Stand up for our health care

Just over a year ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. But last week, I celebrated my 42nd birthday. I am still alive because of the treatments I was able to afford through the Affordable Care Act.

On June 3, National Cancer Survivors Day, I spread the word that I’m grateful to be here. And I remembered the people who fought to take away the health care that all of us survivors need.

Did you know that 1 in 4 Americans has a pre-existing condition? If Sen. Dean Heller, R-nev., succeeded in repealing the ACA, these Americans would be uninsurable on the private market. No wonder he did nothing when I was thrown out of his forum in December for daring to ask him about his votes.

Shame on any politician who tries to take away our health care and is too cowardly to face up to it.

I can’t afford to be a coward because, as a small-business owner, I don’t have deluxe taxpayer-funded health care like Heller and his family receive. I used to have a junk insurance policy, but thankfully I had the ACA when I was diagnosed.

My friends and I have to fight every day to survive. Not only do we have to fight our diseases, we have to fight politicians like Heller who would leave us defenseless against it. Remember who stood up for us and who did not, and hold them accountable in November.

Laura Packard, Las Vegas