Happy Birthday

My friend would have turned 46 today, but he died of lung cancer last November.

He smoked for many years, but why? I’ve read that many smokers self-medicate for conditions they may or may not realize they have — depression, anxiety, stress. Was that why he smoked? Did he smoke because his insurance didn’t cover medications for conditions he might have had? Or maybe he didn’t have insurance and couldn’t see a doctor to find out. I don’t know.

There is a lot I don’t know. We were great friends in high school but drifted apart over the years. He reached out to me, however, when he received his cancer diagnosis, so while I don’t know a lot about what happened between high school and diagnosis, I was blessed to be part of the last leg of his journey. I know he fought valiantly, but his insurance company denied him vital tests and procedures. I know he planned for a wonderful future until the very end.

He served in the Army and as a law enforcement officer. He was a son, father, and friend and didn’t want to fail in any of his roles. Yet America failed him, despite how well he served America.

Why do we sell cigarettes, despite known health risks? Why don’t we have universal health care? Why does America create and perpetuate poor health outcomes?

What role did being black and male for 45 years play in my friend’s poor outcomes?

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I wrote this as a part of a writing challenge “America Me & Mine.” Check it out and join in!

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