- Claire, Claire’s daughter, has severe medical conditions.
- Claire’s safety has been our top priority for the last two years. We have made many sacrifices even though she is now vaccinated.
- My heart was broken by the comments made recently by the director of CDC.
Claire was my only concern from the very beginning of the pandemic.
Claire enjoys fashion magazines, swimming and amusement parks. Claire has significant medical conditions. Claire was safe and secure because my family gave up vacations, school in-person for many months, family gatherings, and parties.
Even though Claire is now triple-vaccinated we are more careful than most. Although we want to be normal again, we make these sacrifices to ensure Claire has a happy, healthy, and fulfilling childhood.
Rochelle Walensky is the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week during a segment on “Good Morning America”That “the overwhelming number of deaths, over 75%, occurred in people who had at least four comorbidities.”
“So really these are people who were unwell to begin with, and yes, really encouraging news in the context of Omicron,”She said.
To fully absorb Walensky’s comments, I had to go back and read it twice. Was she really saying it? “encouraging”That only people like my daughter could die?
The Millions of Americans are living with chronic conditions, including five or more.Probably, they didn’t find this news encouraging.
Walensky has since reversed his position. In a tweetThe CDC is “taking steps to protect those at highest risk,”This has led many to wonder what the steps are.
It made me think about all the people I know who have a disability.
This was devastating for parents who love their disabled kids as much as I did.
Without Claire’s giggles, thrill at riding rollercoasters, and her laughter, I could only imagine the hole in my life.
I thought about all the disabled people I’ve come to love and know over the years, particularly the children I have seen grow up with my work. Little lobbyists — girls like Emma MykaThey are people who manage a wide range of medical issues, but they also ride horses or go to Girl Scouts.
My father is currently battling cancer, but he should still have many years of life.
Millions of Americans, young and old, who are at risk from COVID-19, are not disposable. Their lives are valuable.
It’s been a constant struggle to convince people that disabled people are worth living.
Walensky’s comments are addressed. Rep. AyannaPressley Tweeted, “What we’re not going to do is accept empty talking points that devalue the lives of the disabled & chronically ill.”
Pressley made me feel hopeful and helped me to stop feeling hopeless. It was finally a realization that we should protect and support the most vulnerable people in society, and not leave them to die.
Claire has struggled her whole life to overcome the belief that she is not worth anything because of her disability. This belief was exposed by the pandemic. It doesn’t have be like this.
We may not be capable of saving everyone but we can try. Not accepting the loss of disabled people is acceptable is not the solution.