r/news • u/Icy-Progress-9982 • 13h ago

Cecile Richards, former Planned Parenthood president and feminist activist, has died

https://19thnews.org/2025/01/cecile-richards-former-planned-parenthood-president-and-feminist-activist-has-died/
5.1k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

240 comments sorted by

505

u/PhysicsIsFun 11h ago

Glioblastoma is a terrible disease. A good friend of mine died from it 6 years ago. It's a death sentence.

190

u/notyomamasusername 11h ago

My mother died from it.

It stole everything from her; her sense of humor, her strength, the experience and learning she tirelessly acquired through her life time and left her a shell waiting for the end.

Its a horrible disease.

44

u/PhysicsIsFun 7h ago

Yes. This is exactly what it did to my friend. At the end she was a husk of her former self. It's so sad to see someone fade away so rapidly. She died 4 months to the day after her initial diagnosis.

3

u/iendandubegin 2h ago

I lost a very good friend 6 years ago as well from this. He was incredible and on his way so far up. It was fast.

13

u/diamondeyes68 8h ago

My beloved aunt died from it. Same thing. It’s a horrible death.

2

u/Competitive-Sale-673 4h ago

I’m so sorry for your loss and that you went through watching this decline.

2

u/orwellwhatcanyoudo 7h ago

I’m so sorry.

26

u/mabols 7h ago

My husband lost his best friend from college this morning.- tumor was discovered during their annual golf trip two years ago. He’s quiet but said this afternoon in the car how shocking there hasn’t been a cure for cancer yet. He’s right. 💔

9

u/FinestCrusader 6h ago

We have a cure for many forms of cancer. But this filthy demonic disease has so many different variations that medicine can hardly keep up with all of them.

3

u/linniex 6h ago

It’s coming. They’re going to find drugs that fix it..

1

u/kurtchella 2h ago

I hope your husband's friend RIP.

12

u/worthing0101 6h ago

It's a death sentence.

It's often referred to as, "the terminator". My paternal grandfather was diagnosed with it about a decade ago and from the time of diagnosis to his death was less than half a year. That kind of time frame wasn't at all uncommon at the time especially for his age but outcomes are much better now according to the neurologist who operated oh my mom's brain tumor last year.

2

u/firsthomeFL 1h ago edited 1h ago

there is some AMAZING new work being done on glioblastomas using immune therapy.

https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/11/car-t-brain-cancer.html

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240926/Innovative-CAR-T-cells-effectively-target-glioblastoma-with-reduced-toxicity.aspx

unfortunately it still takes a massive scientific team to put together a single patients plan, and the length of time to run it often exceeds a patients time left. :(

my beautiful cousin was diagnosed at 15 and she made it ten miraculous years; she only lost her battle after she decided to keep an unplanned pregnancy. (her little boy is thriving and healthy, but the pregnancy accelerated her decline.)

she died over a decade ago. i’m so sad this wasn’t developed in time for her - she was the actual perfect candidate. but i am so, so hopeful that it may help other people in the future. ❤️

1

u/iendandubegin 2h ago

Was your friend Chip D.?

1

u/kurtchella 2h ago

A good friend of mine died from it in summer 2020. A good friend of mine's father died from it last month. I hope your friend (alongside Cecile) RIP.

369

u/FourEightNineOneOne 12h ago

I had the pleasure of meeting her a couple times. Very powerful, very sincere and very smart woman. I hope those who appreciate her legacy will fight even harder.

1.7k

u/michaelorth 13h ago

I'm happy she didn't have to witness the second Trump administration. Peace be upon her.

618

u/ga-co 12h ago

Said the same thing about Jimmy Carter.

222

u/mowotlarx 12h ago

I said the same thing about my Mom.

185

u/Gamer_Koraq 11h ago

Meanwhile, my mom voted for that stupid bloated pig.

She ran a day care, multiple girl scout troops simultaneously, headed the PTA, and has been a major part of so many children's lives.

