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A little help from Friends .......Words of
Thanks
by Michelle Deininger
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The following is “the speech” that Michelle’s brother,
Rene, read on Michelle’s behalf Saturday night (April 20) at the Stone Soup
Cafe. Michelle was unable to attend due to her weakened immune system from
receiving chemotherapy but was there in spirit to celebrate with the over 1,000
friends and family who came to support her. |
Thank you so much for coming. I've been totally
overwhelmed by the generosity of the local businesses, by the amount of people
who have donated items to the silent auction, by the volunteers who’ve made
this all possible, and by the number of people who took the time to come and
support me here tonight.
Since last May when I found out I had cancer there has been a continuous
stream of cards, books, flowers, phone calls, prayers and donations. People who
don’t even know me have reached out to say “hang in there, we’re behind
you.” I never would’ve guessed that my little life could touch so many -
it’s TRULY been a humbling experience.
I’ve been through a lot this past year - operations, tests,
chemotherapy and radiation, doctor visits, nightmares too ugly to name. And when
I’d finally completed it all and thought I only had medical bills to take care
of - the cancer decided to come back, and the whole process began all over
again.
But I never doubted for a second that I would battle on, and that’s
largely due to all of you - you’ll never know how much your well wishes have
done for my spirit. I’ve been so lucky both in public support and in the
amazing love of my family who have had to deal with this illness alongside me.
There have been numerous disappointments along the way and the biggest
being what my insurance company has put me through. When my family’s business
was dropped by Group Health Cooperative HMO - along with all of Green County - I
dutifully found another health plan. I “played by the rules” - but when it
came time to help me, my insurance company turned its back.
They first refused to pay. Then they held up certain processes like my
chemotherapy - and made my mother personally sign for my radiation treatments,
saying they refused to cover them. The steady stream of incoming bills only
agitated my already weakened state. And when I would phone the company to get
answers, all I got was the run around....this shouldn’t be the way things
operate in America.
But things are slowly working themselves out. I’ve hired an attorney to
deal with the whole mess, which compounds my costs - but at least I don’t have
to talk to the collection agencies.
And Summer is coming, so I’m smiling a bit more.
Lastly, since I have the attention of so many people I just wanted to add
four things;
-
Colon cancer doesn’t run in my family and yet I got it at
34. Go
out and get tested. It may not be a whole lot of fun, but it can save
you from a world of pain. Get screened for cancer regularly.
-
If there’s something you want to do - do in NOW. DON’T
WAIT! Tomorrow may not be there.
-
If you’re living an unhealthy lifestyle -drugs,
overeating, smoking - please consider stopping. When I hear people say
“It’s my life, I can do what I want” I cringe because it’s
simply not true. If you get cancer it belongs to you, your family and your
friends. The amount of help you need when you’re sick reaches out for
miles.
-
And finally, I need to say a special “thank you” from
the bottom of
my heart to three people.....Connie Baquero, Randa Gabel and my mother,
Ursula Deininger. You three women have been angels here on earth for me, and
I won’t ever forget what you’ve done.
Thank you all again. You’re support this evening will stay
with me
forever. Sincerely, Michelle Deininger
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