I’m going to get a bit personal for a moment, but some names will be changed for privacy/legal reasons. I want to tell you about a patient of mine. We will call her Jane. Jane is 74 years old. Her life hasn’t been an easy one. 1/13

She was born in Kentucky and she was an only child. She moved around a lot because her father was in the military. She was expected to basically be the maid as soon as she was physically able to cook and clean. 2/13

Her home wasn’t an easy one to be in, so at a young age she married. She had two children. Her husband was financially supportive but was physically abusive to her and her children. Eventually she had to leave and return to her parents’ home again. 3/13

Jane had always dreamed of going to school and being a nurse, but her husband refused to help her go when they were married. She did become a CNA and worked in a hospital while she was still married. 4/13

When she returned to her parents’ home, she ended up having to quit work for a while because her father became ill and she had to help care for him. So she was basically now financially dependent on her parents. 5/13

After her dad passed away, she went back to work in a hospital and she loved her work. However she was paid very little and struggled to support herself and her sons, one who was disabled. 6/13

I met her when she had a consult with one of our oncologists following a double mastectomy. She didn’t care for her previous doctor and she wanted a second opinion about the treatment they had suggested. We hit it off immediately. 7/13

Right now her prognosis looks good and she is doing really well emotionally. Her biggest frustration is that she needs help around the house because she tires easily. So why am I telling you this? 8/13

She is on Medicare and Medicaid. She has been tossed around from doctor to doctor as if she was a lost cause. She is on Social Security and receives housing. She is living paycheck to paycheck. Luxury items to her are thick fluffy towels. 9/13

As she is battling cancer, she worries that she will lose her housing supplement and that her Medicaid will be impacted which would leave her financially burdened with medical bills. 10/13

This is America. This is the land opportunity. Where a 74 year old billionaire can avoid paying taxes while receiving the best care in the world, but a 74 year old woman who has paid taxes fears she could become homeless. 11/13

She worries that she will lose what health coverage she has if the programs she relies on are cut. She is technically below the poverty level, but she only gets $20 a month in food assistance. 12/13

This is America, and this is wrong. So excuse me if I have zero empathy for the politicians who don’t care about the most vulnerable. Forgive me if I find your “activism” is nothing more than a billboard for more billionaires. We must do better. 13/13

PS: If you really want to help someone like Jane, volunteer at a food bank. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Work part time as a caregiver in their homes to help them with housework and shopping. And VOTE for those who actually will give a damn.