picture this. you and your boyfriend of 11 months discover you are pregnant. you have talked about a future together so although it was a surprise, you both are excited to get things rolling. Your future planning begins now.

days later you are in pain, losing extreme amounts of blood and can barely walk so you drive to the er only to be met with terrified staff.

no one wanted to help you, let alone come near or touch you, in fear of what laws would be broken should they be discovered to have helped you. not only fines, but they could lose their jobs, be labeled incompetent, and even thrown in jail.

hours go by with no help. finally, after hours of waiting, you are being walked back to “your room” only to be told you have been discharged while walking the hospital halls with your nurse. another corner around the hall and you are walked into a room and encouraged to sit on a bed.

a print out of the assistance provided is handed to you the same instant another nurse appears out of nowhere and lifts the bed sheet onto your legs, now asking if you want a warmed blanket. you look through the papers to see what your diagnosis is an it shows “miscarriage - patient no longer pregnant. patient given Tylenol for pain. immediately you ask about the Tylenol and they reach out a hand to give you two pills and a water cup. you take the medicine and leave because clearly they are unwilling to help.

spending the next few days in pain, at work like nothing is wrong, and then in solitude each night as the days continued.

what feels like forever, a month goes by and now you no longer have the support team you previous thought. rebuilding yourself was forced in a variety of was, but the timing was necessary.

out of nowhere your phone rings an unrecognized number. you let it ring like all other random numbers. they call you a second time, bypassing the DND blocker. your curiosity is fancied, so you answer.

it’s a debt collector. stating your total from the hospital was never paid and therefore sent to a collections office. if you don’t start paying today, they will come for your assets and anything associated with your current address.

and can you even begin to guess how much the bill was for around 4 hours in a waiting room, 7 minutes in a hospital room, and 2 Tylenol from the hospital..?

and before you ask, yes we have really good insurance.

$13, 758.

thirteen thousand, seven hundred and eight dollars.

and that’s with your insurance assistance of over $800.

that number will haunts you for some time... who has $13,000 for few hours and 2 tylenol?? you sure dont...

you have been disputing the charges since receiving the call and have requested assistance from available resources but your applications remain in an “application pending” limbo.

you need help. and this time your savings isn't going to help.

unsure what to do, you ask your ex for help. he once said he would support you in whatever decision, no matter what happened he would be there. but he is now no longer an option for support. the reason you split up is another can of worms we are not going to open at this time, so you move on.

back to the hustle and grind. watching each paycheck get swallowed up with no end in sight while you choose between food, electricity, rent, gas, and your family.

still you continue. you push on...

... you remember to keep your head up because community matters. and your community has always supported you. xo

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anything you can provide means the absolute world right now and does truly save me from a dire situation. the current restrictions from state to state on abortion and pregnancy care have made it impossible to find safe and affordable assistance. i know i am not the only one who has experienced something like this. my experience was mellow, i can only image had things turned worse. and to think on top of everything, i know their bills would be tremendously significant compared to mine. with that in mind, i would like to pledge any extra funds received to go towards organizations that can help women in situations of need. a growing list includes planned parenthood, center for reproductive rights, johns hopkins, mayo clinc, etc.