A few days ago, I wrote about my recent effort to get care for a rare and serious illness while also trying to pay for it.
In response to this diary, my friend Chun Yang suggested that maybe we hold a bake sale highlighting the need for decent health-care reform. (And also that she find me a husband in Denmark, where I could get surgery and treatment for free.) (Which isn't really the craziest idea in the world, under the circumstances, if you ask me. ;-p )
So that's exactly what we're doing here in North Carolina. Nonono, not getting me a Danish husband! Chun Yang and I are hosting a public option bake sale in front of Sen. Kay Hagan's downtown Raleigh office next Friday, October 2, at noon. Can you come for cookies?
The Brain Tumor Bake Sale will be held in front of Kay Hagan's downtown Raleigh office (310 New Bern Avenue, across from the post office) at noon on Friday, Oct. 2, to spotlight the urgent need for health-care reform that features a public option without a so-called "trigger." (Sheesh, talk about unfortunately ironic terminology to apply to situations involving deadly diseases and injuries, eh?)
We'll give away free yummies donated by local stores (pre-packaged, storebought goods so we don't violate city permitting rules regarding peddling and health codes and whatnot) and will talk about the crazy situation so many of us find ourselves in these days, even if we're decent people and even if we're hard-working people and even if we have health insurance.
No donations will be solicited or accepted at this event, but we can invite people to a private fundraiser taking place at a later date (or offer information about sending checks directly to my doctor's office to help out with copays, labwork, deductibles, and "above reasonable and allowable costs" charges that insurance won't pay for.**) I don't want any possible permitting, donation, or accountability questions to slow us down or detract from the vital cause of changing this brutal insurance system.
A private potluck fundraiser and public-option phone bank will take place on Sunday, October 11. (You can e me for details if you'd like.) Our phone bank will focus on the urgent need for health-care reform featuring a robust public option without triggers, "Hi, I'm calling from a potluck luncheon to help a friend who's struggling with medical bills after she was diagnosed with a serious illness. We're all taking a minute from our lunch to encourage folks to support health-care reform featuring the public option without 'triggers' that would mean several years before people get real help ..." You know, that sort of thing.
** My case-managing doc is a real mensch and has been super-warm and super-caring and super-helpful. But he can't make all the bills disappear.
So if you're in the Raleigh area next Friday at lunchtime, save room for dessert! And lend your sweet voice to the irresistible call for changes to our half-baked health-care system.