I lost my beloved son to our terrible system last year. He had no insurance and so couldn't get diagnostic tests for his cancer until it was too late to save his life. Several times, his doctors wrote, "Patient needs a colonoscopy but can't afford one."
By the time he gopt help, he was in renal failure and vomiting fecal matter. He didn't matter to the system because he didn't have insurance or money.
He mattered to me, though, and to the rest of his family and friends.
He was one of 30,000 people who died in the last year simply because they didn't have insurance.
I will never get over losing him or the fact that his death could have -- and should have been prevented.
The insurance industry would love to have the whole pie, but we can't allow it. They will not reform themselves. We must have the public plan for meaningful reform. Please remember we are out here, please remember that people are dying. Please do the right thing.