In other news:

I just read about the healthcare changes taking place in our country as of last night. It made me weepy.

As a person living with Crohn’s Disease, I have constantly lived with the fear that I, a working adult, may someday not be able to afford treatment for something I cannot control. That is SUCH a scary thought for someone who has been so blessed in so many areas.

The changes happening in our system now give me butterflies. Because I know I am not the only person living with a disease that just… happened. I didn’t ask for it. I didn’t do anything “wrong” to lead me to get it. At the time of my diagnosis, I was a recent college graduate who didn’t drink alcohol, didn’t do drugs, had a steady job, and exercised daily. I wasn’t “lazy” overweight, or careless with my health.

Honestly, my diagnosis didn’t scare me. I knew I’d do what I could to take care of myself. I’ve done yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, and other natural means of preventative care on top of trying various prescriptions to keep my body in working order. Have I always been perfect? No. Of course not.

But, my diagnosis didn’t scare me. What scared me was the idea that, despite my best efforts, somewhere down the road, some insurance company would be able to determine whether or not I could get the treatment I might need.

I’m one of the lucky ones. I am able to have a job I love— and hell, I work an average of 60 hours a week every week because I want to do it well. I am able to do, within reason, almost everything I can think to do. Travel to Africa in 2006 to work in an orphanage for a month? SURE! Decide to go out dancing on a Saturday night with my friends? YES! Take my dog(s) for a walk whenever I choose? YUP!

But now. NOW. For the first time since 2004, I can start to wipe “lie awake at night worrying about my future health woes” off of my list. Hopefully, I won’t have to do that anymore.

Thank you, America. Yes we can.