Storyteller Jean from Olney, MD brought her three children with her to share her story during a day of action on Capitol Hill. As Republican Senate leaders rushed to vote on the Big Bad BEEtrayal Bill before the Fourth of July, we moved quickly to create a buzz that couldn’t be ignored and bring the voices, experiences, and stories of moms, parents, families, and caregivers to the Hill. She shared her story with 100+ attendees and then helped deliver storybooks to all Republican Senate offices.

Good morning! I’m Jean Nguyen, a proud member of MomsRising. I live in Olney, Maryland, and I’m a mom of three incredible kids, ages 3, 6, and 8, who are here with me today. 

As a mom, I’m horrified that the Senate is about to vote on a budget package that guts Medicaid, so billionaires and corporations get richer with taxbreak giveaways, while families make do with less–less health care, less public education, and less special education.  My family knows firsthand why Medicaid is critical –it is lifesaving in a medical crisis and it is growth fostering when your child needs early intervention.  

When I was 22 weeks pregnant with my son Andrew, I went into my sonogram, excited, wondering what new things I'd learn, only to find out that I was 4 centimeters dilated and in painless labor. Two weeks of bedrest later, our amazing Andrew entered the world at 24 weeks gestation, weighing just 1 pound, 13 ounces.

After 89 days in the NICU, our son came home. By the grace of God, innovative science, and an incredible medical team, he survived and grew, but still needed monitoring with medical equipment, care from specialists, and support from therapists and teachers to help him meet milestones.

At times, parenting our medically fragile baby was terrifying. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, there was one thing we didn’t have to worry about: How we’d claw our way out of crushing medical debt.

Andrew’s NICU stay alone totaled more than $100,000. But because of the ACA, we knew our private insurance could not kick our son off his care. And in Maryland, any baby born under 1200 grams automatically qualifies for Medicaid, because they are at greater risk for developmental delays.  So we knew Medicaid was there, to cover any medical expenses our private insurance might not pay. 

Medicaid gave us peace of mind to focus on our child, instead of being consumed by financial instability. We were able to hold our son’s hand, and marvel at its grip. We could listen to our doctors, with all of our faculties, and take their recommendations, because we knew we had healthcare during our medical crisis–the ACA and Medicaid had our back!

Medicaid also gave Andrew access to special education and early intervention. Like many preemies, Andrew developed shortened, stiff neck muscles that made turning his head, sitting up, and crawling difficult.  Also, the ventilators and feeding tubes that were life saving taught him objects near his face were uncomfortable, and mealtimes would often end in gagging, coughing fits, and vomiting!   Andrew’s physical therapists helped me learn how to stretch his muscles and adapt activities so his muscles could develop evenly.  His feeding therapists helped me help him become more comfortable with spoons, and cups, so he could gain weight and catch up with his peers.  Give it up for our Medicaid supported, early intervention programs–their teams helped our son and children across the nation grow in health, body and mind! 

And now Andrew has finished kindergarten!  He loves to read, climb trees, identify bugs, and play soccer with his Dad. The child we almost lost  – our little miracle man – effortlessly breathes, thinks, and is the person he is meant to be: beautifully and wonderfully made. Medicaid and the ACA made that possible.

But now, the health care of millions like Andrew is in jeopardy. The Senate is about to vote on a budget that prioritizes the extremely wealthy over the health of kids like Andrew and families like mine across the country. Slashing Medicaid will leave a giant hole in state budgets and rip away essential health coverage from millions of people. 

Without affordable health care, so many families are one medical emergency away from financial catastrophe. That thought haunts me and propels me to fight for the ACA and Medicaid because these programs are lifesaving to parents, infants, children, and seniors. This is no time to mince words: If the Republican budget passes, people will die without healthcare. 

So moms are here today to say: Hands off Medicaid!  We demand a reconciliation bill that prioritizes families above billionaires. Thank you!