I first thought Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse was a news outlet. Really, I did. And then for a long time after it became obvious that this was not a group of men with nicotine-stained nails, tired eyes, and coffee-flavored breath, I still thought the moniker belonged to a man. Credit my own internalized sexism, because like most people when I heard the powerful, knowledgeable, non-apologetic, take-no-prisoner voice, I immediately attributed it to the male of the human species. Shame on me.
Eventually I learned the truth of who and what was Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse: She is a woman and she is a force of nature.
Lin’s friends have written some beautiful diaries recounting her contributions to this site and to causes greater than herself. They have written about her support for new members and her dedication and indefatigable efforts to promote the causes important to her. As bfitzinAR reminds us, PDNC has “ started/helped start practically every caring community DK has from food aid to Kos Katalogue.” For those of us who came for the politics but stayed for the community, we owe Lin a debt of gratitude.
Let me tell you a little of what I know about the woman who chose as her user ID Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse.
In response to the murder of Michael Brown in August 2014, members of the Support the Dream Defenders group wrote a law intended to give ordinary citizens the right to police the police…among other provisions. In our first diary introducing The Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act, we begged members of the community for help to make our idea legislature-ready. In the words of one of our members, “Let’s put it out there and have Kossacks criticize the hell out of it.” Be careful what you wish for. :) Hurricane Lin blew in and went to work. She was not stingy with her advice, to say the least. With her help — along with other Kossacks — we were able to shape our duckling of an idea into a sleek, beautiful swan, one that managed to attract the attention of law professors, the ACLU, and high-ranking members of the NAACP. The members of Support the Dream Defenders are so grateful for your unselfish help, Lin.
But it’s not all about global or political issues with Lin. She knows and understands that as some wise person once said, the personal is the political. When I shared the news of my personal loss with the community, Lin gathered me into her arms and offered her shoulders for me to rest during the storm. She and a cadre of loving, supportive Kossacks went to work on my behalf, creating space for me to mourn without having to stress about finances. I am forever grateful to Lin and my internet family members.
And now it is our turn to provide a safe, stress-free haven for our sister. We need to create the financial space for her so that she can focus her energies on the fight ahead. Won’t you please help?
Allow Laura to tell you a little of what is happening with her sister Lin:
The Story
Meet my sister, Linda McClure. Her friend Aji said, she’s been a warrior her whole life: for everyone, for environmental and climate justice, for the wildlife and natural resources. She’s had a successful career as an environmental lawyer, practicing on the side of Mother Earth. She’s an activist, a community/activism organizer, a writer, a sister, and friend. She was so honored when Bill McKibben stated that he could "think of no higher praise than 'great organizer,' and you're one of the greatest!"
She’s in the fight of her life, and she needs our help.
Five years ago, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. She completed a rigorous and difficult treatment protocol that enabled remission, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.
Since April, she has experienced severe pain in her right knee, right leg and ribs. Because of her medical history, she was concerned that her breast cancer had returned. She sought additional screening, but her mammogram turned up no evidence of new disease. Since then, her condition has progressively worsened, with severe joint and bone pain, first in her legs, then spreading through her body, and finally culminating in what doctors stated was fracturing of ribs. She continued to seek medical tests to obtain a diagnosis and treatment — her concerns were dismissed as simply arthritis and fractured ribs treated with pain pills.
Last week, Linda finally was able to see two specialists who ran diagnostic tests showing her breast cancer has now spread to her lungs and her bones.
She has been told that she has only months to live, possibly only weeks . . . except for the possibility of pursuing clinical trials or perhaps aggressive chemo. A surgical biopsy this week will determine options available.
I am hoping to raise $30,000 to cover our regular bills of $4,000 a month for housing payment, utilities, food etc. which would be needed for 6 months for the beginning of a fighting option (like clinical trial or specialized chemo) or will cover end of life if no other options. Linda is on current leave of absence from work and I work very few hours so that I can take care of her.
In addition to this base of $24,000, there are medical expenses piling up with increased co-pays: each CT her co-pay has been $500-$700; and her co-pay for lung biopsy is $3,000.
And we need medical equipment for breathing that is not covered by insurance. We have purchased a nebulizer and oxygen equipment that is 62 pounds that I must push around so Linda can walk to the bathroom. We need to purchase a truly portable "oxygen purse" for around $3500 that will enable her some mobility at home and hopefully outside our home.
Linda and I are very close; we have lived together for nearly three decades. She is my North Star. Without her income, there is the very real possibility of losing a roof over our heads, even as I face the prospect of losing my sister and best friend. We are trying, in what may be a very short time available to us, to raise sufficient funds to ensure that Linda can get the medical (and, if necessary, palliative-care) treatment that she needs, that her day-to-day needs will be provided for, and that we can keep our home while she fights this battle of — and for — her life.
Please help us remove the burden of basic survival from her shoulders, so that she can focus her energies on the battle ahead of her.
In gratitude, Laura
Now that we know who Lin is and what her contribution has meant for this community, how she’s had a life of service and how much she has to offer, now we know that she needs our help, let’s just do it. Let’s follow her example and do for her what she’d do for us even now if we’d allow her. This is who we are as a community. This is what sets us apart from other online communities. We take care of our own.
What to do
a) Donate through YouCaring. As you can see from Laura’s note, we’ll need at least $30,000.00. We are at about one-fourth of the way to reaching our goal. Give what you can. As my grandma used to say, “Every mickle makes a muckle.” Go to her youcaring page here.
b) Donate through PayPal. PayPal address is: lauramcclure01@gmail.com
c) Share the fundraising page. According to the experts in the field, each share is worth $37.00. Tweet, Facebook, Tumblr...all of them.
d) Rec, tip, tweet, republish the diaries written on Lin’s behalf. And most of all,
e) Keep Lin in your prayers and or thoughts. Let’s be the wind beneath her sails.
If you need to send a check or money order, please kosmail kosmail Onomastic, and she’ll send you Lin’s snail mail address, or you can email 2thanks, and he’ll forward your email address to Onomastic.
Thank you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for your love and support for our sister Lin.