Wearing Red for Autumn and Pleas

RIP Aunt Flo Party

Remember all the red I was wearing in this post? There was a reason for it. Friday, you see, was the day that many friends got together to show support for my friend Autumn, the co-founder of Blabbergasted. Autumn, you see, was recently diagnosed with stage 3 uterine cancer and will be having a hysterectomy today.

I'm not sure whose brilliant idea it was, but about twenty of us celebrated the one thing to celebrate in the whole healing process--the end of the annoyances of menstruation (ignoring the wonderful things it stands for), and thus the red theme.

I'm glad that surgery should start Autumn on her way to health, and that she has a sense of humor about trying out different hairstyles as her hair falls out with chemotherapy, but I couldn't help thinking yesterday how tragic it is that the hysterectomy comes the day after Mothers Day. (Kudos to Autumn for having a wonderful theory about how her maternal lamp can spread its light on anyone--kind of an "it takes a village to raise a child" approach.)

To make things more tragic, I've said it before and I'll probably say it again: American health care needs help. I don't know how to solve the problems, but I hope someone out there does.

There is something wrong when a dear friend of mine (or anyone, really) has symptoms of cancer for a year but doesn't get them checked out because of insurance costs. 

There is something wrong when pain after hurting my foot is almost the lesser reason to cry because I'm thinking of money. 

The programs set in place to help people who can't afford health care are so difficult to finagle. (Believe me, when I was desperate for ingrown toenail help, I tried.)

Thus, I have several pleas:

• Pray for Autumn.
• Support health care progress.
•  If someone you care about tells you that they are having health issues, I don't care what it takes, work together with others to get help for that person early on.
• Take care of yourself.

Get well soon, Autumn!