Nailing it

Last Saturday night I majorly stubbed my toe. Big toenail bent backwards halfway. Blood all over my foot and shoe. Sunday morning I had a little crisis about going to the doctor because 1) I have not attended one in awhile 2) I have not used my current insurance--but my roommates have and say it is not great and really hard to find a doctor on the plan, etc. 3) I work at an organization really active in the crisis of quality health care in South LA and I wonder if there are any competent podiatrists around here 4) And I've seen Michael Moore's Sicko 3 times

So I have a mini crisis in my head first about myself--trying to figure out what to do (two of my roommates thought I could take care of it myself, without a doctor), where to go if I did go to a doctor, what my insurance covered and what I wanted to pay, etc. And then, since I am such a big-picture person, I have mini crisis in my head about the state of healthcare in general-- in America/in South LA.

It was just an awful thing to have to worry about. And I only had a small little problem with my toenail. I can't imagine having a worse problem and having to navigate "the system." I am so proud of those at my organization that help the non-insured and underinsured navigate the mess of providers and hospitals and insurance and state programs.

I hope and pray that in the near future will come: changes in healthcare at the Federal level and new pairs of CLOSED-TOE shoes.

(BTW: I found a podiatrist that was on my plan in nearby Culver City--I am now pain free and alomst back to normal.)