Demonstrators protest before a town hall meeting with US Representative Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) in Willingboro, New Jersey on May 10, 2017. DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images
The Republican health care bill is continuing to receive harsh criticism, especially after they released a 142 page draft that proposed cutting almost a trillion dollars from Medicaid and to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood. The day the draft was revealed, protesters in wheelchairs were arrested for protesting outside of Mitch McConnell's office, and photos circulated the internet showing those individuals being removed from their wheelchairs and arrested.
Highlighting the cruelty of the healthcare bill, in perhaps one of the most heartbreaking ways possible, Ali Chandra wrote a Twitter thread explaining the costs and complications involved in her young son Ethan's rare medical condition, called Heterotaxy, a birth defect that affects the heart and other vital organs.
"I was immediately shocked at how cruel it was," wrote Chandra, in a comment to The FADER, speaking about the recently released draft. "And how it seems to reduce our children's lives to lines in a budget."
"I would tell [Republican lawmakers] that politics are always personal," wrote Chandra. "That the laws they write will have real, tangible consequences for living, breathing humans. I would ask them whether they would be able to vote yes for this bill if it were their own child's life or their own financial security [were] on the line. Honestly, I just want them to look me in the eyes and explain how they can justify creating and passing a bill that would say to my son that his life is too expensive to save."
You can read Chandra's full Twitter thread below. With the vote on the bill most likely coming this week, activists and everyday citizens are organizing to fight against the passing of such a harmful piece of legislation. For ways to contact your senator to tell them that you don't support the passing of the health care bill look to The FADER's guide to stop the Senate from taking away healthcare from 23 million people.
It seems fitting that, with the #TrumpCare debate raging, I got this bill in the mail today from Ethan's most recent open heart surgery. pic.twitter.com/pyUE2UxbWW
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
I'll save you some math; without insurance we would owe $231,115 for 10 hours in the OR, 1 week in the CICU and 1 week on the cardiac floor. pic.twitter.com/CQ9OjOsFX8
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
We're hopeful that going forwards he'll need fewer and smaller surgeries, but this was not the last time they'll open his chest.
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
We also regularly see a local cardiologist, and electrophysiologist for his pacemaker, a pediatrician, & immunology for his polysplenia.
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
He takes 5 different prescription medications multiple times a day. All of this adds up. None of this would be possible without insurance.
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
He blew past the million dollar mark long ago; I haven't even mentioned the ER trips for sepsis workups every time his temp goes above 100.4
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
We've had two of those already this year. pic.twitter.com/zKhw4StSBx
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
A lifetime cap on benefits is the same as saying, "Sorry, you're not worth keeping alive anymore. You're just too expensive."
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
Tell that to the boy who picks me bouquets of sticks instead of flowers because he loves them better so he's sure I will too. pic.twitter.com/Zu987SCGTK
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
Tell that to the boy who wraps his warm arms around my neck and snuggles close after a nap. pic.twitter.com/zznY4S7QtM
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
Look my son in the eyes and tell him that he's fought so hard to be here but sorry, you're just not worth it anymore. I dare you. pic.twitter.com/IgdQOounyB
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
Look my son in the eyes and tell him that he's fought so hard to be here but sorry, you're just not worth it anymore. I dare you. pic.twitter.com/IgdQOounyB
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
I don't even know how to end this thread, how to keep typing through my tears. His life is infinitely precious. That's why we fight so hard. pic.twitter.com/7vVPtvW1pE
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017
If you call yourselves pro-life, you need to fight for life from beginning to end. That's what Ethan's doing, what we're doing. Join us.
— Ali (@aliranger29) June 24, 2017