Put simply, the government should not come between a doctor and a patient’s medical care.

Elderly Healthcare Affordability I was very close with all of my grandparents. I would go to doctor’s appointments and help however I could. One grandmother chose to live with me when she was discharged from the VA hospital on Leestown Rd because we had such a special bond. She battled Alzheimer’s and Dementia, which only increased in the past nine months of her life. My mother and I could not do everything ourselves because we weren’t trained in that area, so we hired those who were to come and help. It required 24 hours of care, 7 days a week. Mamaw Mommy was a Navy Veteran, but her fixed income and insurance didn’t come close to covering all the expenses. We were fortunate enough for my mom to be able to help my grandmother with all the extra costs.

All of the elderly community should have access to the best healthcare possible without it being too expensive for them.

Mental Health Help and Access I have struggled with depression and anxiety from a young age. It is not a problem for us to experience those issues, it only gives us strength when we reach out for the help we need. We need to be more open about Mental Health and have discussions on that topic. I will be a voice for the community to help end the stigma surrounding Mental Health and work to get more resources available to those in need.

Addiction and Recovery I have struggled with addiction. I have now been completely sober since October 1, 2022. I promise to all the rest of you who are struggling that there are so many of us who have that struggle as well. There are so many people here for you, and life is so much better on this side of sobriety!!

Addiction doesn’t discriminate and affects countless people. Addiction is a disease and we need to start treating it as such. We need to stop criminalizing the addicts and treat the disease like we do with other diseases. We need to put more resources into rehabilitation, mental health, and recovery as opposed to sending those struggling with addiction to jail.

Domestic Abuse- I have been in relationships that were mentally and emotionally abusive. One also became physically abusive. One of my teeth was chipped, and my dentist rushed to repair it, but it’s a constant reminder. I didn’t tell many people since it was a same-sex relationship, but others need to know to not be ashamed about that. If you need help, please talk to a professional about what is going on, as soon as possible. The sooner you are able to get out of the situation, the easier it will be. There are so many resources for opposite-sex relationships, as well as same-sex relationships that are abusive.

I personally know how difficult it is to get back up after you are completely torn down from the abuse, but I will stand up for all of those who are experiencing/have experienced this trauma. I want to make sure that we have enough resources available to everyone who needs it, as well as knowing how to easily access that help.