This Year, I'm Thankful for Family, Friends, Grace—Plus Good Doctors, Publicly Funded Medical Advances, and Health Insurance

Hi. Welcome to Bloom Anywhere. I'm Gwen Moran, a writer, editor, author, and problem-solver. My goal is to share information, ideas, and resources to help you overcome obstacles, reach your goals, and find more joy in life, even when things are messy. Thanks for joining me. (If you got this from a friend, subscribe here: Bloom Anywhere.) I'd love your feedback and suggestions for future topics. Please send me an email: connect@bloomanywhere.com.

There are days when blooming feels easier. Your loved ones are loving you back in the ways that you need. You're crushing it at work. An unexpected (happy) surprise comes your way. The positive feelings radiate from your core.

Then, there are days when everything gets blown up a little bit. (Or a lot.)

A Breath-Taking Experience

For a few days last week, I had been feeling out of breath and a little under the weather. I thought I was getting bronchitis and went to my doctor. They didn’t see anything wrong, but I have a history of pulmonary embolisms (PEs), so the nurse practitioner prescribed a CT scan asap. (“Go to the ER if it gets worse,” she said, pointing a finger at me as she walked out the door.) I was able to secure an online appointment at the radiology center for the next day.

Given that the U.S. healthcare system is what it is, I got a call the next morning that my appointment was being canceled. Even though my physician’s office indicated that I needed the test STAT, my insurance company required preauthorization for the scan. My breathing was getting worse, so I decided to head to the emergency room (ER). Within minutes of arriving and explaining my issue, I was in a private bay. Within an hour, I was getting the VIP treatment, including bloodwork, scans (including the elusive CT scan), and visits from hospital royalty—intensive care unit doctors. The verdict was that I was having another PE episode. There was a heavy clot load in both lungs and a clot sitting between my heart and lungs. They started me on medication to prevent further clots and scheduled me for a procedure to remove those that were putting me in danger.

Even though my husband and daughter were with me for support, I was frightened to the point where I was trembling when the nurse tried to take my blood. While everyone I dealt with was kind, I knew that my situation could get worse at any moment. The next morning, I was taken for a thrombectomy, during which the doctor took out many of the clots that were affecting my breathing. It was painful but successful. I could feel the difference immediately. Effective oxygen distribution is an underrated bodily function.

In his excitement over the procedure’s success, as I was still lying on the operating room table, my doctor showed me his iPhone. On the screen were images of lungs with big brownish-red blobs throughout. “See?” he said with a grin that crinkled his eyes. “This is what we took out.” (People-pleaser that I am, I was gratified to have played a small part in his happiness.)

Gratitude—And the Angels

I was discharged on Saturday and have had a couple of days to rest. And I have a longer list of things for which I’m thankful this year. Here are a few additions:

Grace: While part of the American dream narrative writ large is owning one’s own business, self-employment comes with some risks. There isn’t really a safety net. When you’re unable to work, your livelihood suffers. You risk letting down clients and putting those relationships at risk. I am fortunate to have supportive clients. They gave me grace and had my back when I needed it most.

Unexpected angels: What I have learned through a few brushes with my mortality and other serious life events and losses is that some people rise and help you get through. Often, they are not the people you expect. Those folks may have their own issues to deal with or may be shut down by the gravity of the situation. In some cases, they show you where you rank within their priorities. On the other hand, other loved ones and friends have become absolute forces that showed up when I needed them and helped me shoulder the load. I am lucky to have them in my life.

Laughter: I am surrounded by people who make me laugh every single day. It may not be the best medicine (I’ll still take scans, medication, and surgery when needed), but it sure helps.

My life: PEs can be deadly. I am very fortunate to have survived them twice and to have had access to a nearby ER. Not everyone is so fortunate. I am thankful that the medical professionals there took my concerns seriously and acted quickly to diagnose and treat me.

Publicly funded health advances: The device that allowed the doctor to grab those nasty clots was developed, in part, by public and charitable research bodies and academic sponsors, including those in Europe. The U.S. government is one of the most significant single sources of funding for early-stage medical and biomedical research, funding roughly 40% in 2022. In 2020, it funded roughly 60%. In her latest Modern CEO, Stephanie Mehta interviews Kevin Conroy, the CEO of Exact Sciences, maker of the Cologuard colon cancer screening kit, about the need for public funding in medical innovation. (Disclosure: I edit Modern CEO.)

Subsidized health insurance: Without the health insurance that my husband’s employer helps underwrite (which still takes a five-figure bite out of our earnings each year), this situation would have been financially devastating. As it is, the medication that I need to help prevent it from happening again costs approximately $600 to $800 per month without insurance. Had I gone to the ER without insurance, I would have been treated to stabilize my situation. However, I would have been left on my own to try to get the medication I needed.

While I am thankful that we have access to these benefits, one’s access to healthcare should not depend on employment or financial status. Healthcare is a human right.

Do Thanksgiving Your Way

My wishes for you, this Thanksgiving, are good health, peace, and those who help you celebrate in the ways you want. My writer friend Cathie Beck wrote a poignant essay about the pain of loss and estrangement during the holidays.

Enjoy this time of gratitude and reflection. I’m always happy to hear your thoughts at connect@bloomanywhere.com.

Bloom Drops

Things I want to share with you.

Accessing healthcare: If you are struggling to afford health insurance and need care, there are a few options. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds roughly 1,400 health centers, which operate 16,200 service sites. These centers may offer primary care, preventive services, dental care, mental health services, and chronic disease management. Find one nearest you here.

You can also look into your state’s Medicaid or Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offerings. These have different names, depending on the state. Also, check with your state or local health department for charitable or other groups in your area that may offer services. And local medical schools may also offer health care clinics. In some areas, you may access information by calling 211.

Affording prescriptions: For help with prescription costs, try (the unfortunately named) Needy Meds or Rx Assist, which offers a directory of patient prescription assistance programs.