Hey, neighbor: Affordable Care Act is pivotal to my survival

I am a 28-year-old woman nearly into a third year of rigorous and expensive treatment for brain cancer.

As a part-time employee and consultant, the Affordable Care Act has enabled me to have health coverage that is blind to my pre-existing condition.

After removal of a grade 4 Glioblastoma from my right temporal lobe in September of 2015 — the same kind of disease that afflicts Sen. John McCain — my monthly health expenses now add up to $4,190.12. However, every other month, I require an MRI, which costs another $1,487.

With health coverage under the ACA, my monthly premium is $833, with manageable copays for my various treatments, tests and visits. A sum of $800-$900 a month is affordable to me in comparison to what would be $4,000-$5,000, without ACA-supported coverage.

I am an active member of the Indian River Community where, like everyone else, I work, live and pay taxes. I actively support local businesses and frequently volunteer my time with several local organizations.

I take really good care of myself so that I can live my life as close as possible to my pre-cancer life, so why do so many people not want me to succeed?

Neighbors, friends, classmates, tennis teammates and opponents, why don’t you want me to have healthcare that’s going to help me beat this killer?

This is why I implore members of Congress and congressional candidates nationwide to stand up and support affordable health care for all.

Sally Wilkey, Vero Beach