We got your back John Lewis.

[sheshe2]

We got your back. Praying for you and I don't pray. I am now.

[Hekate]

1. Yes

[abqtommy]

2. John Lewis and others like him have not only talked the talk but more importantly, also

walked the walk. It's good to have people who show us the how and the why of life and living by word and deed.

[Leghorn21]

3. Once a Freedom Rider

...always a Freedom Rider



Rep Lewis, we are holding you tight

[sheshe2]

4. I can't stop crying. nt

[mahina]

13. Thank you

[Zoonart]

5. SendingJohn Lewis

Healing energy.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. Yes....

I have lost many to pancreatic. My mom to start with. Then 3 friends over the years. It is quick and deadly. Praying for him...

[mahina]

14. A lot has changed very recently.

[lunatica]

21. Actually not always

My mother was diagnosed with it when she was 80 but she lived for another 5 years. She had Dementia and was bedridden for all that time. The doctors didn’t want to do an invasive search to verify it so after a while we all assumed she didn’t have it. She never complained about any pain at all. Five years later she collapsed one day and we took her to the hospital. They did an MRI which showed it had metastasized to many other organs. At that point she received palliative care at home until she died.

It was strange, but the doctors said that happens sometimes.

[leftieNanner]

7. Oh Goodness No!

We just lost Elijah! Sending prayers to him.

Thanks for sharing.

[sheshe2]

11. I know.

Elijah. We can't lose John too.

That picture has always moved me, the young embracing their elders. For all they fought for and died for to make this world a better place for us all.

[blm]

33. That is what strikes me, too.

We keep on. We must.

[Amera]

8. He will fight till the end

Our icon.

[sheshe2]

23. Yes he will and yes he is.

Welcome to DU, Amera.

[applegrove]

9. Oh no! We need you so much still. Vibes to you and your family.

[malaise]

10. Hope he makes it to his 80th birthday

on February 21st - his wife (Lillian) died on December 31, 2012.

[mcar]

12. A true American hero

We sure do have his back!

[Karadeniz]

15. This is making me tear up...I pray he'll be cured.

[BigmanPigman]

16. Alex Trebek was diagnosed with stage 4 too and he is making it

so it is possible! He had intense chemo and 5 months later he is doing great. There is hope!

[sheshe2]

18. Thank you for this, Bigman.

[dflprincess]

35. My friend's husband was diagnosed at stage 4

The first doctor he saw pretty much sent him home to die, telling him his primary physcian would help with pain management. But, when you live where we do, and get this kind of news, you hop on Hwy 52 and make the 90 mile trip to the Mayo Clinic.

Thanks to Mayo, he made it almost 3 years. At one point the tumors in his liver appeared to be gone ("no evidence of disease" as the doctors say) and his pancreatic tumors shrunk considerably.

The best part was that, the vast majority of the time he had was good time. He was able to stay active and they were able to take a couple trips, he worked like mad on a Congressional campaign and stayed active in the local DFL, rarely missing a meeting.

Life was good up until a month before he died and then he went pretty quickly which was a good thing.

John Lewis is not much older than my friend was & we know Rep. Lewis has access to the best care. It is not like it was when a diagnosis like this meant just a few weeks or months, there is hope that he will be with his loved ones (and us) for at least a few more years.

[BigmanPigman]

38. That IS great info, thanks!

[bdamomma]

43. That's true

Bigmam and Alex looks good. Congressman Lewis we support and we have your back.

[democrank]

17. Indeed we do

[Me.]

19. Dear God

[warmfeet]

20. Crying now.

We need so many more like him. I don't pray either. I am praying now.

[sheshe2]

25. Hugs

[Hortensis]

22. Another of our Democratic heroes. I was feeling it was so unbalanced,

but then I remembered: today's Republicans have no heroes to fear losing and no fine leaders who uplift and would be tragic losses. All the losses to our nation must be from among ours.

Do everything you can, Rep. Lewis. We need you! They need you too, even if they don't know it.

[sheshe2]

24. This.

today's Republicans have no heroes to fear losing and no fine leaders who uplift and would be tragic losses. All the losses to our nation must be from among ours.

Exactly this, Hortensis. He and Elijah, to name two, fought for civil rights all their lives. They fought for all of us. We lost one of them and I cannot bear to lose the other.

We have lost to many.

[Gothmog]

26. Statement from Joe Biden on Congressman John Lewis

Link to tweet

[sheshe2]

31. Thank you Joe Biden.

[Gothmog]

27. Statement from President Obama

Link to tweet

[sheshe2]

32. Thank you Mr President.

[MerryBlooms]

28. No matter the outcome...

This giant of man will live on. His legacy is firmly planted in this land he loved, and within the people who love him.

[H2O Man]

29. Recommended.

This powerful man has been a hero for so many people, including myself. I normally stand in awe of him, but tonight I am on my knees praying.

[sheshe2]

36. With you, H2O Man.

He is a hero. I am praying today when I have long forgotten how.

[Stinky The Clown]

34. Another national treasure . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . another bell is starting to toll.

May the metaphor be made far too early. May he continue to walk beside us and guide our way for many more years.

[LovingA2andMI]

37. The Fatality Rate with African-Americans and this type of Cancer is NOT GOOD....

Praying for him and his family but, the reality is that the end results are usually not 3-5 year miracles of life for stage 4 pancreatic cancer for most African-Americans.

[ooky]

39. For most people, period.

We lost our mother from this terrible disease. My heart goes out to John Lewis and his family, and anyone who ever has to endure this struggle.

[LovingA2andMI]

40. Especially African-Americans.....

"Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Cancer of the pancreas accounts for only about 2% of the cancers diagnosed each year. However, the five-year survival rate is less than 5%, making pancreatic cancer a leading cause of cancer death.

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is 50 - 90% higher in African Americans than in any other racial group in the United States. Not only is pancreatic cancer more common among African Americans, but African Americans also have the poorest prognosis of any racial group because they often are diagnosed with advanced, and therefore, inoperable cancer. African Americans also are less likely to receive surgery than any other racial group in the United States."

http://pathology.jhu.edu/pancreas/PartAfAm.php

Sorry for the lost of your Mother, also.

[ooky]

42. Sorry, I wasn't doubting your statistics and should have been more

clear about that in my response. I'm sure your information is correct. I was agreeing to your comment about the 3-5 years of life miracles, the odds are not that great for most people unfortunate enough to receive this diagnosis that they will survive 3-5 years. As we learned firsthand it is a fast moving and aggressive cancer and we certainly didn't get that miracle. I hope the very best outcome for John Lewis but what you stated is a harsh reality about this type of cancer.

[Aristus]

41. Yes, sir!

n/t