I was diagnosed with lymphoma on Feb 1st 2012, after nine months of being told my health issues were all in my head or due to menopause. Finally, someone figured out what was wrong with me. Relief! Oh my God, I have cancer. Fear!
Biopsy, scans, port, and then five months of chemo. Now I’m on maintenance drugs for 2 years. But I’m alive!
A few weeks after chemo land, my husband lost his job. He had worked for his corporation for 39 years. They did a dirty deed and instead of laying off, they revised their handbook drug testing policy and did a surprise blanket drug test. They wanted to save money by firing as many employees as they could. Upper management where exempt of course. He failed because he had a trace of THC in his results. He had inhaled a few puffs of marijuana five days before the test.
Of course I blame myself. My fault!
The stress he was under taking care of me and working 10-12 days took its toll. I encouraged him to go hang out with his friends for a few hours. We lost income, health insurance, and they even denied his unemployment benefits that he paid into for 39 years. Anger!
We are struggling and I try to hard to fight everything going on around me. Gotta Fight Like a Girl!!
I can do this… I can do this, I’m not giving up!
Holly H
Oregon
Submitted 12-5-2012
The informational content of this article is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
This article is intended to convey general educational information and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.
Thank you for publishing my story. Since I submitted my story, we’ve discovered that my husband has heart disease and even had an undetected heart attack before he was fired from his job. The company never once contacted him to offer any support or a thank you for his 39 years of dedicated service. Please support our cause and sign our petition against ESCO Corporation: http://www.change.org/petitions/esco-corporation-discrimination-cancer-victim-job-loss-after-39-years-with-company-compensate-your-employee