Ady Barkan, Activist Who Fought For US Healthcare Overhaul, Dies Aged 39

[appalachiablue]

The Guardian, Nov. 2, 2023. - Barkan was diagnosed with ALS in 2016 and said his illness clarified the ‘cruelty of our profit-driven system.’

Ady Barkan, an attorney and healthcare activist whose journey with motor neuron disease prompted a fight to overhaul the US healthcare system, has died at the age of 39 from complications with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Barkan’s wife, Rachael Scarborough King, announced his death in a post to X, formally known as Twitter. “You probably knew Ady as a healthcare activist. But more importantly he was a wonderful dad and my life partner for 18 years,” wrote King.

Ady fought for the 24/7 care he needed to be home with us until the end of his life,” King added, thanking Barkan’s caregivers and “their labor and care, which allowed us to live as a family through Ady’s health challenges”. “Everyone should have that chance,” she said.

Barkan was first diagnosed with ALS in 2016 at the age of 32, the healthcare advocate wrote in a 2022 piece for the Guardian. The progressive degenerative illness targets nerve cells in the spinal cord and the brain. The disease is often terminal, with those diagnosed usually having a 3 to 5 year survival rate. Barkan lost his ability to walk and was unable to eat, speak or breathe on his own without the use of a ventilator machine...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/02/ady-barkan-dead-healthcare-activist

[BlueMTexpat]

1. So sad!

RIP, Ady!

[appalachiablue]

2. Ady gave all he had to fight for a better healthcare

system in this country. He's an example for us all, a leader of enormous courage and conviction. Thank you Ady, RIP.

[electric_blue68]

3. 🕯️ RIP