I am a survivor and come from a family of survivors. I CHERISH my life and try to recognize the value in every joyous and painful moment. I've faced my mortality several times and can't stress enough how short and fragile life really is. I'm accepting but never complacent, therefore I expect and also demand change - especially when it comes to social injustices.I work for an international humanitarian aid organization called Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). I am not in a management or decision making position, therefore my personal opinions do NOT reflect the opinions or position of MSF as an organization. This is NOT a professional page although I do post many stories and press releases that come from my work. They can all be found on the MSF website: www.doctorswithoutborders.com. Because it is one of the few organizations that goes to crisis areas in the world that are largely ignored or forgotten, I feel that this information should be disseminated as much as possible.My choice to work for MSF emerged out of my personal experience with heart disease and my ensuing commitment to public health. Although I still get involved as a spokesperson for women and heart disease and the gender, class, and racial disparities in its treatment, I feel that heart disease which is endemic in wealthy, western countries, gets plenty of funding for research and development. I am a living example of the medical technology that is available to Americans. At the same time, there are numerous 'neglected diseases' such as TB, Malaria, and Kala Azar which receive little to no research and development because diagnostics and drugs for these diseases would not generate much of a profit for pharmaceutical companies. In addition to these neglected diseases, the AIDS pandemic, and natural disasters, there are 33 MILLION PEOPLE in the world that have been forced from there homes and live as refugees and internally displaced people in make-shift camps because of war and conflict. All of this is where my current commitment lies. MSF does not take any government funding nor is it aligned with any political, economic, or religious entity. Based on my own moral convictions, I could not work for any organization that had to be deferential to any of these entities.A few more things about me: MUSIC!!! For me, it is the truest form of expression, emotion, and has the amazing power to heal. I only hope that when I die my ipod comes with me. I love my family and my sisters are my life! And finally, I am grateful to my parents and my grandparents for leaving indelible signs of them within me. I honor them all.
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