Our dear friend Debbie Davis was diagnosed with a brain tumor called meningioma on July 11, 2024 and has since had three strokes. As a result, Debbie is having difficulty reading and writing and her sight has been affected. However, with the assistance of speech therapists, Debbie can now speak fairly well. Her sight has also been affected by the meningioma, which is behind her left eye. Debbie was in a facility that provided the support she needs, but her health care insurance will no longer cover this and she was sent home in this condition in early September. Debbie is unable to have the brain tumor called meningioma surgically removed and/or biopsied by a neurological team until the end of December, because she is on a waitlist to have the meningioma properly biopsied and (hopefully) removed. That Debbie has to wait more than five (5) months to find out the status of the meningioma and whether it can be surgically removed is a sad snapshot of our abysmal health care system, because Debbie has health insurance through her employer. The same can be said of the fact that she was discharged from a facility that provided the medical support she so desperately needs.

As a result of these substantial medical issues, Debbie is unable to continue teaching. Debbie has applied for disability and is able to get a partial paycheck from her employer, but this is not nearly enough to cover her expenses. Obtaining the disability Debbie has long paid into and for which she is entitled, has been an almost unsurmountable feat of paperwork and doctor visits. Debbie cannot drive herself to these appointments. Debbie cannot return to work in the foreseeable future and, depending on the outcome of the meningioma diagnoses and whether and when it can be removed, she remains on work release. Debbie very much needs thoughts and prayers. However, more than that, Debbie needs financial support. Those of you who know and care about Debbie are well aware of what an outstanding professional educator she is. She has also never hesitated to volunteer for both the CSEA union or any other worthy cause to help others. More than all of these things, Debbie is a wonderful and much-loved friend. For those of us who love and care about her, and for those who have not yet had this pleasure, we ask that you please donate what you can to help Debbie survive financially while she awaits her neurology appointment in late December and the likely surgery she will need soon thereafter.