Page 4 The Lion’s Eye December 9, 2009 Eve on Wo rld:& Local Abortion Rocks the Boat on the Healthcare Reform By Adrienne Showalter - Lions Eye Entertainment Editor aus206@psu.edu Obama’s healthcare reform is tackling heavily controversial is- sues like abortion, which has caused support to waver in recent weeks. This issue is not a party issue as there are plenty of Democrats split on the subject of abortion being covered by federal funding. Anti-abortion groups are obviously against the federal funding of abortion, often in any shape or form. Those on the fence of the abortion issue would prefer to see restrictions in abortion procedures, and those supporting abortion rights do not wish to see women marginalized and forced to cover t the procedure completely out of pocket. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has also weighed in by supporting an opinion from Representatives Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) and Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania) which would prohibit the government run plan or private plans paid for with government subsidies to cover any abortion. This plan would prohibit most working class, or middle class women from affording the procedure. The response to this suggestion has garnered the support of those who are anti-abortion, but those who have been used to the procedure being cov- ered in their typical health insurance package find this situation offensive. The argument is that purchasing a separate coverage for a procedure that is often unexpected and unplanned is simply not cost-effective nor is it fair. Still the plan became the Stupak-Pitts Amendment to the A fford- able Health Care for America Act on November 7, 2009 on the House floor. The future, though, is uncertain. While it passed 240-194, there is still the Senate. In regards to the general public, those who are abortion rights supporters and those who are anti-abortion are split nearly down the middle. It is clear that this debate is not over. ~ Both sides have a compelling argument. The massive scale of the healthcare bill is not the only daunting situation faced by Congress; the controversial issues that have come to the forefront will make the battle for this bill all the more arduous for its proponents. Brandywine Staff Donates To Save Lives Special to the Lion's Eye (above, center): Theresa Walls with her family. Photo courtesy of Blood Bank of Delmarva. Theresa Walls began donating blood more than 25 years ago after a family friend suffered severe injuries in a car accident. "I saw the need firsthand and I wanted to help," said Theresa. "Since then, giving blood has become a way of life for me. I love donating on a regular basis and saving lives." Then, just recently, the need for blood hit close to home again. Theresa's mother, Agnes, was diagnosed with cancer and needed more than 20 units of blood during aggressive chemotherapy treatments. "Our family members and friends came together to donate blood for mom and make sure she was covered for the cost of replacing the blood she needed," Theresa said. "The blood products that she received gave us another year with her, and they made a world of difference in how she felt during that time. We are so grateful." Theresa is in the Blood Bank's LifeSaver Program and gives blood every two months for the lo- cal patients who need it. Join Theresa in saving lives! Make an Appoiiment i to give blood by calling 1 888 8-BLOOD-8. Student Embarks On A Cross Country Journey For Cancer By Nancy Perone - Lion's Eye Campus/World & Local News Bolter - gip0la@pm edu : Many Penn State Brandywine students say that they have it tough. Trying to balance school, a job, and a personal life can be challenging. Fresh- man, Tom McCabe, has outdone us all by traveling across the United States on his bicycle, in order to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This was only after completing six years in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician and as a Search and Rescue swimmer, one of only two on his ship. Growing up in Drexel Hill, PA, Tom attended grade school at Saint Dorothy’s and is a class of ‘03 gradu- ate from Cardinal O’Hara High School. While he is still undecided on a major, Electrical Engineering or Business are two obvious choices that he is leaning towards. Tom’s motivation to take on this cross-coun- try journey is 12 year old Grace Mullin, a friend of his step sister, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in August of 2003 just as she was turning 6 years old. Ewing Sarcoma is a cancer that forms in either bone or soft tissue and is primarily a childhood cancer statistically affect- ing children between the ages of 10 and 20 years of age, but it can occur even younger. According to the CHOP website, www.chop.edu, it’s the second most common malignant bone tumor for adolescents and children. Grace’s tumor in her pelvis was giving her pain in her hip and right leg. She had 32 radiation treatments and 14 rounds of chemotherapy. Specialists at CHOP helped her cope with her emotions and the rigorous treatments that she was enduring. Now in remission, Grace is a part of CHOP’s Cancer Survivorship Program and con- BBE RR Nal ei gi A CTR THETA TR VE Vi Sl HN TR Se TE MI NL PLL NR BY ARAN eT LE Tata tL se Tia Student, Tom McCabe as he embarks on his cross-county bike tour and his inspiration, Grace Mullin. Courtesy of mccabeforcure.com tinues to visit the Cancer Center for follow up care and to track the effects of her treatments. Tom’s 3,354-mile adventure, that lasted for 44 days this past summer, started on July 11, 2009 in Atlantic City, New Jersey and ended on August 19, 2009 in Santa Monica, California. The solo bike ride consisting of just Tom and his bike trailer raised $9,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Philadel- phia. States that he passed through were New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, I1- linois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and California. Tom encountered many kind people during his trip, including a fellow biker near Pittsburgh who allowed him to stay in his vaca- tion cabin without even knowing him prior to meeting him on the road. Tom says that Colorado was one of his favorite places, as it was the most scenic and the people were nice. As a souvenir of his travels and experience, he had each state tattooed across the top of his back along with a bike chain. “I really wanted to do this for CHOP because it is my belief that no child should ever be sick, but if they are they should have a place to go just for them,” Tom says on the website he set up to document his cross country mis- sion. His website is www.mccabeforcure.com, and while there, you can look at pictures from his journey and find a link where you can donate to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. a Aa WwW
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