February 12, 2017 - 17:29
I was, very frustratingly, sick again this past week, and so I was unable to go into the city with my group this week. I'm still not really sure what happened and I got sick again, but it hit me at once and then left me again three days later with nothing but some whispers of the weakness in my body from being ill. Though I felt extremely guilty when I woke up Friday morning with my originally set alarm, I immediately made the decision that it woudn't be a good idea for me to go to my Praxis site that day. It was frustrating, having to tell people that I was sick again and couldn't show up.
Along with being sick, I've also recently given in and, finally, let myself be talked into committing to the long running show, Grey's Anatomy. Ironically, that's what I've been binge-watching whenever I've been in bed and not passed out. I started thinking about the relationship between health and privilege. And as I'm writing this, I'm having a ginormous smack-myself-on-the-forehead "no-duh!" moment with the thought, "that's why universal health care is so important!" While watching Grey's Anatomy, I couldn't help but keep thinking "wowza, that would cost so much, I hope you guys have money for this." But then there were of course the patients in the show that were extremely concerned with money. It's a very simple thing, yet I don't think I've ever fully sat and thought about all the different ways I'm lucky to have a mostly healthy body and know that I'm privileged enough that, if I were to become more seriously unhealthy, my family could afford to do whatever it takes to help me get back on my feet and resume a "normal" life of physical, mental, and emotional health. The first thing I did this time when I first got sick was go to Target and buy a large amount of vitamins, juice, medicine, and other sick day supplies. Even this seemingly small and insignificant action is something I should be thankful for, because I am privileged enough to be able to afford the medicine and extra supplies to expedite and make my recovery quick and comfortable.