Jack is serving
life without parole, and has terminal cancer. Throughout my incarceration, Jack
was a positive influence. He encouraged me to keep writing, to enter
short-story competitions, and we proofread each other’s chapters. Jack is
seeking pen pals, so anyone interested please email me at
attwood.shaun@hotmail.co.uk for his details.
It’s February and nothing has changed as
far as my medical status. I was supposed to go back to the oncologist in
January for my six-month follow-up but for some reason that did not happen. It
could be that the prison rescheduled the appointment because I haven’t been
seen by the dermatologist for the lesions on my arm that the oncologist wanted
evaluated. Then again it could be that the nurse was right about the oncologist
losing his contract. In which case there’s no telling when or if I’ll be seen
by an oncologist.
In addition to the dermatologist, I was
supposed to have a CT scan during January before going back to the oncologist.
That hasn’t happened either. I believe that since the prison has changed
providers I may be left out in the cold as to any follow-up care.
The prison normally deals with my type
of situation by allowing the inmate’s condition to deteriorate to the point of
death before doing anything. It’s a cost-saving strategy based on an apathetic
public and a numbers game. If the Arizona Department of Corrections doesn’t
provide medical care and the inmate dies, the prison saves the money that would
have been spent on that care. The prison counts on the general public not
caring what happens to the incarcerated, or the belief that it’s OK because we
had it coming because we are in prison. As to the numbers, it’s quite simple,
for every inmate that has someone on the outside that asks questions or pushes
for accountability, there are hundreds that don’t have anyone to advocate for
them.
I haven’t received any mail, other than
your letters, from anyone else since well before Christmas. I’m trying hard not
to take a bite out of the conspiracy apple, but it is such a lovely low hanging
fruit it is almost impossible to resist. My mail stopped arriving around the
same time the staff began asking questions about my medical care and accusing
me of complaining about dying on Facebook.
Shaun Attwood
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