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Dear friend, This is a longer email, but it’s important I share the story of my sister, Olivia. Being Olivia’s big sister taught me so much and shaped the person I am today.
Olivia was born with microcephaly, which meant her head and brain were smaller than expected. From birth, she required complex medical care, surgeries, and equipment — wheelchairs, feeding pumps, and a nebulizer. While my dad’s union job provided some coverage, it fell short of covering everything Olivia required. But our family was able to give Olivia everything she needed thanks to Medicaid. Medicaid covered Olivia’s equipment, our appointments at Mary Bridge and Tacoma General Hospital, and home visits for early intervention specialists, nurses, and therapists. When the Washington legislature expanded Medicaid funding in 1993, I learned that state lawmakers can have a life-changing impact! Being Olivia’s big sister changed my life. At a young age, I became a caregiver: Changing diapers, hooking up Olivia’s feeding tube, making sure she got her medication, and holding her hand when she had seizures. At school, I heard insults, cruel jokes, and the R slur — and I began my lifetime opposition to bullies in all their forms. Olivia passed away in 2012, and I carry her memory with me every day. Our experience motivates me to fix our broken healthcare system, advocate for caregivers and disabled folks, and combat discrimination in all its forms. Olivia’s life, marked by both profound challenges and incredible love, has shaped my vision for what healthcare in our country should be — universal, compassionate, and inclusive. Recently, a group of House Republicans proposed a budget that would slash $4.5 trillion — trillion with a T — from Medicaid, children’s health insurance, and the Affordable Care Act. The web of care that helped our family and millions of others would be shredded. Thank you so much for reading. Olivia’s story is a constant reminder that our work to change policies can change lives — and why we cannot back down in the face of policies that threaten to dismantle the support systems on which so many rely. Grateful to be in community with you 💙 — Emily P.S. If you’ve had a similar experience with caregiving and you’d like to share it with the campaign, please reply to this email.
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