It’s hard enough to find all the time to keep on top of my national-security beat. As a result, there are a host of important issues I just don’t know enough about. Healthcare is one of them. There I typically turn to the wisdom and expertise of my friends. But sometimes there are horror stories so striking that turning away isn’t an option. Here’s one.

Kate Michelman is one of America’s leading feminists. She ran NARAL, the national abortion rights group, for two decades. But today, she is near bankruptcy because of a double medical tragedy in her family.

Yes, it says a host of unpleasantries about me that I only pay attention when a celebrity — in this case, I progressive luminary for whom I have great respect — finds herself in this position. I don’t mean to diminish anyone’s experience by highlighting this one. Nor do I have anything more constructive to add than this-is-awful. But this is awful.