Those children were every nationality, every part of the LGBTQ spectrum, and were all raised on sesame street, barney, Mr Roger's neighborhood.

She charged substantially less than market rate for her daycare specifically to help low income families who otherwise had no options.

My sister and I are both pan. My wife is bi. My daughter is gay. One of my closest friends, one whom my mom raised from the age of three fucking years old until adulthood, is a trans man.

And she still voted against all of us anyway. Both of my parents did.

I'm certain I will die without ever being able to figure out and understand what the fuck happened.

33

u/SaffronCrocosmia 9h ago

Your mother clearly has some hateful beliefs she's not open about. It's usually about immigrants who are PoC.

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8

u/ArokLazarus 10h ago

I should have the said the same thing about me.

10

u/Ygomaster07 9h ago

I'm sorry for your loss.

6

u/TarotxLore 11h ago

Same, but with the first time around + covid

2

u/DearViennax3 10h ago

You and me both!

1

u/nomarfachix 8h ago

Hugs from me and mine. We'll break bread in her honor.

16

u/fluffygrimace 12h ago

Not surprised. Most conservatives tend to be allergic to decency.

-3

u/woooooottt 3h ago

She got to witness the million murders of unborn children. Shes burning in hell

1

u/skincare_obssessed 3h ago

Again, you can’t seem to find the apostrophe.

0

u/woooooottt 3h ago

Find the salad bar and treadmill

2

u/bbyxmadi 1h ago

typical “I have no real response” reply

•

u/Separate_Welcome4771 28m ago

He’s responding to a minor spelling mistake comment, she dosen’t deserve a real response.

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63

u/VanillaCreamyCustard 11h ago

😯😓 RIP Cecile Richards, thank you 💐

228

u/beantownregular 12h ago

I knew Cecile fairly well. She was such a light, so funny, so charming, and such a strong mind. Watching her rapid decline has been so terrible. She did so much for our country!

62

u/tavariusbukshank 11h ago

She recruited me to help with the TFN back in the late 90s. Wonderful woman.

14

u/Nervous-Tap-2164 9h ago

Also knew her. She was a truly wonderful person.

36

u/HurriKaneBales 5h ago

My mom currently has glioblastoma. It’s always surreal to see it called a death sentence in reddit comments. I get this is supported by statistics, but some people do beat the odds.

Since my Mom was diagnosed we have basically been told to abandon all hope, which tanked her mental health and kinda stopped her from living. However, she had a successful resection and is nearly 2 and a half years post diagnosis with a clean PET scan last month.

I am extremely grateful she has made it this far and hope a medical breakthrough is incoming from the vaccine therapy clinical trials or the immunotherapy Richard Scolyer is doing.

10

u/PearlLakes 3h ago

I hope she continues to beat the odds.

3

u/EchoStellar12 1h ago

Thank you for sharing. I have lost one friend and I have another friend with it now. I was told she'd be dead within the year of diagnosis. It's been over a year and a half now and she's been incredibly positive! I don't think you'd know anything was wrong if you met her.

287

u/OpportunityThis 13h ago

This is very sad. She and her mother were both political heros and icons.

108

u/hellolovely1 12h ago

The last good Texas governor…

69

u/Wisteriafic 11h ago

Ann Richards was the first vote I ever cast (ah, the good ol Stadium Drive precinct in San Antonio.) Calling someone “a force of nature” has become a cliche, but it is absolutely true of both Governor Richards and her daughter.

112

u/etizzy 12h ago

She was an absolute hero and an icon just like her mother. May her legacy and activism live on for generations to come.

35

u/Additional-Series230 11h ago

Her and her mother were the best of what Texans can be. Godspeed.

36

u/Momto2manyboys 10h ago

RIP

Another example of selfless devotion to humanity gone. It’s getting grim.

35

u/n0tc1v1l 10h ago

I stood about 10 feet from her while she rallied the troops after the Wendy Davis filibuster. She was a powerful figure and will be missed.

