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Tales From the Empowered Nation: It’s Never Too Late
By: Christine Green
Updated: November 17, 2016
Originally Published: November 2, 2016
At 57, I often felt like I missed the boat, arriving fashionably late to the party of life. I tossed my cap into the air at high school graduation in 1977, but sadly, Woodstock wasn’t on my itinerary, and let’s just say I’ve never had the honor of being hosed off the White House lawn. It wasn’t until President Obama’s second campaign that I thought, “Hey, it’s never too late to jump in!” Tomorrow, I’ll take on my role as Staging Director in my third Democratic campaign – first for President Obama, then VA Governor Terry McAuliffe, and now for the one and only, President Hillary Clinton.
My journey hasn’t been a smooth ride. My first marriage was a tumultuous storm of emotional and physical abuse. I finally found the courage to leave when my then-husband held a loaded gun to my head and asked my 3-year-old daughter if she wanted to see “mommy’s brains splattered on the wall.” I packed two suitcases, grabbed my kids, and hit the road without a backward glance. There are countless people I owe gratitude to for helping me navigate that dark chapter.
After six years as a single mom, I met the most amazing man, whom I’ll call James. We have a beautiful son together, and he embraced my two older children like they were his own. James had three older kids from his previous marriage, which made our family dynamic even more special. However, our lives took a turn three years ago when I rushed him to the ER, only to find out he was in end-stage heart failure, misdiagnosed for years as having chronic bronchitis. He was literally drowning because his heart couldn’t keep up with the fluid in his body. Our next mountain to climb will be the LVAD and hopefully a heart transplant. Thank goodness I work for a company with fantastic health insurance; I went from wife to caregiver overnight.
Then there’s my step-son, Alex, who came to live with us at 12. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as fortunate as his father. At 36, he rushed to the ER with chest pains but was told he needed heart surgery – only they couldn’t schedule it due to his lack of insurance. Tragically, the next time he felt chest pains, he didn’t make it. He was just 37. Three months after James’s diagnosis, we lost Alex. His death was a direct consequence of lacking health insurance. Every time I hear someone complain about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I could just scream. The ACA could have saved Alex’s life.
So here I am, fighting for healthcare, battling against domestic violence, and standing firmly behind women’s rights. I refuse to let a man who thinks it’s okay to grab women because he’s famous dictate my future. Volunteering has been my saving grace, providing opportunities beyond my wildest dreams. I’ve driven in Joe Biden’s motorcade and had a heart-to-heart with the incredible Michelle Obama. I’ve even spent time with our future Vice President, Tim Kaine, and many other politicians from Virginia.
My message? Get involved. Make a difference. Change the world. And for the love of all things, VOTE!
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In summary, it’s never too late to take charge of your life, fight for what matters, and make your voice heard. Take those steps; the world is waiting for your impact!