Many of us are aware of the story of MsSpentyouth, who was diagnosed with a benign(non-cancerous) but serious brain tumor. This happened when her insurance had essentially maxed out for the year. She diaried this here and I recommend you take a look:I Can't Afford This Diagnosis
Now that you have stop crying, let me tell you about what she did. With a few half-serious suggestions from me, she arranged to hold a "Brain Tumor Bake Sale" in front of the Federal Building in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. This is also the location of Senator Kay Hagan's office, and was done with their okay.
The purpose was NOT fundraising, because although we had a permit to set up a card table, we did not have permission to sell food items, especially homemade food items, on the street. So we gave away moon pies, a not-healthy snack(well, the marshmallow was fat-free!) but it served our message:
We had a small but energetic group of a dozen or so people, holding signs, talking to passersby. Now, the Federal Courthouse has an interesting demographic, mostly lawyers and clients. Many declined moon pies, but we still found people who were supportive of what we were doing. I was prepared for hostile people, as a detailed story was in the Raleigh News & Observer that morning:news & observer Instead, while MsSpentyouth(Kim) gave an interview to a documentary crew, a large pickup truck pulled up beside our group holding signs at the curb. He handed over a check, which was then handed to Kim, who could not contain her emotion.
A total stranger gave her a check for $500. He drove away, without waiting, leaving us with stunned "Who was that masked man?" faces.
Now, I had made a couple of signs, and must say that my singular gift in life is NOT making signs. Yes, I had to tape in white paper correcting spelling, even! My messages were not as lame, though, and people carried them:
Several women wanted to carry this one:
And here is a group shot with my personal favorite sign:
Kossack Colorado is the Shiznit emailed MsSpentyouth's Blackberry with an offer to handle her hate mail. What a friend! Also - what creature from the sludgy end of the gene pool sends hate mail to someone with a brain tumor??
After standing, waving signs and handing out moon pies for a couple of hours, Kim and a few others went up to Senator Hagan's office. They were there a long time, and I cannot report on the conversation except that the group of seasoned Obama volunteers gave some computer mailing list advice to Hagan's staff!
When life lands a roundhouse kick to our sides and we have to dig deep to find strength, some people become heroic. MsSpentyouth will not tell you how many challenges she faces in life already, without this medical crisis that could turn to financial ruin.
I wish I could say she is the ONLY person who is worried like this. I know other people who barely scrape by, and medical issues are at the heart of many, many situations.
I can only report that on this day, we stood for our friend, and for the compassion that seems to be missing in our country, alone of industrialized countries, in not comprehensively providing health care for everyone.
Rain, of Street Prophets, also known as SaraR on Daily Kos, is making a quilt of good wishes for MsSpentyouth, and if you want to add your good thoughts, here is the link:Quilt for MsSpentyouth
There will be a potluck/phone banking and some fundraising for her on Oct.11th. We can report back with details.