Dear Senator Richard Burr,
My name is Austin Leonard and my
dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer six months ago. He is 39 years old. I have two younger brothers 2 and 4; and two
older brothers 15 and 19 years old. When
my family and I found out about my dad we were all scared. I was scared knowing that my dad is really
sick and had to have his whole stomach taken out. He was going to have chemotherapy and other
stuff. I was scared that I too could
possibly lose my stomach at 21 years old.
Either way I know my brothers and I, and our children, will have to get
our stomachs checked every year for the rest of our lives.
When my mom Christy and my dad Tony
went to Duke Hospital my brothers and I had lots of questions like, will he
lose all his hair, and did they catch it in time? Would I get cancer too? Could he still ride roller coasters? How long will he be sick? Lots of questions and very little answers.
My
family and I are big supporters of cancer awareness. My football team and I were in the newspaper
last year for wearing pink in support of breast cancer. When my dad was diagnosed, I noticed how
little if any stomach cancer was supported.
With us having to get our stomachs checked every year, what if I don’t
have the money to pay for it? Is there
any support for me? How come the number
two cancer killer in the world has little to no support or funding?
Thankfully Congress passed two
years ago, November is Stomach Cancer Awareness month. Will you wear a blue ribbon in support of my
dad and my family? Will you help get the
word out? Will you help raise money for
research and medicine to help people like my dad? Please Mr. Senator, support my daddy’s fight
and those like him? Please help get the
word out about stomach cancer awareness.
Sincerely,
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