Paula Machele Gardner was born on March 11, 1981, in Vancouver, WA. She entered this world with the promise of a future as bright as the spring sun. Her parents, Vivian Gordon and Dewey Gardner, held her tiny form in their arms, blissfully unaware of the trials that awaited their daughter.
Fast forward to Paula’s teenage years. At fifteen, life took an unexpected turn. She contracted Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that would shape her destiny. But Paula was diligent—she kept up with her yearly checkups and pap smears. The specter of abnormal results haunted her, urging her to be vigilant about her health.
In 2019, Paula found herself behind prison bars at the Washington Correction Center for Women. The stark walls and cold floors became her reality. But it was during her incarceration that fate dealt its cruelest blow. A routine pap smear revealed elevated levels of HPV, a warning sign that demanded further investigation. Yet, the prison system failed her. The necessary follow-up was delayed until April 2021.
Had Paula known, she would have fought tooth and nail for an earlier examination. But ignorance prevailed, and the consequences were dire. Chemotherapy became her companion, and surgery was no longer an option. She battled through, clinging to hope.
The Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) failed Paula. Their flawed system allowed her cancer to flourish unchecked. Mental health struggles now accompany her fragile remission, and the specter of cancer returning to her lymph nodes looms large. Paula faces mortality with a courage that belies her years.
In a landmark settlement Paula was awarded $9.9 million after a tortuous battle with stage 4 cancer, which she claims was exacerbated by the negligence of the prison's medical system.
Paula's circumstances underline a harrowing reality for incarcerated individuals facing serious health issues. The lack of appropriate and timely health care, especially for something as critical as cancer, brings into question the adequacy of prison medical systems and their compliance with necessary protocols.
Her poignant reflection on her experience sheds light on the emotional and physical toll faced by those behind bars: "I was not sentenced to life in prison, but I am sentenced to life with cancer." Paula expresses her concern not only for herself and her two sons, Airon Bradley and Jordan Bradley and the uncertainty of her being able to witness their futures and that of her grandson.
Yet, amidst this personal health crisis, Paula's resolve has galvanized into advocacy. She aims to champion the rights and needs of incarcerated individuals battling cancer - a plight often overshadowed by other systemic issues within the correctional environment. Furthermore, she stresses the importance of preventive measures in young people regarding STDs and HPV, contending that her own experience could inform significant public health strategies to reduce cancer risk.
The $9.9 million settlement stands as a bitter victory for Paula and, by extension, a critical commentary on the health care inadequacies in the prison system. Despite the financial acknowledgment of her ordeal, Paula's story is not merely a poignant reminder of her vulnerability but a call to action, echoing far beyond the bars of her cell. Her aspirations to be a voice for the voiceless in the cancer community suggest a legacy that could potentially transform the system that failed her. As her community rallies around her, Paula's courageous fight for freedom and reform continues, resonating with all who contend with life's most profound challenges from the shadows of society.
Her substantial settlement underscores the gravity of her claims and the need for systemic change. While monetary compensation cannot reverse the hardships endured by Gardner, it represents a serious acknowledgment of her plight and the broader issues at stake. Now, with a renewed sense of purpose, Paula’s story is bound to inspire and effect change, raising awareness, and perhaps even catalyzing reform within the carceral health care system.
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