Southwest Virginians Take Health Care Message to Washington

Congress will take up health care reform next week, so President Barack Obama presented his plans during a Town Hall meeting Wednesday in Annandale, Virginia. 

One of the audience members who shared their story with President Obama at the meeting was Debby Smith of Appalachia, Virginia.

She volunteers for a group called “Organizing for America,” his political arm within the Democratic National Committee.  Smith talked about her fight with cancer and her inability to get insurance at the Town Hall forum. 

The President called her “Exhibit A” of what he called the need for health care reform.  Smith is no stranger to our nation’s capitol.

Just last week, she boarded a bus with others from Southwest Virginia to lobby for her cause.  Smith and roughly 50 passengers joined activists from around the country in Washington, D.C. to lobby for health care reform.

Most people boarded the bus in Norton, Virginia at 1:30 a.m., many already having worked a full day.  Eight hours later they joined thousands of other people from across the country who came to Washington to make their case for quality, affordable health care for all.

The Communication Workers of America union made up a large portion of people on the bus.  They mostly work for call centers in Southwest Virginia.  Other passengers were just concerned citizens who felt inspired.

As the first strains of sunlight poured into the bus, passengers awakened from their slumber, ready to take on Washington.  “I stayed up until 12 last night, and got up an hour later to get ready to go,” said passenger Jody Moceri.

“I thought it was really not a big sacrifice, to come up here and just show my support that the country really does need reform in my opinion,” said passenger Diana Conco.

With just 60 miles separating riders from the halls of power, dressing to impress was on many minds.

When the bus finally pulled up in front of the United States capitol everybody couldn’t wait to get off the bus to join thousands of other people rallying for health care reform.

“Right now I’ve got my second wind and I’m buzzed,” said Moceri.  She came to support universal health care.  “I believe and know that universal health care works,” said Moceri. 

While living overseas, “I’ve experienced social medicine, universal medicine and healthcare,” said Moceri.  And, up until two weeks ago, went without health care coverage.

“I came back six years ago, to live back home in the United States, and I have not been covered since.  The jobs I’ve worked in do not provide medical coverage,” said Moceri.

“I’m really energized by the crowd, by being at the capitol, by hearing the speakers,” said Conco.  The retired nurse said her profession has led her to want universal health care.

“I see people prolonging seeking help until it’s very late and they’re very ill,” said Conco.  Putting off care, she said, because they can’t afford it.

“The big issue I see is that we don’t have a health care system anyway, we have an illness care system,” said Conco.

After the rally, bus riders met with Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA-9th District) to share their personal health care stories.  One-by-one passengers made their case.  Debby Smith, who helped organize the bus trip, broke down while telling her story.

“In ‘98 I was diagnosed with reno cell carcinoma…I’ve had some issues with weight gain, high blood pressure, a lot of pain and things like that. That’s now caused me not to be able to work, so of course, I lost my health care,” said Smith.

Three weeks ago she learned about a new tumor.  “Now, I don’t know what to do. I know I’m going to have massive bills coming up, and I don’t have a clue how I’m going to pay for it, what I’m going to do, or if I’m even going to be able to get treatment,” said Smith.

Congressman Boucher guaranteed them a health care reform bill will be passed by the end of this year, but could not guarantee them it would take effect anytime soon.