Melanie_Hugoo by Freestyle Academy

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Dedication To all the families whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to go through a loved one be diagnosed with a serious illness. To the Ronald McDonald House, To my family, To Freestyle Academy,

Acknowledgements I wanted to give thanks to everyone who has made this book possible. Thanks to my teachers, Mr. Greco, Mrs. Parkinson, and Mr. Florendo for teaching me the programs needed to create this book and encourage me. Also, I am extremely thankful for the peo-â&#x20AC;? ple I interviewed and the stories they shared with me. This experience would have never happened with Freestyle Academy and everyone who gave their time for me to be able to create this documentary.

Table of Contents Forword Introduction Chapter 1: The Domino Effect Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Does more expensive mean better quality? Chapter 3: Chapter 3. Making the World a Better Place Conclusion: A Call for Action Bibliography

8 11 14 16 23 28 35

Foreword When I was young, one of my best friends was diagnosed with cancer. When she started missing school to have to go to the hospital and her family started struggling economically, cancer became a reality to me. Of course, I knew what cancer was and what it did to people, but before this heartbreaking news, I had not known of anyone close to me having a serious illness like cance.In a way, it was like I lived in a perfect world where nothing like that could happen to me or the people I cared about; but I had a reality check when this occured to someone close to me. As time went by, cancer affected more and more people I knew, and even killed a few. Cancer became something I felt very strongly about, and wanted to show people that it could become a serious problem if nothing is done. Being born in France,where health care is almost completely free, I would always hear my mom complain about how the health care system in the U.S. is horrible, and if something serious were to happen to one of us, we would surely move back to France. Therefore, when it came time to do a documentary, I thought researching more about cancer would be something that I would be not only extremely interested in, but also something where I could relate the health care in France to that of America s, since I have experienced both. Cancer is hard enough on anyone it comes in contact with and their loved ones, but it s absolutely heartbreaking when it hits children and affects their entire family. Not only is economic support needed at times like these, but emotional support and a loving community as well. about the Charity and what they did for struggling families, I knew this organization deserved to be recognized and given thanks to for everything they do for our community. After interviewing the Family Activities Coordinator and two frequent volunteers from the organization, and hearing the stories they had to share and how hard it was on the families, I felt even more determined to bring awareness. show the Ronald McDonald House facility in Palo Alto. The purpose of this documentary is not to say that cancer will be forever cured if more money and time is donated; the purpose is solely to state the facts, compare America s health insurance with other countries , tell stories and opinions based on interviews that were recorded with volunteers and employees from the Ronald McDonald House, and most importantly, to have people open their eyes that although the world is not perfect and death will always be a part of it, we can make a difference to improve families lives one step at a time. 8

Introduction: The Domino Effect Marsha Sipat never thought she d be the ones asking her community for help. What happened to her and her family, she said, is supposed to happen to someone else (Rubenstein). Another credit card maxed out and late-night phone calls for late bills needing to be paid were just the beginning of it all. When her four year-old, Tyler, was diagnosed with Down syndrome on top of being deaf, the bills really started piling up on the family. First, he required special teachers to help him with basic tasks, then began the need for tubes for him to eat through, the medicine, treatments, as well as the time and money needed to take care of him and give him the necessary attention. ally and economically, Marsha was diagnosed with a developed breast cancer. Having to go through chemotherapy and expensive radiation treatments, this took a heavy hit on the family s resources. They were forced to sell their home and move to a mobile home park in order to pay off some of the bills, and be closer to Kyle s doctors. Marsha had no choice but to quit her job to devote full-time to her therapy and to take care of her son, while her husband had to take a job as a security guard and sell the majority of their valuable belongings in order to pay some of the balances off their maxed-out credit cards. Rubenstein states, Like many families, they are spinning their wheels on the modern American treadmill known as 20 percent interest. On average, her son would go through a $120 case of treatments every three days; that makes a total of around $14,600 a year! Do we have to be totally broke before we get help? Billy Sipat wondered. We re not out on the street. I want to get help before that happens (Rubenstein). 11

