Renewable Revolution

By The Backbone Campaign, Popular Resistance.
December 24, 2019 | CREATE!


SNIPPET:

Phil Ateto, a 41 year old Annapolis resident, has been fighting multiple myeloma cancer for 9 years. Having exhausted almost every drug available, Phil’s oncologist requested that CareFirst approve him for Venetoclax, a new drug that is FDA approved for similar blood cancers, and has shown promising results in trials for those with multiple myeloma. His oncology team believes that taking Venetoclax for 1-3 months will allow him to survive long enough that he can undergo a Car-T Cell Treatment in early Spring, Phil’s doctor feels that this is his best and only option for staying alive.

CareFirst is denying Phil coverage. CareFirst is refusing to honor Phil and his doctor’s wishes. Phil’s cancer levels are growing everyday that he is not in treatment. CareFirst is condemning Phil to die.  But Phil is fighting back.

“After all that BS we heard about ‘death panels,’ the real death panels ☠️are the 😈🎩 insurance companies that get between patients and their doctors to deny care and access to medication. That interference is a death sentence for those being denied,” said Ateto. “That’s what 🐍 CareFirst is doing to me and I love life too much not to put up a fight.”

NOTE: Millions of people in the US are going without healthcare because they are uninsured or denied coverage or can’t afford the out of pocket costs. This one is personal for us. We have known and worked with Phil since he joined the campaign to stop the TransPacific Partnership in 2012. He has worked with us on the campaign for National Improved Medicare for All and on a wide variety of issues. Phil did light projection when we were at the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, DC.

Phil joined the Backbone Campaign, where Margaret is a board member. Backbone has partnered with us in our action camps. Phil coordinated the Solidarity Brigades across the country that do light projection and other creative messaging. He works tirelessly even though he has cancer and despite the risk of arrest for simply exposing injustice.

Phil shows up and does whatever is needed. He does so with care and positivity. He also organizes against racism and for health care in his community. He is a dedicated activist. Now Phil needs us to show up for him. So far, funds have been raised for his first treatment. He will need a second one.

Together, we can raise the funds necessary so Phil will have treatment while we make so-called ‘CareFirst’ do their job of covering it.  – MF and KZ

Full article: ✨

https://popularresistance.org/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-chance-to-live/