Vote For Your Life

4 years ago, on Election Day, Brad and I broke out of the hospital to vote.

We checked in the day before when Brad woke up with double vision - a new and unusual complication of his rapidly spreading cancer. It wasn’t our regular hospital, with Brad’s doctors who were familiar with his case, but the closest hospital down the road. Understandably, these new doctors were concerned.

They wanted to keep him for additional tests. Painful tests. Tests like a spinal tap to see if the cancer had spread to his brain and spinal fluid.

But at that point, it didn’t matter if the cancer had spread - not in terms of his treatment plan. The cancer was already everywhere. There was no alternative options with additional spread. Regardless of what the tests showed, we would continue forward with our current immunotherapy plan. And these tests weren’t going to change that.

But these doctors refused to let us go. Maybe it was for liability reasons. Maybe it was out of genuine concern. But whatever the reason, we were trapped. On Election Day.

Ever since I met Brad, he was interested in politics. He had a dream that few knew, but even fewer would be surprised by - to run for office. He helped lead Declare Detroit, a local organization that supported potential leaders run for office. He raised money and volunteered his time.

It was because of Brad that I voted in every single election and researched every single candidate, no matter how small.

And now we were stuck in the hospital, unable to vote.

As we pleaded a release, the doctors threatened us, telling us if we left against medical advice, we could lose our health insurance benefits - the insurance that covered Brad’s cancer treatment. I begged, telling them with tear filled eyes that in the three weeks since Brad’s diagnosis, we had spent over a third of those days in and out of 4 different hospitals. “Please," I cried, "Don’t make us stay.”

We knew Brad’s case more than anyone. And we knew the risks.

We wanted out.

We wanted to vote.

After a phone call from Brad’s doctor, they reluctantly let us go.

Weak and exhausted, we went to the polls. We waited together, Brad unable to stand without my support. And we voted. Because we didn’t always have a say in how life turned out, but we did have a say in this.

We voted because our voice mattered.

So if you are on the fence about voting, please think of Brad, who (sort of) broke out of the hospital so he could exercise his right to vote. So he could use his voice to play a part in the future leadership of this country.

Think of Brad, who was literally dying, and still managed to show up to the polls.

And if you’re not voting in this election, what’s your reason?