An open letter to Democratic event organizers

[Lurking Dem]

I was so excited yesterday.

A few weeks ago I had paid $150 a head for my husband, my son, and myself to attend an event in Nashville featuring Harold Ford Jr. and William Jefferson Clinton. It was the day of the Tennessee primary and I wanted to show my support and join the throngs to hear energizing and uplifting speeches.

I knew things would be difficult for me. You see, I am quite ill. I spend a good portion of my day in bed and rarely do anything that goes into the evening hours away from home. I suffer from complications of type 1 diabetes (painful neuropathy, and gastroparesis), systemic lupus (can have almost no UV exposure, have painfully swollen joints), and Sjogren's disease (make very little mucus/tears/spit).

I planned my day accordingly. My caretaker drove me to the polls, I visited my acupuncturist, and I allowed myself plenty of time to get ready for the event so I wouldn't be overly tired.

I had been told we would need to stand in line outside for a brief time to have our names checked off a list so I had a shoulder wrap and a head wrap made out of special fabric to protect me from the UV. It's hard to wrap up when it is 96 degrees and humid outside but sunscreen alone is not enough so I use both.

I got there to find the entire event was outdoors. Standing only. Nearly 2 hours of sunlight left. No food. No sign of the promised water. No shade.

I had to leave with my family. I was left feeling depressed about my condition and humiliated as my husband had to weave his way through crowds of people from handicapped parking to get out. I had half exhausted myself getting ready for an event I could not participate in. The rest was sapped out of me standing in the heat, trying to escape the sun, and going from organizer to organizer to find out what my options were.

The only one I had was to pay $2500 more to get to an inside event. I passed on that. Organizers told me they would refund my money.

Please, PLEASE provide adequate information for events. There are a great many of us who are Democrats for reasons that go far beyond the standard issues of the day. We would love to participate in the process but if information - like having to stand in the sun for hours with no food or water - is not provided ahead of time we cannot take any steps that would allow us to partake.

The way I feel right now (and I have been up and in pain since 5 am), I will not even TRY to do any of these events in the future. I simply can't afford to spend a week or two in the hospital for a rally.

Thank you for listening.

[SutaUvaca]

1. Thank you.

Your experience recalls for me a couple of wonderful women with difficult health issues who I have watched as they made extra effort for causes that were important to them.

Thanks for the effort you made. It goes out to the world as a blessing of intention. I could feel it here this morning as I read your post.

[Lurking Dem]

2. No, thank YOU.

There are SO many people out there who are desperate for health care, stem cell research, cost controls on medications, access issues, etc.

The more people that recognize their political activity and desire to be part of the process, the more organizers will respond to their needs.