Cancer is affecting families all around the world and causing many to struggle everyday. This year, it s expected that at least 560,000 Americans will die of cancer; this is more than 1,500 people a day. Is it fair for families to lose everything for the hope of saving their child s life? Have to sell all their valuables, lose their home and friends, and struggle with paying the bills on top of the unbearable stress and worry of having a sick child, just because health care in the United States is too expensive, causing families all around the country to become in debt for life? Most would answer no. But our health care is like a disease itself; growing and multiplying more and more as time goes by. Thus, if we don t start acting now, its growth will be irreversible, and it will be too late to do anything about it. Cancer is a broad term for a disease that can strike any part of the body. It involves the development, multiplication, and spread of abnormal cells. According to the World Health Organization, cancer causes about 13 percent of deaths worldwide (Cancer) Although some of the factors that can lead to the development of cancer for cancer and learning more about its causes, but the fact is that as more information is being discovered about the different types of cancer, many new unfamiliar ones are seeking their way into society, making it almost impossible to put an end to cancer. These children and their family need help now more than ever to beat cancer and enjoy their lives. So what needs to be done? Well, the only way this is going to happen is if more charity programs are constructed to help kids with serious illnesses such as cancer, and more people start donating for those in urgent need. Imagine yourself in their shoes. 12

Chapter 1: How do you survive if you don't have a sibling? When 11 year-old Jefferson Township was diagnosed with leukemia for a second time, his aunt s co-workers decided to throw a spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser to help the struggling family. Most of us have children, said Heather Simmons of Buffalo Township. It kind of hits a little close to me -- this could be my child (Fundraiser). ments, he will have a bone marrow transplant. His donor? His 9 year-old brother Kade. But what are those kids without anyone close to them able to give them a Leukemia involves the body s blood-forming tissues- the spleen, lymphatic system, and bone marrow. Leukemia is the most common of childhood cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, they in fact account for about 34% of all cancers in children (Learn about Cancer). Although the causes for leukemia are still unknown, possible causes include heredity, environmental exposure to radiation, viruses (although it isn t contagious), toxic substances, and other factors. It may cause stomach and joint pain, fatigue, headaches, unusual bleeding and bruising, weakness, fever, weight loss, and infections. Leukemia involves the cancerous growth of blood cells in the erythrocytes, which are the red blood cells that carry oxygen, as well as blood platelets called thrombocytes, which are what help stop the bleeding after an in-

It s incredibly hard for children to have to go through something like this since they don t really understand why they are always in pain or can t do the same activities as regular kids. Their parents are always worried and stressed out, which makes it even tougher on their children. Julie, a twelve year-old girl diagnosed with leukemia explains, The whole situation really frightened me, Julie said. Questions kept coming to my mind. Like, what will I be able to do? How will I walk again? Will I be able to run? What is chemotherapy? What do the drugs do? How long will I be sick? (Link). Kids that are old enough to understand what is happening to them are obviously worried and affected tretop of that. What are we supposed to tell these kids whose families can t afford these and support, economically as well as emotionally. How are they supposed to have hope if people are not willing to help them through in these hard times? There s no way. Kenneth Dollman, whose child was diagnosed with Leukemia, says that for children and their families, hope, courage and determination makes a difference between life and death (Childhood Cancer a Reality).

Chapter 2: Does more expensive mean better quality? Our health care system is not doing the job it should be. It s been recorded that, In 2009 about one in six Americans had no health insurance at all. For many people some people to call for the government to provide health insurance for all citizens (Health Care Issues). According to The New York Times, nearly one more million Americans went without health insurance in 2010, raising the number of uninsured people to 49.9 million. There was indeed a 55-percent decline of Americans covered, including private insurance and insurance system for employees. Today s economy is hurting more and more people, causing health care to become of one the most discussed issue in American politics today (Donovan). The U.S. government, unlike most other countries, does not pay for its citizens health care. The majority of Americans receive health insurance through their work, while people who are self-employed need to purchase individual health insurance, which are generally more expensive than group plans. Although some families are eligible for Medicare, a program sponsored by the government which is usually available people are losing jobs, health care is becoming an even bigger issue due to the fact that families simply cannot afford health insurance. I understand the cost of treating cancer can reach $88,000 and $93,000 per person in some cases, but if the government cannot even help pay for some of it, how can we expect middle class families to come up with such a sum? 16

After taking a closer look at other developed countries health care, it became clear that in most cases, their health care systems involve government control or sponsorship because for the majority, health care services in these countries are nanced by taxes. How come other countries such as France and Germany guarantee health insurance for almost all their citizens, yet their government does not play as big a role in everyday life? It should be the other way around. According to public health researchers Susan Starr Sered and Rushika Fernandopulle, Americans spend more on health care than people in all other nations. Per capita spending in the United States is more than $5,400 per person per year, average of other industrialized nations... Some health economists have predicted that America s health spending will reach $4 trillion by 2015 (Health Care Issues). Despite this huge sum spent on health care, the quality of health care available in the United States is low (Health Care 17

