Transcript
Hi, it’s Melissa. I’m not really a video person. I’m much more comfortable writing on the internet, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone. I was so overwhelmed to the response to telling the world that I have breast cancer from readers and friends and colleagues just over the course of my life.
It was really overwhelming and humbling. First, just thank you to everyone who donated or contributed. My goal for the newsletter had been to raise $15,000 by year’s end, and we are at $12,000 already, which is just incredible. For me and my family, it’s such relief.
It means that over the next few months when I’m undergoing treatment and surgery and all the emotions that come with that, I’m not going to have to worry about money. And that right now is just, it means so much. You have no idea what a burden it has taken off. It’s really hard for me to be vulnerable.
And I don’t, those of you who know me know, I don’t like asking for help. But I’m so glad I did because this was, I really appreciated it. But I would just say generally, I want to thank you all for three things. First is everyone who shared their stories with me.
I heard from so many of you who have either survived breast cancer or you’re going through breast cancer or you have a dear friend or relative who’s going through it. And all of your stories just, you know, it makes you feel less alone to know that others are going through it. And it just, it makes you hopeful.
So I really appreciate that and I will try to get back to everyone who wrote me. It’s going to take a while. I’ve learned so much about all of your health histories and I’m so honored that you felt comfortable sharing that with me. Thank you. Second is, especially to those of you who donated,
you told me not to feel obligated to keep working. And I really appreciate that. I thought that was so nice that so many of you were worried and like, oh, I love your work. I love what you do. But please don’t take this donation as that you need to push through,
like take care of yourself and come back when you’re ready. And I plan to keep writing because we have this huge election coming up. And also because frankly, writing is what keeps me sane and helps me make sense of a batshit world. But I really appreciated that so many of you We’re like,
please don’t take this as permission to take care of yourself, not as a burden to create more content. And that care and warmth really came through. And then finally, y’all told me how much that my writing and my work has meant to you over the years. So many people, whether you contributed or not,
you just told me that what I do has value and meaning. I’m so fortunate that I get to do everything that I’ve done for a living, whether it’s political activism, whether it’s consulting, whether it’s building a company, whether it’s writing. I don’t take that for granted for a second.
And I know it’s because of the support of so many of you over the years in various ways. And it’s just... It’s so incredible what writing this newsletter in particular has brought to my life from opportunities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I mean, we’re featured in a museum now. That is insane. That still blows my mind.
To the Obama Foundation Fellowship, to all the amazing people that I’ve gotten to meet and conferences that I’ve gotten to speak at. I am so grateful every day that I have the privilege of doing this work. The world is terrible in so many ways. But I think one of the things I learned this week is that
the world is also beautiful and wonderful and chaotic. And look, my goal remains. I want to fight mega Nazis with everything that I’ve got. And I know that y’all want to do that too. And I appreciate that you want to continue to support me in that and also that you want to make sure that I’m healthy.
Enough to do that. So again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m not a video person. I’m not a vulnerability person. So this whole thing has been a trip. But I just want to send all the love that has come to me back out into the universe. Thanks.
We’re close to hitting the goal of $15,000 raised. If you’re able and would like to contribute, ActBlue makes it super easy. If you’ve saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