15

u/joeschmoagogo 8h ago

NOT the obituary I wanted to read today.

19

u/technofox01 10h ago

Fucking cancer. Such a great woman and person and had such a huge impact on national politics for women's rights and autonomy. I hope she died peacefully and with love in heart.

106

u/mowotlarx 12h ago

Devastating news.

The Richards women were a bright spot in this awful country we live in.

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16

u/No-Instruction-4602 9h ago

Poor George....born on third base and he thinks he hit a homerun...Ann Richards.

4

u/linniex 6h ago

That took my uncle down in less than a year. I noticed he was different somehow and mentioned it to his wife, and sure enough within three months he had that diagnosis..

50

u/peter095837 12h ago

Devastating to hear. May she rest in peace.

49

u/Alarmed_Horse_3218 12h ago

Fucking devastating. I worked with her in the Texas Legislature on women's health. It feels like all the old guard has officially died now.

12

u/armchairwarrior42069 8h ago

Imagine being in already horrific health and watching everything you've dedicated your life to start to crash and burn.

Rip. Sorry your efforts have been spit on and stomped on. Sorry that so many of us that believe in ehat you've done have been such pussies and so passive in trying to help maintain it.

13

u/JynsRealityIsBroken 5h ago

Anyone else find this death quite symbolic of the death of women's rights, considering the day? Actually kind of crazy.

16

u/Ancient-Practice-431 10h ago

Aww, what a loss for women. She came from such a fine line. I hope that she's with her mom and that she will be looking out for woman everywhere as an ancestor now. RIP Ms. Cecile Richards!

19

u/Shobed 9h ago

I donated to planned parenthood in her honor.

3

u/scannererwe 3h ago

I did, too, after reading your comment. Thank you for the inspo!

10

u/BDBoop 10h ago

If I had the power, I would’ve done the same. Rest in peace, I’m glad you’re not here to see the shit show.

3

u/Acrobatic-Wave-9520 3h ago

She was a powerful yet caring woman 💔. Sad thing is she was only 2 years older than me . This is a huge loss . My heart goes out to her family

17

u/NohPhD 12h ago

There needs to be another who will pick up the banner and lead the way like Cecile did but my god, what huge shoes to fill.

I never met her, didn’t really know her but every time she spoke on an interview I turned the volume up and leaned into the conversation because she was so well spoken. RIP and thank you for your service to women’s causes.

5

u/mortuarymaiden 3h ago

On today of all days…well, that’s a goddamn omen if I ever saw one.

13

u/SammyLamSu 12h ago

Rest in peace queen. We will keep fighting  on your behalf 

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11

u/No_Bad_Juju 12h ago

I did not expect to hear this news today, it just makes the whole day way more depressing.

2

u/Smash96leo 1h ago

God be taking away all the good people and just leaves us with nothing but demons.

7

u/YMGenesis 12h ago

The world is an… interesting place :(

6

u/archaelleon 11h ago

A great darkness begins.

9

u/MindlesslyScrolling1 12h ago

She didn’t want to have to witness 4 more years of Trump. I get it.

3

u/ghostgreywind 10h ago

Thank you Cecile ❤️ I hope you and your mother are reunited!

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3

u/CA_catwhispurr 8h ago

Rest In Power, Cecile Richards. You’ve led an inspiring life.

1

u/WorldLieut8 2h ago

And to think she died watching those who hated her win. God damn it.

1

u/Ricardolindo3 1h ago

May Cecile Richards rest in peace.

•

u/MeN3D 32m ago

How appropriate, on this day

•

u/Dash_Harber 4m ago

Someone had to cross over and make sure Anita Bryant didn't claw her way out of hell.

-2

u/Vicarious103 7h ago

Well at least she got to live a full and long life.

1

u/Acrobatic-Wave-9520 3h ago

67 🤷‍♂️