You should never ever tell me how you voted. This is the conclusion I’ve come to. In order for us to coexist peacefully or for me to not be disappointed in you, I cannot know that you voted for a candidate who would not support my daughter. I cannot know that you voted against my daughter.
I logically know that no one voted against Audrey. In fact, I’m one hundred percent positive that she never crossed your mind as you voted. And yet, she’s one of the two most important people in my life, so I cannot do anything – especially vote – without her at the forefront of my mind.
As a cancer survivor, it’s incredibly important that Audrey always have health care. I’m a believer that health care is important and necessary for all people, but it’s truly critical that those among us who have battled or who are battling serious diseases or conditions receive care from childhood into adulthood. That means the parents of the most vulnerable need access to affordable health care and coverage, and that those kids who are the most vulnerable have access to affordable care and coverage as they move into adulthood.
Maybe Audrey will be waiting tables when she’s 26, trying to finish grad school or medical school or law school. Maybe she’ll be an artist or a missionary or fixing cars. Whatever she wants to do, whatever she’s called to do, she will need access to health care. Which means she likely needs to be a cube dweller (and maybe not focusing on her calling), working in a job that doesn’t need advanced education, or she needs some form of the ACA to be in place.
I want my child to have the same access to health care as anyone else’s child. Not only is she deserving of that as a human being, she fought very hard for life.
So we can disagree on things like the second amendment, climate change measures, and taxes – but we cannot disagree on health care without me harboring a grudge against you and wondering if you really care about Audrey. Because no matter why you cast a vote for a candidate, I see your vote against Audrey.
And maybe that’s not fair and maybe it’s mean. But it’s how I feel, and it feels good to give it a voice. I am longing for the day that America is a country where health care is not a partisan issue. Because sometimes I feel like West Virginia in the 1860s.
bravegirlwannabe 
When my daughter was 12 she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. At the time my wife and I were both working and my daughter got excellent care from Kaiser through our coverage. When the ACA was passed we were thankful that her care would be continued until she turned 26.
She’s 34 now, a single mom of two living with us. She has a well paying job that provides healthcare but with every downturn in the economy or every job change I hold my breath and hope that she doesn’t lose coverage.
I have a lot of boxes that I check off when I vote. I understand that not every electoral wish will be granted and I’m mostly fine with that (as long as we don’t end up with a monstrosity in office) but my number one issue that I’m not going to compromise on is healthcare.
I wish you and your daughter the best and I hope that America can come up with a healthcare system that will be fair, won’t send people to the poorhouse or to a funeral home.
I don’t understand a philosophy that is against every person having access to quality affordable care.
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Thank you so much for sharing your story and for your encouragement and kind words. I’m so glad that your daughter is healthy, and covered! I, too, will not compromise on healthcare – those of us who know better must do better. And that means fighting for those who can’t or because there are still many that don’t yet understand. I guess we will always be parents fretting over little ones, regardless of how old they or we get!
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