Emily Fay Reese

Please tell me I am not alone in this: Every morning when I wake up, one of the first things I think about, besides my coffee, is "I wonder what happened in Washington, D.C. while I have been asleep." (Huh. Now that I see those words typed out, it’s actually kind of sad. I need to work on that, I think.)

I recently spent a week in D.C. before the Republicans' tax bill was finalized. It’s not like me to do spur-of-the-moment trips, but after following the Senate debates closely regarding their version of the bill, I was prodded into action to go there and fight for programs that would be under attack to pay for the deficit created through tax breaks. The biggest of those tax breaks are going to corporations and very wealthy people.

More:The honest and endearing story of Emily Reese's cancer

Let me state very clearly for the record: I pray that I am wrong about about Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid being on the chopping block. I really do. I have heard from Republican friends that I am overreacting, and I have definitely heard from Trump supporters (whom I don’t know) that I should “Get a job!” or “Quit spreading lies and scaring people, you (blank)!” The latter comments don’t really hurt because I truly feel I have done my homework — as best as any single mom on Medicaid and SSI with terminal colon cancer can do.

My story and my life aren’t just my own; they belong to everyone. There are so many Nevadans and people in the U.S. on Medicaid and permanent disability. Now that I am in that boat, I have become keenly aware of the attitudes about people who use these programs. One thing I have come to understand through all of this is that anyone’s life can change in an instant. Lost jobs, illnesses, accidents, and tragedies are basically a guarantee in this life. Once something happens, having taxpayer-funded programs that are compassionate and righteous are an absolute necessity to help our nation and our citizens stay afloat.

To completely disregard these programs because of a few bad apples that may take advantage of the system is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Wealthy people and corporations can also take advantage and milk the tax system for their own gain; yet, this tax bill is so clearly skewed toward those people and entities. Remember that. If you don’t believe it, then I encourage you to do a little more investigating.

After being very persistent in calling and messaging Senator Dean Heller and his staff, they finally acquiesced and asked if I wanted to meet with him personally in Reno or in D.C. This was a no-brainer; not only has D.C. been on my bucket list — which I have been knocking items off of since my terminal diagnosis — but the tax bill was being rushed through at breakneck speed and I wanted to chat with him before they could finalize the bill in the Senate.

It was a wonderful adventure.

Heller was cordial and kind, and our conversation was straightforward and to the point. I actually do appreciate that he extended me some time, even though he knew we wouldn’t agree on things. I didn’t go out there expecting to change his mind, either. I simply wanted to be heard and I wanted to hear from his lips his thoughts on my Medicaid and other programs that many in the GOP party feel are “entitlements.” I also hope that he remembers me and my children when he is faced with future votes that affect real people in Nevada.

He was clear. I believe he may feel differently than many of his colleagues in that he believes Medicare and Social Security should be protected in some way. But when it came to Medicaid, he stated in no uncertain terms that my Medicaid is indeed an “entitlement.” This is code, which was made clear by Paul Ryan in an interview the other day, that the intention is to place Medicaid on the chopping block first to help pay for the tax breaks and deficit created by this bill, possibly as soon as the first of the year.

Yep. It appears that I will not be wrong.

President Trump was very clear during his campaign that he would protect all three programs. While I personally place very little stock in anything he says, I am using this promise to continually remind him to veto any bill that comes across his desk which doesn’t protect Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.

No one who is facing a life-threatening illness and cannot work to pay for individual or employee-provided insurance should have to worry if they can afford the medicine or treatments they need. GoFundMe can only go so far; people want to help, but they are all in the same boat with needing to afford their own care.

No matter what you feel about this new tax plan, don’t just look at the benefits for you personally. Please consider fighting against the plans Republicans have that will hurt people that aren’t like you. All parties want a tax plan that is fair and less burdensome for everyone, especially small businesses and people in normal ranges of the tax bracket. But at what cost? I and others like me on Medicaid have no other options available to us; when talking heads say that “people will die,” they aren’t kidding. I am asking people of all political and religious persuasions to consider speaking up for those people affected negatively by future plans to cut government programs like Medicaid. It comes down to life and death for many of us.

I still hope I am wrong about that; however, it looks like I may not be.

Live life, love life, impact others.

— Emily Reese

Follow Emily and her cancer journey on Facebook under Emily Fay Reese and on Twitter at @mlereese.