Issues). The cost of it keeps inclining, which is the main reason why so many Americans stopped getting insurance, leaving only 60 percent of Americans to receive health medical problems become severe before seeking medical care, creating more cost for the health care system. It s even been recorded that Among 19 countries included in a recent study of amenable mortality, the United States had the highest rate of deaths from conditions that could have been prevented or treated successfully (The Quality of U.S. Health Care Is Not the Best in the World). care, and it has become clear that other developed countries whose government is mostly in charge of its citizens health care are performing better and helping more of

their citizens get back on their feet. One might say that the quality of it is better, which is why it s so expensive, but the facts show that it s actually the opposite. It was even added that, While the evidence base is incomplete and suffers from other limitations, it does not provide support for the oft-repeated claim that the U.S. health care is the best in the world. In fact, there is no hard evidence that idenQuality of U.S. Health Care Is Not the Best in the World). If only our health care system was not so costly and provided for these children s treatments, the economic side of it would steeply decline; thus they could focus on the emotional aspect and not be as stressed out. It s hard enough for a child to have to go through the side effects and consequences involved with cancer, as I explained earlier; they don t need a lousy health care system on top of that that could cause their family to lose their homes and valuables as well. If American health care is hard for typical families to afford, how are families with a child diagnosed with a serious illness supposed to make it? These families are struggling three times as hard due to the lack of medical coverage, which is why more charity programs and donors are crucial during this harsh economy.

Chapter 3. Making the World a Better Place Little help and encouragement is one of the most important things a family needs in a time like this. They need hope, which supporting you along the way. It s pretty clear that families face by Medicaid, but what about the emotional aspect of it? Arlene Goldsmith, executive director of New Alternatives for Children, said that parents of chronically ill children face increased rates of divorce and separation, depression and substance abuse (Donovan). It s hard enough to have to stress about your child suffering and perhaps not making it another day, but it s ten times harder having to do it alone and not having people there to help you mentally and emotionally. But if there were more organizations helping out people in desperate need, this would help the people within that community be like a family and help each other 23

out from being in similar situations; no better organization is there to take a look at then the Ronald McDonald House Charity. After talking with the Family Activities Coordinator of the Ronald McDonald House, Sarah Reichanadter, and interviewing volunteers that frequently helped out there, it became clear from what they had to say that such it was a fabulous organization that truly helped families out and more charities like it were needed. Sarah said that on average they take three new families everyday, and they let families stay as long as they need to; some stay one day, but the longest family stayed three years. They re always full and typically have about twenty families on the waiting list every night. Obviously, there are not many charities that are willing to house families for free, which is one of the reasons that they are always full. If more organizations helped out, fewer families would be denied a place to sleep. She explains, A lot of times I see families that are struggling to survive because a lot of times when they have to come...they lose their jobs or their 24

Family Activities Coordinator, Sarah Reichanadter

homes, or something like that because they can t be at home. They have to be here with their sick child. So a lot of the families are just struggling, dealing with the child s illness. Like it has a domino effect on all these other things happening in their lives (Reichanadter). It s evident that these families lives took a hit that made their ing people together into a community to help one another out is crucial. In the end, Sarah concluded, Our activities allow them to be in a community with each other and naturally when they re in a community with each other they support each other their stress or their pain, or just distracting them for a little. Bringing some happiness and joy into their lives. Volunteers Nikki Klepper and Morgan Jaffe, whom gave lots of their time to the Ronald McDonald House, saw this as well. When they were asked whether they felt they made a difference in these families lives, they didn t hesitate in their response. The answer was absolutely every time.

Conclusion: A Call for Action How are we just going to stand there not doing anything to help these kids and their families when that could be us in their situations? The evidence is here. It s clear that our world is experiencing more and more diseases every day that are a complete mystery to us. Just looking at cancer rates in the past several years the numbers speak for themselves; cancer rates are inclining each year. More people we care about will be getting cancer and other serious illnesses, so why wait till it s too late for them to take action? Even if you personally don t know someone close to you that s being diagnosed with an illness, just imagine if this were you. It s clear that more people will be diagnosed with cancer in the near future, which means there is a much greater chance that this will affect you sooner or later. It s absolutely necessary for us to start improving our will make the difference between having people keeping up hope or giving up. Anyone can help! Kids and teenagers can help make a difference as well, even if they cannot be an organ donor. Even the slightest help is appreciated: whether it be spending a little time getting to know these kids, giving some time volunteering, having to others. It doesn t take much to start making a difference. Are we really going to wait until the damage has been taken too far to undo, or act now to prevent the worst from happening?

“Just if you have time and you can, just go and help. They don’t need a lot, they just need the company.” -‐Morgan Jaffe

Nikki Klepper, a volunteer from the Ronald McDonald House

“The smiles on the children’s faces after we helped celebrate their birthdays just melted all of our hearts. We just knew that we were doing something like really beneficial to them.” -‐ Nikki Klepper

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