I talked to my niece today who told me that my brother Ronnie was called into the Warden's office at his prison. She said they gave him a formal apology for not allowing him to attend our brother, Jimmy's, funeral. I'm glad that someone apologized. I'm sure the letters that my niece and I wrote to the Governor, the Medical Director of the DOC, the State Representatives, the State Senators, the US Representatives, the US Senators, and the Board of Directors of the DOC are the reason for the apology. Both my niece and I received letters back from the Governor's office. My niece also received a letter back from the Medical Director of the DOC. I have not received a response to any of my other letters yet. My main concern is that I want prisoners to have the basic right of medical care when they need it. This is supposed to be done anyway and they all say that it is being done, but it is hard to believe considering they didn't find Jimmy's cancer (a slow moving type of lung cancer..) until it had spread basically throughout his body even though he had been seen for a lung infection back in September of 2003. Anyway, I want to change the system, but I don't know how.

Too many people on the outside who don't have friends and/or family on the inside don't really understand. They hear something about prisoners not getting proper medical care and they think "They're prisoners, they're being punished, they deserve what they are getting...." It is just so frustrating! So many people are in prison on non-violent drug offenses (as was my brother, Jimmy and as is my brother, Ronnie). People just don't understand that. Don't get me wrong, I don't care what the crime is that a person has committed (violent or not), they deserve medical care. They not only deserve medical care, they deserve proper medical care!

Also, if someone is in the prison system and is in a minimum security facility and have had no disciplinary action since they have been in jail, they should be allowed to attend a funeral of an immediate family member. There is procedures for this to happen according to the Oklahoma DOC rules and policies that they have online. They also state that a prisoner in this situation could be allowed a visit to a terminally ill immediate family member. Ronnie was denied both of those actions. Anyway, he got an apology.

Just venting...I could go on and on, but I will stop now.

jimmy_sis- I agree with everything you say about the appalling lack of medical care in the prisons but I am so glad Ronnie got a formal apology for not being allowed to attend his brother Jimmy's funeral- all thanks to the letters you and your niece wrote on his behalf. You have done so much for both of your brothers - you are truly an inspiration.

I am so sorry to hear about your situation. My husband was not allowed to attend his brother's funeral, but his brother lives in a different state, and that made a huge difference. Did not make it any easier. Lack of competent medical care seems to be the number one issue no matter what state it is. I also would like to change the system, and have done my share of complaining and putting it in writing. And like you, seem to run up against a lot of brick walls. I am not going to give up, just step up what I am doing, and hope to find a way to make myself heard. Again, I am sorry for your situation, you are in my prayers. Good luck to you and your family.