Melinda Magdalene Wings is a retired hospice nurse who knows the value of compassionate care. Today, she’s advocating not for her patients, but for her own parents, Ivan and Kay both 86 years old, who live in a care facility in Newton, Iowa, the town where they were born and raised. “They’ve been in love since they were 17,” Melinda shares. “They’re still together today, in the same facility. But without Medicaid and Medicare, they wouldn’t be.”
Read Melinda’s storyNeva Allen a resident of Belfast, Maine, has lived with a neurological condition that weakens her legs for the last 27 years. Now 65, Neva’s condition causes extreme fatigue and pain and forces her to use a power chair. Neva relies on MaineCare, Social Security Disability, and housing assistance. The thought of losing Medicaid and ACA coverage deeply unsettles her.
Read Neva’s storyAdam Koresh is studying to be a teacher at the University of Northern Iowa. Under the new work requirements proposed by Republicans in Congress, Adam could lose his Medicaid coverage. Despite contacting both his senator, Mike Klimesh, and his representative, Jason Gearhart, both dismissed his concerns. Adam is worried that the new work requirements will not only rip away his Medicaid coverage, but do the same to thousands of other students across the U.S.
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In 2017, Tomeka James Isaac was pregnant with her first and only son, Jace. At 40 years old, she was told early on that she would be at high risk for pre-eclampsia, yet despite this ominous warning, Tomeka’s pregnancy was progressing smoothly. Until, at her 35-week appointment, complications began.
Read Tomeka’s storyKea had a plan. Pregnant with her first child, she knew she wanted a natural birth, and she wanted her birth experience to be an experience that was unique to her. However, she felt dismissed by doctors when she made requests, and ignored at appointments. Kea switched to a birth center, and everything changed for the better.
Read Kea’s storyTamara's 18 month old grandson fell ill with a slight cough and signs mirroring COVID-19, but was not tested by his pediatrician. After his oxygen levels dropped, he was taken to the ER but was still not tested for COVID-19 due to not meeting testing criteria.
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Stefanie Ebnal, one of the thousands of nurses and health care workers on the front lines of the Providence hospital nurses strike in Portland, OR did not start her career as a nurse. Instead, she began in pharmaceutical research, following a scientific path—but never truly feeling connected to the work.
Read Stefanie’s storyDr. Lincoln has built her career on empathy, trust, and teamwork. Now, she's using those same values to challenge a system increasingly shaped by private equity and corporate interests.
Read Jennifer’s storyBob Parant has been living with type 1 diabetes for over 52 years. Diagnosed at 19 during what he calls the "dark ages" of diabetes care, Bob's journey has been one of perseverance, adaptation, and advocacy. At the time, diabetes management was rudimentary—urine testing provided little insight into actual blood sugar levels, and treatment relied on a strict diet and a single daily insulin injection.
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