It's been 9 years since I was diagnosed, and I'm doing great! Woo-hoo! It feels like at least one lifetime ago, and it was the wonderful people on these boards who helped me get this far, el-libra, so please know that we are here for you, too. Lots of Blundervibes are being aimed at you from all over right now. Never underestimate the power of Blundervibes! I was lucky enough to have good insurance when I was going through everything. But feel free to contact me if you need to talk to someone who's been there....

el-libra, I haven't been there and I don't have insurance (which I'm getting ready to pay a penalty for because I can't afford it!) but I'm sending vibes from here...and welcome to the arlonet family.

I'm pretty sure the head of government is the one stuck up Bush's butt.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. I'm not scared of cancer anymore. I had breast cancer in 1990 and was cured for 16 years. Since that time I've raised my two youngest daughters from ages 3 and 8 to be beautiful young women and I've been blessed with 10 grandchildren and we're getting two more, twins in May.

This new cancer was a different one rather than a recurrance-so it's curable. All the surgerys suck, and I still have one to go, but chemo wasn't that bad-except for the side effects that haven't gone away yet. All during treatment I did not throw up one time! How cool is that?? I think they set you up for some of these side effects by telling you to expect them. I hate to throw up so much that I decided not to do it-and didn't.

The day of my double mastectomy I had an entourage at the hospital: My husband, my best friend of over 40 years and her daughter and four of our five daughters. Our son couldn't make it down here that day and the other daughter had to work, but came later on. I gave the surgeons a CD I'd made of my favorite Christian rock music to play during surgery because I'd read that music helps you recover faster. It worked. Instead of being "out of it" for the whole day, I was awake and alert out of recovery. Well, I guess I was still pretty drugged up-I told one of the girls she was my favorite!

The love and suport of my family, friends and my church brought me through to worst of it and I believe that's what saved me. I'd been feeling a bit depressed lately since I can't go back to work and it's getting boring around the house. That's when I started watching videos on YouTube and listening to Arlo's music, and Roger Mcguinn and others. I just love it!

I would love to help others with what I've learned too. I know how the government is about all this stuff and try not to let it bother me. Even if I live to be 100, the bills probably won't all be paid, but that's ok. My family and my friends are my treasures!
btw, I'm Linda. Thank you to all of you wonderful new friend!

I know folks want me to blame Bush for stuff but I just can't do it cuz I like him & I just can't bash someone I like. I think anyone no matter what party they are from won't get the healthcare thing right anyway.. I figure the Prez has got it rough there in office & I know whoever replaces him is gonna have it rough too...

Oops it posted twice. Sorry about that folks. Hope el_libra is doing better...

Either the head of government is responsible for the policies he has deliberately put in place or he is unaware, uncaring, and incompetent. Pray tell, what other possibility is there? I'd really like to know. It's not bashing to say that the 'leader of the free world' is responsible for his actions. But it's not Bush, anyway, as Linda said, the head of this government is Cheney:

Linda, you are a wonderfully strong woman. Those friends and family members are lucky to have you in their lives and so are we.

And Cheryl, at least the Dems are proposing plans that will cover many more people who can't afford health coverage on their own. Yes it would cost a LOT ... but we'd have a lot more money available for this, if Bush and company hadn't gotten us into this illegal war.

And I understand that you LIKE Bush... but when you like someone, and see they are doing something wrong, isn't it the right thing to do to point out their error?

Something has to be done about health care. Ending the war would be a good way to start funding it. My daughter has a friend who is 19. She goes to the community college full time and works part time. She was told by our county office that she isn't eligible for aid or insurance because she did work, didn't have children. Her insurance was cut off when she turned 19. Her younger sister is still covered. The girl works hard and is trying to get an education so she will be able to support herself. If she sat on her tush, had kids, didn't go to school, she would have health insurance. There is definitely something wrong here.....

I agree. My youngest daughter is 20 and workes but can't afford health insurance even though she could get it through her job. She went to college for 3 semesters and got too worried about the mounting debt to continue at this time.

My next oldest daughter also got in 3 semesters of college and stopped for the same reason. Her husband has a degree from a highly respected private university and it took him several years to find a decent job. My daughter works in management in a fast food place and earns more than her husband. She can't afford to go back for her degree because they need all they can earn to support themselves and their 2 little kids. At least this family has health coverage.

Actually what they need is a party that is conservative like the Republicans on 99% of stuff but is better on the healthcare & more like the Dems on the healthcare stuff. Just an idea...

Is a form of socialized medicine un-constitutional? Not that the govt. has to have any say in Doctors and stuff. There is a lot of trash/cash around in some people's pockets, that could go right to the health care people.

Hi, LRoss, and welcome to ArloNet. If she's under 23 and is a full-time student, she should be covered under her parent's plan... either mom or dad. Or her legal guardian. Even if she has a job and works full-time. Even if she makes more money than her parents. She should start by having a parent get the proper college certification form from personnel. Have the college notarize it. A student under 24 is still a "dependent" under federal law, and for insurance purposes, the age is 23. I have 2 of them Good luck!

Thanks for the welcome. Her parents are divorced and don't have insurance. Her sister is covered under a NJ plan for uninsured children. My daughter is 20 and is covered under our plan. We are lucky with the plan my husband has. I'm a recent grad with a teaching degree and I'm having trouble finding a job, layoffs due to state budget cuts. I couldn't afford insurance on substitute teacher's pay.

I'm a sub also... thank goodness for my husband's insurance. Last year when my daughter dropped down to part-time, she lost her coverage for that semester. Of course, just a few days after the loss of coverage, she had food poisoning! The thought of being without insurance terrifies me.

Look hard next time you vote Cheryl. Conservatives today are not what conservatives once were. The new conservatism is social conservatism, not fiscal or smaller government consevatism.And to folks that think like this, it's largely about retaining rights and wealth for themselves, and denying the same to others behind the mask of "values"If you wish to like Bush, fine. But judge the job he has done by results, not the rhetoric he uses in a less than articulate manner.You can still like someone that does a lousy job, that's fine, but do you really think he has done a good job?