Thread by @JennyWilsonUT

Yesterday was Day 60 w/o #CHIP reauthorization. Today, I'll share a very personal story about my own child’s healthcare journey--a journey impossible without insurance, & one which shaped my determination that all kids receive quality healthcare. 1/12

washingtonpost.com/national/healt…

In 2002, our 6-month-old son, Zach, received a terrifying diagnosis. After a few months of unexplained wheezing and difficulty breathing, he was finally diagnosed with a rare cardiothoracic disorder that required open-heart surgery. 2/12

Looking back 15 years, I still tear up recalling the fear my husband and I felt when we learned of the magnitude of Zach’s condition, and as we faced a rough 10 days of uncertainty. 3/12

Ultimately, Zach's surgery was successful. We were so lucky--he got amazing care at @primarychildren, one of the world's best children's hospitals. All four grandparents & countless relatives & friends were here to support us. And--WE HAD INSURANCE. 4/12

Even so--it was still the most difficult time our family has ever faced, and it completely wiped us out. It is soul-harrowing to hear that your child may need surgery--that your baby will be subjected to the physical toll of countless tubes, incisions and medications. 5/12

Now, imagine the stress & horror a family faces when, having learned that their child needs this care, they learn they lack the means to pay for it. Or aren’t even in a position to get into the system to receive the needed care. Care their child *might not survive without*. 6/12

No family should EVER be in this position. 7/12

Not long after Zach's surgery, I joined the staff of Voice For Utah Children. There, I worked on expanding access to #CHIP--a #bipartisan federal program created in what used to be an effective Congress, co-sponsored by @SenOrrinHatch & Ted Kennedy. 8/12

#CHIP provides health insurance to Utah's children who would otherwise go without. Now, @SenOrrinHatch has let this program go. Without action, we are weeks away from thousands of Utah children having their health compromised. It's a disaster. 9/12

has forgotten us. He has prioritized bills that cut taxes for the wealthy, all the while sacrificing the health of our state's children. 10/12

I know, firsthand, what it's like to have a child who can't live without medical intervention. Every child deserves the quality medical care that Zach received. No family should ever be prevented from accessing it. 11/12

So, that’s our family’s story. What’s yours?

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