Hi, everyone.  Just wanted to check in with an update about the 
thyroid petition I created in my brother Jordan's memory, 
"Thyroid Patients Need Better Treatment NOW."  I still deal with
ongoing thyroid trouble myself--but I've still been able to get out
some letters to people I think could help us in some way. Some are
in government, some not.  I hope to hear back from somebody 
eventually, but if not, I'll keep sending out letters to new people,
government agencies, medical associations, or whatever I can think
of that might possibly help us get better care, testing, treatments,
etc. for those with low & high thyroid, including the autoimmune
Hashimoto's and Graves' Diseases. Both hit my family really hard,
and I know some of you out there can probably say the same thing.

I have been basically laughed at on a few thyroid forums for even
trying to get anything done right now regarding thyroid care
reforms, as the political climate in the United States doesn't seem
very interested in funding various medical things, or listening to
reason in different medical areas that could use better help or
reforms.  But, I don't care.  I have learned over the years that you
never know who might come through and help you with something,
even if it's just a part of what you're trying to achieve.  With regards
to thyroid, I never know if someone I send the petition and cover letter
to has a person in their family that they care about, who is struggling
with thyroid.  And maybe they might want to help in some way, even
a small one.  So, my fight goes on, regardless of who's in office or
positions of power.  Thyroid sufferers who need better care
can't wait.  Period.

Places I've sent the petition to in recent months include the new
head of the American Thyroid Association, the new President of
the United States and his new Secretary of Health and Human
Services, a drug company, and a U.S. Representative in the state 
of Michigan, who I didn't even realize had tried to get a thyroid 
reform act of her own introduced and passed in late 2024--but it
didn't make it, from what I can learn. I kind of stumbled onto an 
article about Rep. Hayley Stevens (Dem-Mich) & her thyroid act as
I did "thyroid work" online...where I am in California, this surely
didn't get much publicity.  If you'd like to see what Rep. Stevens'
work was about, here's a link. Maybe in the future, she might try
to help thyroid people again--that's why I wrote her.  Link to
Rep. Hayley Stevens' "Thyroid Disease CARE Act"

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/10297/text

Also, I try to post about the thyroid petition where I can, as it's always
better to have more signatures than less.  Thanks to all of you for
signing, and extra thanks to all who've shared the petition and 
maybe donated money to Change dot Org for them to promote
the petition more, in an effort to also get more signatures.  It'd be
great if we can get to 10,000 signatures and beyond. Anyone from
anywhere in the world can sign it--if I can get things better for
thyroid patients in the US, hopefully other countries will follow.

So please, if you can think of anyone who might like to sign,
or anywhere new you can post about the petition to get more
more signatures, here's the link
https://www.change.org/ThyoidBetterTreatment

We are currently at 8, 519 signatures.  Let's go higher!!

I am still trying to work on a short thyroid video with song about
the petition, to try to get more attention, signatures, & support for
it.  I'm new to doing this sort of thing, but not new to doing creative
stuff in general.  So, although it's taking me some time to figure out
how to get this to turn out the best it can, I am trying to learn and
work on it.  Will let you know when I have something worth watching!

For anyone who might like to write me regarding the thyroid
petition, with comments, suggestions, contacts you might have that
could help, etc--I have a special email address, just for that. It is

starr878@outlook.com  

On a personal note, I'm supposed to be getting surgery in the near
future for an overactive parathyroid gland, which I feel has been caused
by some previous thyroid treatments I've had (although most Doctors
may not agree with me).  They have to still figure out if I'm OK enough
for surgery, so I hope you'll all wish me well with all this. 

Thank you, again, for your support so far with this petition, and for
continuing to care about it in the future.  I know my late brother,
Jordan, would really appreciate that, as would my late mom who
suffered from thyroid a lot, as did my late Grandma Sarah, other
relatives, and just too many people in general.  If you're one of 
them, just know that I'll keep doing whatever I can to make progress
for thyroid people who need it.  I have to--all we've been through
has to count for something.  Will end by posting my favorite pic
of Jordan and me, when we were little.  Best to everyone...
From Jordan's sister, Starr D.