But millions of boomer women who never had the pleasure of being a member of Ms. Ford’s immediate circle are grieving as well. She was a true role model; a trailblazer who had the fortitude to openly advocate for what she believed. Her beliefs were often in line with the Women’s Rights Movement of the 1970s—not exactly a popular stance in many political circles of the day.

Betty had an inner strength her husband may have lacked. Those of us who considered Nixon’s “above-the-law” approach to the Presidency were horrified when President Ford pardoned the former office-holder. Ford, however, likely considered the act an expedient approach to calming the waters and putting the “long national nightmare” behind us. Had Betty held the Presidential office, I’m not so certain she would have done the same.

Betty was a woman of principle and great courage. Yes, like the rest of us, she had her flaws. But she was open, honest, willing to change, and strong enough to stand up for what she believed…even when her ideals were at odds with her husband’s policies. She was an advocate for gun control, equal pay, a woman’s right to choose, and a passionate supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Her candor was especially apparent when it came to sharing personal aspects of her life. She was not afraid to speak her truth when she believed her story would be of help to others. Back when there was a social stigma surrounding breast cancer and the surgery involved, Betty publically shared her mastectomy. She also openly stated that her daughter was a “normal young woman” and might engage in premarital sex—an opinion (bordering on shocking at the time) that was never before expressed by the wife of any sitting President. And everyone knows how her personal struggle with alcohol and prescription drugs transformed the entire way we understand and treat addiction in this country.

Even as the friends and family of Betty Ford send her off to her eternal rest, her amazing spirit will remain an inspiration—instigating acts of individual courage when the truth can make a difference. My friend, Suzanne Braun Levine, often says that one of the greatest life lessons women over fifty need to learn is to become our authentic selves. Looking back over the life of Betty Ford, there can be little doubt this First Lady knew that particular lesson all along.

Recently, I was visiting one of my favorite sites, Midlife With a Vengeance. It covers topics of health and wellbeing for baby boomer women and I usually come away inspired and armed with new information about food, exercise and other tips for healthy aging. This visit, however, I came away angry.

Always in the forefront, Midlife reports on a number of health related events in the news. This particular post was about a news item that should concern each of us a lot. And, yes, as women over fifty we should get angry… in fact, we should get very angry.

The news is this: insurance companies are attempting to put “drive-through mastectomies” into mainstream medical practice. This means that women who have undergone surgery to remove their breasts would be treated as outpatients and sent home the very same day of their surgery.

Can you imagine the physical and emotional toll of having your breast(s) removed and then sent home to deal with the aftermath of this invasive and heart wrenching surgery on your own? Aside from the incredible impact on your life, you’d be required to deal with your medications, drains, and pain management without benefit of trained hospital staff on hand to help.

The world has conspired to pull off some pretty lousy treatment of women over the past several millennia and this is no exception. However, it is rather shocking to realize, in an industrialized nation in the twenty-first century, such an unenlightened stance could even be considered. 

Please join me in signing a petition supporting The Bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, which requires a minimum two-day hospital stay for mastectomy patients. The LifeTime Channel has dedicated a special page on their website and makes this process a simple one. It only takes a moment and, if there ever was a cause that called for women over fifty to unite our voices in support, this is it. Let’s let Congress know how we feel and let’s end this barbaric practice now and forever!