Dealing With Sadness...

Today, I am dealing with the loss of a friend who lost her battle with cancer. In addition, today marks the 14th anniversary of the death of my father in law.

Not a good start to the new decade, is it?

My friend, who I won't reveal because she always was a very private person, was fun and crazy. Her favorite lines were "Get out!" or "Shut up!" That makes me smile now because I can hear her say them in normal conversation. She was the best mom ever to her three children and her grand daughter, well, that little one "did" hang the moon! These children brought her so much joy and helped her throughout her cancer treatment.

My friend did not have health insurance. Perhaps, it is because of this that she did not go to the doctor when she started losing weight for no apparent reason a few years ago. When she did finally seek health care last May, she had no other choice but to go to the state run hospital. It is all over the news that this hospital is on the verge of closing due to money issues. Only after she was accepted by a top notch hospital in Atlanta did they say that her cancer was not aggressively treated. The top notch hospital began extensive treatment, but I am afraid it was too late.

Part of this post is to share my sorrow, but it does not come remotely close to what her family is feeling. Part of this post is to share the state of health care in the United States. I realize that health care must be paid for by someone, but hasn't this family paid the ultimate price?