asked in the past why I don't have more anger with regard to my diagnosis. My response has been that I feel that the emotion is really a waste of time, but I think I need to revise my answer now. There is nothing that we can really do about what life throws at us, whether that be a cyclone in Burma, an earthquake in China or a cancer in the bile duct. How we respond, however, we can control; and what we expect of our fellow human beings we can also judge. Myanmar's generals are responsible for the lives they sacrificed to their paranoia, but what is the point of raging against a weather system? We can mourn the tragedy of the earthquake victims and admire China's swift response, even as it reminds us of the shame of Katrina. I am not angry at the cancer, but my fury has no limits against an institution that cannot see beyond its "criteria" to the human story that lies just underneath my medical file. I imagine that when they look at my file they see just a cancer patient--weak, resigned, maybe in pain. I am none of those things, and, if they knew that, perhaps they would not be so quick to write me off. I have every intention of acquainting them with the real me."

In the future, rather than document all Angela has been through, treatment by treatment, I'll select some poignant remarks she's made over time. I think you'll become quite a fan of hers, as everyone who knows her is.

And my progress? We've been blessed in California with a very mild January, so I've been racking up the miles. It's January 21st and I've now ridden 640 miles. Ahead of schedule! Tired? Yes, I am! A crazy 6,860 more miles to go! I've just started, and I'm looking forward to sharing the road with many of my cycle friends as they support me in this endeavor.

Please become an "Angel 4 Angela" and make your check payable to:

"The Angela Hailey Liver Transplant Fund", Acct #346617

and mail it to:

Technology Credit Union - Acct #346617
P.O. Box 1300
San Jose, CA 95108-1300

Thank you so much for caring!