Today...She Spoke!

I TOOK THE DAY OFF!

I Volunteer with The American Cancer Society,
Action Network in Illinois.
The asked me to SPEAK before The Illinois General
Assembly...
Department Of Health And Human Services,
Illinois Health Appropriations Committee.
(This Committee deals with Public Health Issues, and Funding)

Wow...That was a mouthful!

The Committee was ATTEMPTING to DETERMINE...

Just how MUCH...
Of the Governor's PROPOSED Cuts...
They would VOTE For.
Governor Quinn PROPOSED...
3.3 Million in cuts to IBCCP Funding.
If you've READ my Blog...
You are AWARE that Program,

SAVED MY LIFE!

The Program PROVIDES...
TOTAL Care for Women with Breast Cancer.

REGARDLESS OF INCOME!

LACK...Of...Insurance...

Is what DETERMINES your ELIGIBILITY.

SO CUT...WHAT?

I HAD TO SPEAK!

CUTS=DEATH!
(And, NO...I'm NOT being OVERLY Dramatic!)

After WAITING almost FOUR Hours...

It was MY TURN!

I closed my eyes...

And, ASKED the Lord...

TO USE ME!

It's IMPORTANT...
That the LEGISLATORS,
HAVE A FACE...TO PUT ON THIS DISEASE.

WE ARE MORE THAN JUST "NUMBERS" ON A BUDGET PROPOSAL!

They NEED to KNOW...
LIVES WILL BE AFFECTED!
LIVES "HANG" IN THE BALANCE,
BASED ON THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE!

I UNDERSTAND...
They have to be FISCALLY Responsible.

But,

As I "expressed" to them...
A MORAL responsibility,
Should "trump" that!

1 in 8  Women...
(I kid you not!)
Are DIAGNOSED with this disease EVERYDAY!

We Did NOTHING...
To DESERVE it.

I BELIEVE God "allows" things to occur in your LIFE...

TO SEE...

WHAT YOU WILL DO.
WHO YOU WILL BECOME.
AND, HOW IT WILL "TRANSFORM"...
YOUR LIFE...YOUR FAITH.

I told a "Sister" from Susan G. Komen TODAY...

BEING DIAGNOSED with BREAST CANCER...

ALLOWED MY "BREAKTHROUGH"'.
ALL THE "STUFF"...
THAT HAD NO PLACE...
TAKING UP "RESIDENCE" IN MY LIFE...

GONE!

I WAS HUMBLED...
I WAS "NAKED" FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE.
"STRIPPED"...BARE!

BUT...

I BECAME A "BETTER" VERSION OF...ME!

I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS DISEASE.
I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS CAUSE!

I PRAY...
THAT "ONE" DAY...
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT...
BREAST CANCER.

IMAGINE THAT.

TODAY SHE SPOKE.

Until Next Time...

"TO GOD BE THE GLORY!"