I wrote about Frank Clifford last year. He works in the basement under the Sterling Library at Yale. Frank’s job is making sure the remembrances of Holocaust survivors are properly digitized.
I ran into Frank last month at a friend’s birthday party. It was then he told me about his bladder cancer and the inability of Yale’s Smilow Cancer Center to get the chemo drug he needs.
Isn’t that a kick in the pants? No one is making the drug, probably because there isn’t enough profit. There’s your death panel!
I asked Frank if there was anything I could do? He told me he was asking all his friends with connections to get the word out. I went to Bill Weir, a few rows down in the Courant newsroom.
This story was the result. Frank was pleased. Me too.
Frank’s story was also publicized in other papers and on TV.
Today he posted this on Facebook.
The “squeaky wheel” will get treatment!
I want to thank everyone for writing in to their Congressmen and Senators. I received a phone call tonight from Senator Dick Blumenthal (D-CT) this evening, telling me that he has successfully resolved the issue in getting the pharmaceutical companies to resume manufacturing mitomycin (the chemo drug that’s been unavailable for me and others). He has agreed to work together with the Smilow Cancer Center in New Haven to resolve the problems with shortages with other vital chemo drugs.
I can’t thank Senator Blumenthal and his staff enough. His aide, Grady Keefe spent a great deal of time trying to resolve this problem. We spoke quite a bit on the phone discussing the particulars of my case.
I also want to thank Jocelyn Maminta from channel 8, and Bill Weir from the Hartford Courant, who both featured stories about my plight. A special round of applause goes to Geoff Fox, who has been incredibly supportive to me.
I was getting a bit leery of Facebook lately, but I must say, that my friends online came to the plate and made a difference. I am forever grateful to a great many people.
The problem is not over, but there are tools we can use to change things. I will try to keep on top of this situation for the many people out there who are in a similar situation.
WE can change things!
Thank you everyone,
Frank
Frank’s a good guy. This is a break he deserves. I couldn’t be happier.