Why I Care...

By Cynthia Toussaint

I've chosen "Health with dignity--let's care for people" as the words to define my campaign

My joke is always that when I was born, the doctor said to my mother, "Congratulations, you have a Democrat!" I begged my mother to take me to meet George McGovern (cried when he squeezed my hand while smiling down at me) and campaigned hard for him while in the sixth grade. I knew in my gut he was a kind, caring and genuine man--and he needed to lead our country.

On Halloween that year, I dressed as a politician and made a box that said "McGovern" on one side and "Nixon" on the other. When folk dropped their candy on the Nixon side, I asked to talk with them to try to figure out why they would support such a bad man. Most replied, "He's the lesser of two evils." That notion has always troubled me.

Politics has always been a gigantic issue in my forever-leaning-to-the-left life though I never aspired to be a politician. My greatest passion has always been, and remains, performing. I was an accomplished ballerina, a singer and an actor, aiming for a film career when a minor ballet injury triggered the chronic pain disease, known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or RSD, in my right leg when I was 21-years-old back in 1982.

Because I belonged to an HMO that refused to diagnose and care for me, I lost my chance to be cured. Instead, I spent nearly a decade of my life bedridden, literally writhing and screaming in pain while the RSD spread throughout my entire body. During those years, my doctors told me my physical problems were all in my head.

The only person who stayed by my side was my partner John. God love him ;) We were college sweethearts and despite being together for 25+ years now, we are not able to marry due to Social Security's marriage penalty law. If John and I were to wed legally, I would lose my health care benefits which provide me the quality of life I have today.

After receiving treatment and learning of HMO misdeeds, I became heavily involved with HMO reform. When folk would recognize me from TV coverage, they could never say the name of my disease. That's when I decided (in 2002) to start For Grace, a nonprofit organization originally dedicated to raising awareness of RSD--and now also to ensure the ethical and equal treatment of all women in pain.

At For Grace, I volunteer my time as vice-president, spokesperson, public relations and media liaison--and the day to day nuts and bolts that come with being a passionate founder. I consider For Grace "my baby", named for little girl John and I could not have. The workdays are often 13 hours or more... When my pain is severe, I lie down and work from my wheelchair that folds out into a gurney. I must accommodate my physical limitations throughout the workday and required travel--which I LOVE--as best I can...but by day's or journey's end, I have always accomplished my mission.

With my work as a nonprofit leader, I've learned much about healthcare in this state AND where the gaps are. I'm forever frustrated that the government isn't doing more to help. It seems to me our government spends the taxpayer's money building bombs, going to war, "liberating" other countries--and leaving virtually nothing to take care of the health needs and alleviate the suffering of the people who live in this country.

For years, people have suggested I run for office. This year I've decided to do just that... this decision came shortly after Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the California RSD Education bill I worked so hard to get to his desk in its first year. I'm jumping into the fray to bring focus on the shortcomings of healthcare in this state and the lack of genuine care the government displays for human beings. If healthcare had been a major priority when I became ill, I believe I would be dancing today, rather than sitting in a wheelchair.

I start my campaign from outside the outside. I have raised very little money and am running against two well-established politicians. People have told me that it's impossible to jump into this race in the 11th hour. But I've never believed in the word "impossible" and I take every "no" as a future "yes". I believe that people don't trust politicians anymore--I think they want someone they can relate to, someone who has suffered some of their problems... I'm a quick learner, a natural communicator and leader... I believe I'm offering the people in the 42nd Assembly district a fresh choice.

I've focused my introduction post on my concerns about the state of healthcare in California, but there are a full range of important issues I have great passion to support or work to change. I care deeply about gay rights--and in particular, the right to marry--, worker's rights, access to medicinal marijuana, improving public education, privacy rights for women, abolishing the death penalty, the right to sue corporations that harm, assuring accessibility and promoting understanding of the disabled... and much, much more!

There has always been a fire in my belly--I have a great love for life... and I always know what I want to do and then go for it!! The extreme hardships in my life have made this fire burn brighter, as I have come to a place of deeper appreciation and gratitude for the gifts I possess. I love to serve the public cause, to right wrongs--to seize every effort to make the world a better, more compassionate place to spend some time...

I'm excited to be bringing the issues I'm passionate about into the spotlight. "Health with dignity--let's care for people"

I look forward to hearing from you....

With Grace, Cynthia