Michele Steepleton never imagined she’d see her older sister Susan on the brink of losing everything including her life. But when Susan, now 60, lost her job during the pandemic, it triggered a health crisis that spiraled quickly and dangerously out of control.
Read Michele’s storyHeidi Riley, a retired financial services professional from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, has watched her brother’s life change dramatically due to serious illness, and she has seen firsthand how Medicaid has played a critical role in keeping him alive.
Read Heidi’s storyHannah Johnson lives in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr.’s district. She relies on Medicaid to care for her physical and mental health while working hard to support her community.
Read Hannah’s storyIn 2017, Tomeka James Isaac was pregnant with her first and only son, Jace. At 40 years old, she was told early on that she would be at high risk for pre-eclampsia, yet despite this ominous warning, Tomeka’s pregnancy was progressing smoothly. Until, at her 35-week appointment, complications began.
Read Tomeka’s storyKea had a plan. Pregnant with her first child, she knew she wanted a natural birth, and she wanted her birth experience to be an experience that was unique to her. However, she felt dismissed by doctors when she made requests, and ignored at appointments. Kea switched to a birth center, and everything changed for the better.
Read Kea’s storyTamara's 18 month old grandson fell ill with a slight cough and signs mirroring COVID-19, but was not tested by his pediatrician. After his oxygen levels dropped, he was taken to the ER but was still not tested for COVID-19 due to not meeting testing criteria.
Read Tamara’s storyMorgan Barrett, a resident of Kansas, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at only seven years old. She and her two siblings have the same form of the disease, and growing up, they faced many serious health challenges.
Read Morgan’s storyStefanie Ebnal, one of the thousands of nurses and health care workers on the front lines of the Providence hospital nurses strike in Portland, OR did not start her career as a nurse. Instead, she began in pharmaceutical research, following a scientific path—but never truly feeling connected to the work.
Read Stefanie’s storyDr. Lincoln has built her career on empathy, trust, and teamwork. Now, she's using those same values to challenge a system increasingly shaped by private equity and corporate interests.
Read Jennifer’s story