I am awake, I am alive and today I dance with one all-encompassing and incredibly ugly reality, one that is so rarely discussed so here I go … poverty hurts.

This morning – a dentist appointment with a specialist. Years of neglect thanks to lack of access, benefits, funds or the inability to forgo a day’s pay to attend to my teeth has put me forever out of the reach of a normal dentist. Now it is a specialist at $300 a pop. Yes, poverty hurts.

But the financial cost is not the reality that near cripples me. It is the real, physical pain that accompanies such appointments. The last visit required a specialist I trust, a hygenist I adore, an Ativan and 10 needles of freezing. This time – my trusted specialist has retired, my fav hygenist has moved on to a new chapter but nevertheless, I am attempting to go without freezing. (Or at least that is my intent now. It may change 5 minutes into the process.) It’s 6 of one, a half dozen of another really – the pain of the cleaning or the pain of the needles so yes, poverty hurts – literally.

And that is my point, for those who have forgotten or never known the sting of poverty. It is not merely “inconvenient”. It is not simply a matter of “going without luxuries”. It is so often real, physical pain when it is preventative measures you cannot afford and that pain must be endured even years later, even if now your wallet is filled with more than dust bunnies.

So this is me, dreading today. I keep telling myself that the appointment is only an hour, that I have done labour, that it won’t be as bad as that … but it will because poverty hurts.

Think of that my friend, when you vote for the individual preaching a reduction to health care services. Think of that when our leadership puts pocket books before pain, even if it is not you that will have to endure. Please, think of that.

In the meantime, enjoy this day my friend. Me – I am going to enjoy tomorrow when this day and this appointment are done.

 

I love you. HUGSSSSSSSS
Sandi

#ibelieveinyou #celebrateandsurvive