What’s Truly “Pro-Life”? The Affordable Care Act (by Jessica Sharp Fox)
Claire Fox in the PICU as an infant. Image description: An infant rests in a hospital bed, covered by a blanket with a baby footprint pattern. She is intubated, and dozens of medical lines and tubes run from her body to several machines, including an IV pole with multiple monitors.
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 years old, loves to play outdoors. She loves playgrounds, and swinging is her favorite. She loves to tease her siblings and generously give hugs and kisses. Claire was born with a rare chromosome disorder called Cri Du Chat Syndrome. This caused numerous dangerous heart problems, requiring surgery for her to survive. Claire has a feeding tube that she uses for all of her nutrition. She will always need support to live her best possible life.
I am choosing to share this photo of Claire at five days old. At that time, she was at “day one” in her recovery from open heart surgery. Claire had already been intubated three times and flown on an airplane from Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, five hours away. My husband, Sean, and I were told that she might not survive. We were given no guarantees.
So many people love to see the healthy, happy, blonde-haired, blue-eyed little six-year-old that Claire is today. There is no doubt that she is loved and treasured by many people. But, the girl that she is today was this baby teetering between life and death. This photo is PRO-LIFE. This picture is the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Claire Fox today. Image description: A young white girl with blond hair and wearing a pink “Little Lobbyists” t-shirt and navy blue pants holds onto the yellow bars of playground equipment.
The Trump Administration’s attempt to strike down the ACA in the Supreme Court with no plan to replace it is NOT PRO-LIFE. It is cruel. It is grossly hypocritical. President Trump and Vice President Pence have NO PLAN for health care. They do not even have a framework to offer a plan to families like mine.
The ACA means that Claire cannot be discriminated against because of her heart disease and disabilities. It means that even though her heart repair cost millions of dollars, there is no cap on what will be covered for the rest of her life. It means that she cannot be denied coverage due to preexisting conditions. It means that Sean and I can keep her on our health insurance plan until she is 26. Claire needs that. My God, Claire deserves that!
So let me be crystal clear when I say that a vote for President Donald Trump is a vote AGAINST Claire’s future and well being. It is voting AGAINST her chance to live a full, healthy, and meaningful life. Not for one second has this administration stopped attacking our children's right to access health care on strictly partisan lines. They want to destroy the ACA simply because Obama created it.
I will not apologize for talking about politics. I will not apologize for my stance. In our family, we do not have the privilege of sitting back and staying quiet. Claire needs us and depends on us to demand better. I, too, am Pro-Life, and I will not apologize for it.
Jessica Sharp Fox is a member of Little Lobbyists who lives in Tennessee. She is married to Sean Fox, and is a mother of three. Jessica works as a registered nurse.