Hello, my name is Wendy and I am a Rhode Island resident. In December, 2012, I was diagnosed with lung cancer, Stage III. I had four rounds of IV chemotherapy and 30 doses of radiation (5 times a week for 6 weeks) following my biopsy. Needless to say, chemo and radiation had turned me into a hollowed out human being. At first, the doctors thought it helped. Well, lo and behold, they were wrong. My lung tumor increased in size and they wanted to start me on oral chemotherapy. I did as they asked and ended up in the hospital 3 times in 3 months, almost dying in the doctors’ office and experiencing total kidney failure. During my hospitalization, I was also informed that they had “missed” the fact that I had bone cancer. I was suffering – badly. And there was no treatment left for me. As a result, my cancer metastasized to my brain, twice. I had to have Cyberknife radiation therapy both times to eradicate the brain cancer spots. After all of this treatment and the fact that there was nothing available to me, or so I thought, I just gave up. I refused to go to the doctors, refused a “trial” oral chemo and decided I wanted to live my life in a way that would be quality over quantity. I did not want to spend the rest of my life in and out of hospitals, constant testing and restrictions. Fortunately, I was able to see a bio-magnetic therapist in Mexico. He informed me that I could beat my cancer and treated me twice in a way that only he and others like him understand. He forbade me from having further radiation as he could not use the magnets on me due to the high amount of radiation my body gave off. He suggested many helpful daily things, like limiting dairy, sugar and ingesting alkaline food/water to thwart the growth of cancer, since cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline environment. The luckiest day came when I was contacted in late 2015 by an angel. He indicated that he and his partner were making marijuana oil and that I should give it a try. I had my medical marijuana prescription card, but was not finding much relief in their flowers or edibles. I met this gentleman and bought the oil. Immediately I could see a change in myself. This was confirmed when I went to the have a head MRI in December, along with a PET scan to determine the status of my cancer. Keeping in mind that I had only been using the oil for approximately 3 months, I was hesitant to return to the doctors. On the day of my head MRI, I got an “all clear” from the neuro-oncologist and his nurse calls me her “little miracle.” Then I went to my medical oncologist for the PET scan in mid-December. My doctor was very happy with my vitals (I fixed my own kidneys, after dropping to 95 pounds), my appearance and my general well-being. But the PET scan was going to be the true test. Several weeks went by and I heard nothing. I was sitting on edge – and then I got the call. To say I was nervous is the understatement of the century. My doctor had ordered copies of my old PET scans to use as comparisons to the December, 2015 scan, which had resulted in the long wait for the results…..which were that I had LESS cancer. Less bone cancer and less lung cancer and my brain was cancer free as well. My doctor has 2 doctorates and she is quite brilliant. She was astounded and did not know what to say. She said that she had never used the word “miracle,” but said that I seemed to be one. My cancer seemed to be reversing itself, all because of the marijuana oil. In fact, she recently called me to ask my permission to present my case at a medical conference. To even think that I may not be able to obtain the marijuana oil is something I cannot even fathom. Not only is it prescribed, but unlike other prescriptions, I have to pay the entire price out of pocket. If the government starts taxing the growers unnecessarily, it will cause me to make a choice between paying my bills or saving my life. I think we know which I will choose. In no uncertain terms, I want MY representatives to know that this is saving my life. And it could save SO many more. There is no reason that the growers are not subsidized by the state! The use of this oil has saved my health insurance thousands and thousands of dollars. One bag of my IV chemo was $18,000. I could have medical marijuana oil for the rest of my life for the cost of one bag of chemotherapy. This fiscally does not make sense to any rational human being. In total, I have probably accrued over $1M in medical costs “treating” my cancer via conventional methods employed by physicians and hospitals thus far. If only I had known about the marijuana oil back in 2012 or 2013 and I probably could have saved myself a lot of physical suffering, as well as the cost of all the prescriptions I paid for and co-payments and deductibles. I can never thank my angel of life enough – if it were not for him, I probably wouldn’t be here. The people need to STOP the government from denying out right to healthcare, in any form. By overtaxing a lifesaving medication, the government is essentially issuing death sentences.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your time.