The Kintsugi of Collage

Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with lacquer and gold dust. Kintsugi literally means golden joinery. It comes from the idea that broken pieces shouldn’t be simply tossed out. It recognizes that there’s still value in the brokenness and with great care, the shattered pieces can be put back together to create something even more valuable. Something that’s more beautiful for having been broken.

It’s a practice and perspective at the heart of the Collage team. We know that life rarely goes as expected. That each of us has areas in life where we’ve been broken, where our plans seem shattered and beyond repair. Sometimes that comes as a result of an unexpected pregnancy, or a sexual health issue. At other times, it’s the brokenness felt over a past abortion decision.

Because each of us at Collage has faced brokenness, we know it’s possible to pick up those pieces. We know it’s worth putting those shattered pieces back together and celebrating the beauty.

The story goes that the practice of Kintsugi came about when a Japanese shogun broke his favorite tea bowl. He sent it away for repair and it came back with metal staples holding the ceramic pieces together. Was it together? Well technically. But this wasn’t acceptable for the shogun, who requested that it be repaired again. This time great care was taken and it was repaired with lacquer and gold. This process didn’t disguise the damage but made something beautiful out of it.

Just trying to put the pieces back together wasn’t enough. It takes someone who understands not only the beauty of the original piece but someone who can look at the brokenness and see the beauty yet to be discovered.

At Collage, we recognize the beauty and value of each and every one of us, even in our brokenness. We love to help our clients see that beauty and begin to put the pieces back together with hope and confidence. We specialize in our own version of Kintsugi – of creating beauty from the unexpected.

If you need someone to talk to or want to schedule an appointment for a pregnancy or STD test, please give us a call, we’d love to help.

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Will My Insurance Pay for My Girlfriend's Abortion Pill?

August 11, 2026

If your girlfriend is facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you're probably wondering about costs and whether insurance will cover it. Before considering the abortion pill, it’s vital that your girlfriend receives an ultrasound. We offer these at no cost with no insurance necessary. She can schedule a free, confidential appointment online at Collage. Can Your Insurance Cover Her? Health insurance covers the policyholder and enrolled dependents. A girlfriend typically isn't a covered dependent on your plan, which means your insurance generally won't pay for her medical care. The exception is if she's been added to your plan as a domestic partner and your employer allows that. Additionally, you may be able to extend insurance coverage to her after marriage if your policy allows this as a qualifying event. However, the chances of insurance covering an elective abortion are unlikely. What About Her Own Insurance in Nebraska? Under Nebraska law , standard health insurance plans in the state cannot cover elective abortion unless the insured purchases a separate abortion rider. Medicaid in Nebraska covers abortion only in limited circumstances. In most cases, the abortion pill in Nebraska will be an out-of-pocket cost. What She Should Know About the Drug The abortion pill uses two drugs. The first, mifepristone , blocks progesterone, a hormone required to sustain the pregnancy. The second, misoprostol , taken a day or two later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue. The FDA approves this drug regimen through 10 weeks of gestation. Nebraska law also requires that the abortion pill be prescribed and administered in person by a physician. Complications can include heavy bleeding, infection , incomplete abortion, and digestive system discomfort. If the drug does not fully end the pregnancy, a follow-up procedure might be required. Getting the Facts First A free ultrasound at Collage confirms your girlfriend’s gestational age, whether the pregnancy is in the uterus, and whether the pregnancy is progressing. An ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy implants outside the uterus) requires different medical treatment than abortion, and could be life-threatening if left untreated. An ultrasound can rule out this complication. Schedule a free, confidential appointment at Collage today. Call: 308.234.9880 in Kearney or 308.675.2217 in Grand Island. *All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing. **Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.

Young woman thoughtfully learning about the abortion pill before making a pregnancy decision.

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