Diabetes and Cancer dramatically changed my family’s lives. Living with chronic conditions—and caring for loved ones living with them — can cause physical and emotional stress. As a caregiver, it is our right to live and be happy. However, health disparities were my Goliaths. Navigating healthcare systems, knowing how to identify health problems, and understanding available treatment options shouldn’t be a luxury based on zip code or your ethnicity.

I cannot count the hours I’ve spent dealing with insurance companies and third-party vendor pharmacies for my daughter to receive a life-saving continuous glucose monitor and an insulin pump. Now that she has these, my fear of losing her to hypoglycemia has settled! However, many people still lack access to these technologies due to limited or no insurance or high co-payments. Tools and software that help us to understand data can empower daily health decisions and benefit people with Type 1 or 2 diabetes.

Recalling the worst hypoglycemia my daughter had so far doesn't make it so bad anymore... I mean, we were able to move on. There are those who cannot count it. Today, we have the pump for monitoring, and there have only been exceptional situations where she had dropped down to dangerous levels. In my bag, I will always have something with fast-acting sugar to face a difficult situation. I want to be there to support her at any time.

Hearing the word “cancer” in a diagnosis is terrifying enough, but here’s another scary thought: the treatment method is likely to be dictated by your insurance coverage. It was devastating to see the love of my life and husband of 46 years, Papa Bear, go through his journey with Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma - a rare cancer. His appearance, vitality and productivity altered, so I became the caregiver and only source of income. Catastrophic ;conditions like these demand high out-of-pocket payments. Sometimes, I feel like a deflated balloon!

I hope that my loved ones and I live a good quality life and my daughter will continue to be a Wonder Woman at age 95. And I continue with my husband for a longer time. I want to advocate for people-centered care models, encouraging comprehensive chronic disease management. I want to advocate for health systems that focus on ensuring that all people with chronic conditions have access to quality care, regardless of race or ethnicity. Health is a human right and not a privilege!