I called my mother’s primary care physician’s office- told the receptionist that my mom was a patient and unfortunately, passed away in January. Then I asked if I could obtain copies of my mom’s medical records. The woman on the other end of the phone was silent for a few moments…then she said- are these records for your use? I told her they were. She then told me I would have to call back on Monday to talk to the Office Manager- as she was uncertain of such procedure.
Hello!
My mother died. Why can’t I have a copy of her medical record??!!!
It hurt me to hear someone “keeping” my mom’s history from me. How dare someone come between me and my mom- especially now that she’s dead.
It made me cry.
And I will call back on Monday.

Last Thursday, Christina and I saw the film "Liberty: 3 Stories About Life and Death" which was part of the SF Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The beginning of this film was heart wrenching and painful, as we watch Joyce Fulton two days before her death from a brain tumor. Watching her body fail; her difficulty breathing and talking made it difficult for me to breath; I felt such a pressure on my chest- as grief really does have weight. Having watched my mother's body fail her 5 months ago, the pain I felt watching another close to death was all too familiar and I felt I would start wailing at any moment. It's almost as if the intense pain takes control of ones body- and one becomes foreign in their own skin.

Christina was very supportive asking if I wanted to leave- but I just didn't feel it would be right- I wanted to stay and get to know Joyce Fulton, so we continued thru the remainder of the film, and were quite glad that we did.

This film is a beautiful history of two women who struggled in their battles with cancer, and those women who love and supported them. While this film is about death, more importantly, "it's about what makes life worth living, what gives life joy and meaning."

I am glad that this film was made; otherwise I would have missed out on meeting such beautiful women.

Thank you to all who came out this weekend to help support all LGBT people in their continued fight to be Equal.