U.S. Marijuana Party - Overgrowing the Government

I was Richard Rawlings Caregiver...

User Rating:  / 2

Details

Category: USMJParty

Published on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:26

Written by Sheree Krider

Hits: 578

I am Sheree Krider and was Richard J. Rawlings primary caregiver during his last year of life. 

I was also his Fiance though we were never able to complete those vows before he died.   

In April of 2012 Richard was hospitalized in IL for a day after collapsing from exhaustion.  Shortly After he was released from there he came home with me to Kentucky but refused to immediately follow up his care - He already knew he had throat cancer and didnt/wouldnt deal with it until after his birthday he told me.  On July 20th, 2012 he turned 51 years old - much too young to die. 

On July 22nd he finally agreed to let me take him to hospital because by that time he could barely get his breath and had no voice.  He was in TJ Samson Hospital in Glasgow Ky for two weeks where they treated him and placed his trach so he could at least breathe again. At the time they placed the trach he had only a 5% airway left.  His diagnosis at the time we left the hospital was Stage 4 Throat, Lung and Adrenal Cancer which was particularly aggressive. He was a terminal patient given 6 months to 16 months - provided the Chemo worked. 

At that time we went back to IL to begin the fight for his life.  IL Cancer Care - Dr. Fishkin was his Oncologist.  We discussed his options and since the cancer was so aggressive He decided to go with the Chemo along with the "OIL".  I was supplied with "OIL" for him during his entire ordeal at no charge.  It was very good and helped dramatically with symptom control. 

The first round of Chemo did in fact reduce the throat cancer and his voice returned to near normal for several months before it became worse again near the end.  The "OIL" made his suffering much less than it would have been with only Hospice Drugs. He never even used Morphine until the last six weeks. 

The last Scan that was done before his death showed that the cancer had stubbornly continued to grow and was taking over quickly.  That is when Chemo was stopped and Hospice was called in.  By then he was in serious pain and needed Morphine for pain. 

Richard was rather docile during the last year.  He never complained much with the exception of a couple of times he was in acute pain - which was remedied pretty quickly.  On Saturday the 23rd of February He spent the entire day "visiting" everyone in the house.  His Son Richie, His sisters-Rae, Ragan Kandy and Robin, his Mother and myself letting us all know how much he loved us.  By 7pm that evening his Heart was working overtime and his chest was pounding....I went to him and told him he had to lay down and rest his heart.  We helped him back to his "bed" on his "couch" that he loved so much...He immediately laid down and fell asleep....never to awaken again. 

At approximately 12:07 am on Sunday morning of the 24th Richard took his last breath and passed out of this world.  I and his family were at his side.  He had vowed to never die on a Saturday and He meant it.  He accomplished this by only seven minutes - but he did it. 

It was quite dramatic for all of us.  I loved him very much and still do.  A gaping hole in my Heart will exist forever.  But I am grateful that if it had to happen at least I was there to take care of him. 

The "OIL" was provided throughout - at no charge.  As I said before, it was quite helpful throughout his ordeal for comfort and symptomatic uses.  It IS possible it may have helped for a while with the throat cancer though I cannot confirm this.  By the time Richard's cancer was diagnosed it was already too late for a cure.  Maybe, just maybe, if he had went to the Doctor 3 years ago when I first knew he was sick there may have been a better outcome.  That we will never know. 

Our generation has become the guinea pigs for cannabis oil medications.  Maybe with all the documentation of these experiences one day our children may have a better life because of it - I pray so.  I also want to say that IL Hospice was very good to us and they knew of his Cannabis use.  Not a word was spoken against it by them - they had seen it help other patients too. 

Where do we go from here?  Where do I go? 

The last 3 years of my life have been quite heart wrenching and I am tired.  We shall see what happens next in the world of Cannabis Medicines.  I pray what we all have done will make the future better.  Maybe it will - Maybe it wont but at least we tried. 

Much Thanks to my friend Ronnie Smith for his support during this time.  May God Bless Us All With Newfound Knowledge......Smk.

