the-aca
I’m Myka’s mom. I’m just one mom of one child with serious medical complexities, but I know I represent thousands of families just like mine throughout our country. Myka is our third child after a set of twins. Boy twins! I had really hoped that I would
reflections
March 2007: My sixty-six-year-old father is rushed to the hospital after surviving a fairly major heart attack while living in another country. I fly to the city where he is, assess the cramped and disjointed medical infrastructure and immediately initiate plans to Medevac him home for care. He tells me
the-aca
This week my family saw the first and only Vice Presidential Debate. I want to address the comment from Vice President Pence that I see people clinging to as they support him and President Trump: “I am Pro-Life, and I will not apologize for it.” My daughter Claire, now six
federal-issues
I am the mother of two beautiful girls, Sienna, age 4, and Haley, age 7. Sienna is a remarkable little girl who loves life. She is a smiley, energetic, empathetic ray of sunshine. Her favorite activity is spending time with her big sister, whom she adores. If we let her,
reflections
The 2020 election bears down on us now like a freight train on steel tracks, the hardwood ties that bind them blurring underneath it. My eyes are focused on that coming train, my viscera tightened for impact. But I must act. What can I do? What can you do? Little
family-advocacy
My daughter, Savannah, loves Disney princesses, dolls, dancing, and outer space. She has heterotaxy syndrome, which literally means “different arrangement.” Her body organs are misplaced, missing, and/or malformed. She has issues with her heart, lungs, airway, intestines, kidneys, and liver. She is missing her spleen entirely. Her most severely
pandemic
My name is Erin Gabriel. I live in Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania with my husband and three children, Collin, Bridget, and Abby. My youngest daughter Abby is a beautiful, fun, mischievous ten-year-old who loves playing with her big sister and brother, going to the theater, exploring the outdoors, and,
reflections
As the mother of a young man with complex medical needs and disabilities, health care means peace of mind: knowing that Rob’s medical and adaptive needs will be met. That Rob can take advantage of technology and medical advances, such as his augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. Rob’
health-care
It has been three years since I co-founded Little Lobbyists, a family-led group advocating for children with complex medical needs and disabilities. We formed because the health care that helped kids like my daughter Xiomara survive and thrive was under urgent threat. Along with an incalculable army of organizations and
family-advocacy
I’m a mother of three, living in sunny southern California. I shuttle kids to soccer practice and ice skating lessons. I also worry every day about my children’s access to health insurance. My daughter, Myka, all of ten years old, has accrued over $500k in medical costs, most
affordable-care-act
Currently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are fighting to overturn the ACA. Governor Abbott, a pro-life politician, has said, “Texas has become the national leader in defending life. As governor, I will fight for every child to have a chance at life." But as I
aca
My 14-year-old son Victor is a really social guy. He loves baseball, arts & crafts, the pool, and listens to any music that helps him get his groove on, especially the Beastie Boys, and Johnny Cash. Yet worry has engulfed me, I’m on edge and uncertain for Victor’s