A Friend Needs Help
One of the reasons I write books is because I believe money is a tool.
Not a scorecard. Not a measure of worth. Not something to be accumulated indefinitely while people around us struggle.
A tool.
My long-term goal has always been simple: when somebody genuinely needs help, I want to be able to say, “Of course.”
I’m not there yet.
Book sales are slow outside of the holidays. Work has been slower than usual this year. The charitable fund I set aside from my writing isn’t what I wish it were.
But sometimes a need comes along anyway.
A friend of mine, Cassandra Twitchell, is currently fighting stage 2 cervical cancer. This comes after previous open-heart surgery and other serious health challenges. She recently underwent a hysterectomy as part of her treatment and is facing the reality that many Americans know all too well: being seriously ill is expensive.
The cruel irony of our system is that someone can have insurance, work hard, do everything “right,” and still find themselves staring at deductibles, lost income, and medical bills they cannot realistically manage.
According to her fundraiser, Cassandra has continued working through much of this ordeal, even taking on DoorDash deliveries despite exhaustion from treatment because the bills do not stop when the diagnosis arrives.
I am not writing this because I believe every problem can be solved with money.
Cancer is frightening whether your deductible is paid or not.
Suffering cannot always be fixed.
Mortality comes for all of us eventually.
But sometimes there is a practical burden that can be lightened. Sometimes there is a rent payment, a deductible, a utility bill, a prescription, or a week of groceries standing between someone and complete despair.
This is one of those situations.
If you’re in a position to help, I would encourage you to consider making a contribution to Cassandra’s fundraiser. If you’re not in a position to give, sharing it may help it reach someone who is.
Most of us will need help eventually.
Most of us already have.
The world works better when we remember that.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-her-fight-against-cancer-and-more-4hnce
Thank you for reading, and thank you to everyone who continues to support my writing. Every book sold brings me a little closer to being able to say “of course” when someone needs help.