Richard J. Rawlings ~ RIP

User Rating:  / 0

Details

Category: USMJParty

Published on Thursday, 28 February 2013 16:50

Written by William A. Chengelis

Hits: 427

In Honor of Richard James Rawlings

Former USMJParty Chairman
Chairman, USMJParty of Illinois 

July 20, 1961 - February 24, 2013

We come together today to praise your almighty gifts to us, especially our Son, Brother and Husband,

Richard James Rawlings

You have given us light for warmth , meadows of fresh flowers and herbs to keep us healthy and happy.

You gave us dark to sleep and rest our weary hearts and minds, so that we may serve you for another day.

You gave us our Mother, our Sisters, our Brother and our Children to carry on our never ending endeavors - to carry out your will as we know we can never accomplish this alone.

You gave us intelligence to separate the good from the evil. Dear Father forgive our sins, as we forgive our tresspassers.

Dear Father on this day of sorrow as we offer our Son, Brother, Husband to you,

Give us the strength to carry on, to rectify the evils that to which we succumb,

And in it's place bring back the meadows, the flowers and the tree's, let us continue to hear the birds and bee's.

And Bless the Hemp Lord and keep it strong and enable us to carry on.

For this was Richard's wish for the world.

Posted for Sheree Krider in memory of Richard J. Rawlings.

We lost the one man who held this party together through thick and thin. When his tough got too tough he passed on the torch to me. I won't let you, the US Marijuana Party, and the plant down Richard. God Speed!

In Honor of Richard James Rawlings 1961-2013

User Rating:  / 0

Details

Category: USMJParty

Published on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 22:09

Written by Sheree Krider

Hits: 325

The U.S. Marijuana Party, did, on February 24, 2013, loose one of its first and most influential Presidents, 

Second only to Loretta Nall, who preceded him as the first President of the USMJParty in 2002.

Richard James Rawlings took the head of the table in 2005 after Ms. Nall’s resignation.

He actively ran for Congress in Peoria Illinois several times.  He promoted many legalization activities in the Peoria area of Illinois and attended many more events in various states until he began to become ill in 2009-10.

It was not until July of 2012 that he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Throat, Lung and Adrenal Cancer.

At the age of 51, he died peacefully at his mother’s home where we had resided since shortly after his hospitalization in Glasgow Kentucky for two weeks in July 2012 where he received the diagnosis and the surgery for the trach which he would continue to wear until the night of his death when I removed it. 

All of his family were with him almost constantly during the last two weeks.  And I am forever grateful to them for all their support to me during this most difficult time.

His death broke my Heart.  We were not only coworkers, friends and companions – we were lovers and partners.

He will never be forgotten by me and I know the same sentiment holds true with all of his family, friends and followers.

May what he stood for never be forgotten:  Repeal of Hemp/Marijuana/Cannabis Laws at best or Legalization at least.

May He Rest In Peace

Sheree Krider

The US Marijuana Party Is Growing And Growing

User Rating:  / 0

Details

Category: USMJParty

Published on Thursday, 24 January 2013 12:52

Written by William A. Chengelis

Hits: 786

The US Marijuana Party is growing. In the past month we have added Texas, Idaho, and Oregon to the fold. Soon to join is Delaware.

As we grow the mission of all state chapters for 2013 is to become registered political parties in their respective states.

The US Marijuana Party is currently accepting resumes of anyone interested in starting a state chapter of the US Marijuana Party and becoming it's CHAIRPERSON.

Requisites are that you have two years or more of PROVABLE cannabis activism. That includes all cannabis genre: recreational, medical, and commercial (hemp). Plus it's ESSENTIAL that you live in your state capitol or are able to access it reasonably. Speaking & writing skills are REQUIRED. 

MOST VITAL, you MUST have the time to be TOTALLY active.

The dominoes of cannabis prohibition have just began tumbling and the US Marijuana Party needs MOTIVATED AMERICANS WHO CAN SHOW UP AND DO THE WORK. Is that YOU? 

Contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject: Chair, USMjP.
Peace, Pot, Politics,
Wayward Bill Chengelis
Chairman, US Marijuana Party
Chairman, US Marijuana Party of Colorado 
Board Member, Overgrow the Government