As the daughter and mother of men with Von Willebrand’s Disease, I am a symptomatic, female carrier. I was not diagnosed during my father’s lifetime, as the understanding of bleeding disorders was rudimentary, and women were not understood to have there bleeding disorders, despite significant symptoms. Throughout my life I had significant health challenges created by excessive bleeding. At age 40, I had a hysterectomy occasioned by the severity of the symptoms. This was severe enough that I had to change my PhD oral defense three times because of the significant impact of my bleeding disorder.

Despite a the great deal of medical care required, I was never diagnosed until after the hysterectomy. If I had not had very good insurance, the costs of my care would have been unbearable. I cannot imagine how those with bleeding disorders who do not have good, employer-paid insurance could ever manage the health care costs–except to assume that each bleeding episode is life-threatening as that is the deciding factor for insurance coverage in some cases.

We cannot allow our rights to control our own bodies be restricted in any way. We must protect the rights to health care for all provided by the ACA, and strengthen this legislation. We must keep fighting for federal funds to Planned Parenthood. We cannot allow those whose personal principles put our lives at risk to violate our constitutional rights and the human rights we have to decent, timely health care.