Life is always full of surprises. Two months ago I was informed my husband has Stage 4 Cancer. His life expectancy is between one and six months. My husband worked delivering newspapers at the Ground Zero Area before and after the disaster. Three years ago he had skin cancer removed from his face. Due to No Insurance this went undiagnosed for a long time. The skin cancer appeared almost as soon as he become disabled and stopped working in 2003. My Husband began his career delivering newspapers to the offices in the World Trade Center in 1973, he is also a Veteran.
I have been married to him half of my life. We have raised our three children together. I am so angry over his impending death. I feel so ashamed at myself for believing our Government that the Ground Zero Area was safe for workers to return. I am furious over the lack of Special Services available to former area workers for Ground Zero. He told me the dust was so thick it effected his vision and slowed down. I washed his clothes everyday to get rid of the smell. I encouraged him to return to work and forge a living for us. Now I am helping him to prepare to die. Here is a letter I have emailed to Senator Bob Casey. Whether or not I receive any help is a mystery.
Carolyn Waugh-Tandy
8552 Bumble Bee Way
Tobyhanna, PA 18466
October 23, 2009
Dear Senator Casey:
Three years ago my husband had skin cancer removed from his face. My husband was a worker from the Ground Zero area in New York City. He had always delivered the New York Daily News to the Twin Towers and continued to service the area after the disaster. My husband became disabled in 2003 and stopped working. He was collecting a Veterans Pension for a couple of years before Social Security declared him disabled and awarded him full Social Security Disability Payments. I had contacted you when this Pension was terminated because the Veterans Administration wanted reimbursement of six months of benefits- We paid the $6700 from money awarded through Social Security. My husband was stationed in Germany during 1970-1972 and has an honorable discharge. He is from a family of Veterans: 2 brothers & a Father who served in WWII.
Currently my husband is in Stage 4 preparing to die from cancer. There is no Chemo that will help him. There is no cure since he was diagnosed with this in August 2009. His body is riddled with tumors including giant tumors in his lungs. I still do not know how I will pay his medical bills and afford to give him the Funeral he wants. I am asking for help from your office- 4 yrs ago I attempted to sign up for the Medical watch group in New York for 9-11 workers. I missed the sign up date by one day.
It seems so unfair we were told the air was safe & the workers should return. The dust was so thick my husband couldn’t see thus slowing his delivers. His clothes reeked of foul odor - I washed them every day! I sent off to work - I encouraged him to move forward and provide a living for us. I now must have the courage of my decisions and ask for financial help during this most difficult time.
My husband is Thomas Tandy
Thank You-
Respectfully;
