Let's Talk Mammograms Ladies

I had a mammogram today.  No, I'm not 40 yet.  I had some concerns and got this and an ultrasound done under my arm. Thankfully, all was fine.  Before I had this done I was a a bundle of nerves.  I'd never had this done and all I'd heard was horror stories and seen overexaggerated clips of them on t.v. dramas or sitcoms.  I just knew I would be the one who would get stuck in the machine and have my wonderful friends hold a community rally to get me out of it all the while laughing at me also. (Yes, I did joke about that with a friend of mine...also a mammogram novice). What are  girlfriends for other than to make you feel at ease about getting your check ups ;)? 
Let me tell you how it went...so you won't be a chicken turd like me.  I walked into a nice waiting room at a woman's center.  Simple but dainty looking. They had hot coffee, hot tea, water, and graham crackers available.  The staff was friendly.  Their bathroom said, "Powder Room" instead of restroom.  Motivational signs were hanging on the walls in pink.  I was met promptly by the radiology tech.  She had a pleasant smile and she directed me to an area to hang my clothes and drape myself with some gown looking shawl thing.  I looked around the room as she prepared this big scary looking machine before me.  In one corner was a white tree decorated with pretty breast cancer ribbon ornaments and had words like sparkle and shine on it.  On another wall were the words, "Believe" and "Courageous."  Pink ribbons were on the machine and all I could think of was that breast cancer is real.  It was something to believe in miracles for and to be courageous about.  I started to think of ladies I knew that had been diagnosed with breast cancer, all different ages, and how some survived and some didn't.  I had their brave faces with me in my heart today.   "Place your toe on the X on the floor," were the next words I heard.  Nope, didn't sit down for the mammo.  Then the tech guided me into place on the slab of the machine and I thought surely the thing coming down would squish me like a pancake.  Surprisingly, it was not at all that uncomfortable. Awkward, but not painful.  Held my breath for a still xray and on to the next awkward pose.  Before you know it...I was done...and off to the easy sonogram part which is not even worth mentioning that's how easy it was.  Well, other than the tech was kind enough to warm the gel first.
While I waited for the results I laid there and thought about all the women who laid there before me and prayed for them and for those who will be laying there after me.  I don't know what their diagnosis will be or what it was but it made me feel like as the common ground of womanhood it felt natural to me to just say a thought or prayer of peace for them.  So, this all being said, listen to your body, even if you think you are nuts. Mine turned out to be nothing to worry about funky lymph nodes. "Mammograms are really sort of a gift. You can either catch something early or count your lucky stars because nothing was discovered. Either way, you're ahead of the game."- Charlotte Ross. 

Hobby the Lobby or Lobby for Hobby?

I read an article on CNN today about Hobby Lobby facing fines for going against Obamacare.  Well, ok, I get it...we all get fined when we don't follow the laws so that didn't really bother me.  This is a difficult topic for me to cover because emotionally it's a tough one.  My mother was a type I diabetic.  She was advised not to have my sister and I.  In fact during her pregnancies it was suggested that she abort.  This is a case where the mother's life was definitely in danger and quite honestly I am still just amazed that she went through with the pregnancies.  As a result of the pressures from pregnancy she developed complications that later led to her early death at age 32.  For the longest time I was a Pro-Life voice that had no problem with people standing on the side of the road holding a sign about saving babies kind of person.  That was me.  I felt like I owed it to my mother on a personal level to be that person. The judgemental one when it came to that.  Well, life lessons change us sometimes. I'm still about saving babies but my judgemental attitude about it has been way more tamed now than what it used to be.  I remember working for a catholic based hospital after I had my son Isaac. I was supposed to have had my tubes tied after he was born but because he was a preemie the doctor advised against the procedure....so, yes...we had Bryant 5 years later.  Tubes were tied then.  Ok, back to my point.  After I had Isaac I was in no way interested in having another child because the whole ordeal scared me so much. My lung collapsed etc., I was in ICU, I basically almost died.  When it came time to get on birth control pills my insurance denied me the coverage. I needed a special brand due to some of the other benefits it offered so it was a pricey prescription for a middle class income family.  I remember feeling angry and outraged that the nuns wouldn't agree to pay for my birth control.  Did they not understand that pregnancy wasn't necessarily a good thing for everyone? They were on the board of a hospital that takes care of people....and I guarantee not everyone who walked in that hospital was there for illnesses that couldn't have otherwise been prevented had they not been "sinless."  So, why was I being punished I thought? I'm a married woman just trying to be affordably responsible.  Well, I forked out the monthly expense begrudgingly and carried on.  Did this change the fact that I was pro-life? No.  Then later...the big whammy...consider having to make the choice about disconnecting life support?  Well, guess what?  I had to make that choice for my Dad and it was the most difficult and most painful decision I have ever made in my entire life.  I live with the pain of that decision always...not because I feel like I made the wrong one but no human should ever have to be put in that position to do that.  It took a painful amount of love to do it.  So, imagine my disgust and sadness when I realize that the Pro-Life Movement doesn't support  those kind of decisions.  I felt judged and questioned my own beliefs.  It is not something someone wants to have to carry a burden of to begin with. While, personally, it is my opinion that abortions shouldn't ever be used as an alternative to birth control I feel that the Pro-life movements views on end of life decisions has clouded the topic even more.  Can you be pro-life with grace?  I think so.  I believe you can be. The bottom line is everyone doesn't walk in the same shoes.  So, Hobby Lobby doesn't want to pay for abortion inducing drugs? Fine...it's a conscience thing. I get it.  I'm not going to quit shopping at places that choose not to go against Obamacare's mandates just like I'll probably continue going to Hobby Lobby for insane reasons like I feel like being crafty that day. Whatever! I'm not crafty for the record...but just in case.  Here's how I feel though...they have the right to fight for what they believe in.  Everyone does. If they don't want to carry a burden that would in some way make them feel responsible for ending the life of another human being then I respect that.  That burden can be too difficult of a burden to bear.  There are far more other companies that are not going against the Obamacare mandates when it comes to this issue.  I also worked for other companies that did pay for birth control. What are we trying to prove if we mandate Hobby Lobby to go against its beliefs? Their rights should be just as protected as those making the decision to abort.  I hate that anyone has to make decisions about abortions or life support.  The thought of abortions makes me very sad but so does disconnecting life support.  I'll be anxious to see how the case ends up with Hobby Lobby.  Just throwing out some food for thought.