Showing posts with label immigrants and health care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immigrants and health care. Show all posts

Friday, January 15, 2016

In memory of Lily Meza



Lily Meza, a classmate of my daughter Ellen since their days at Edison Language Academy, died on January 14, 2016, at age 30.

http://smdp.com/santa-monica-high-alumni-support-ailing-cancer-patient/153016

She graduated from Santa Monica High School in 2003 and worked as a nanny and freelance photographer, traveling to China and Greece.

In 2013 she was diagnosed with angiosarcoma.  She would have turned 31 on February 12.

Angiosarcoma is a cancer of the inner lining of blood vessels.  8% of these cancers occur in the breast.

http://sarcomahelp.org/angiosarcoma.html

http://www.breastlink.com/breast-cancer-101/rare-breast-cancer-types/angiosarcomas/

"Primary breast angiosarcomas occur most commonly in women between the ages of 20-40 years, and typically present as an ill-defined breast mass.  Secondary angiosarcomas usually occur in older women years following the treatment of breast cancer."
Born in Mexico, she was brought to California as a child.  Her lack of papers complicated her efforts to get health care.

My deepest sympathy to Lily's parents and wider family.