Yesterday, the AHCA vote was cancelled due to lack of support from both Democrats and Republicans, and not only Obamacare, but traditional Medicaid and the Medicaid expansion are safe for now.
Thanks to so many of you who called, wrote letters, and spoke to your members of Congress, I feel like I can breathe again for the first time in weeks. I feel hope and lightness and strength, and I can’t thank you enough!
But most of all, I feel like the outpouring of support reminds me that while I can’t take it for granted and the fight to protect people with disabilities, the poor, the elderly, and the most vulnerable in our country is far from over, I hear that the voices who value those lives in this country have gotten louder, more expressive, and more proud. A few days ago, the burden that I felt to make my daughter’s story and her value known felt very singular and heavy. But what’s so sweet about hope is that burdens are lifted when responsibility and love and care become shared.
Thank you so much for sharing our burden, but most of all, thank you for realizing that Lucia’s life has never been and doesn’t deserve to present a burden to her or to us or to any family who just wants their child to grow and thrive. Let’s keep fighting so that we can all keep growing by living in a society that values so many different kinds of people and deems them all worthy of health, education, life, and love.
Onward, my friends. And thank you for renewing my hope!