Ellen Lewis is a 50-year-old woman from Anna, Illinois. She works as a desk monitor at an apartment complex but her part-time status makes her ineligible for employer-sponsored insurance.
Ellen was involved in a car crash in the 1970s and received a blood transfusion as part of her treatment. Unfortunately, since the blood was not tested, Ellen contracted Hepatitis C from the procedure. Since then, Ellen has been uninsured most of the time and unable to afford medication that could have slowed the progression of her disease.
Ellen realizes that her life has been cut short because she has been unable to get the proper treatment and care. "I've worked hard my entire life and raised three good kids. I've had some unfortunate things happen to me that were out of my control and now I'm paying for it with my health. My life is being cut short - it's not fair to my children or my grandchildren. It's sad that things have come to this. Even if I'm not able to benefit from a change in the healthcare system, I hope that my story helps other people," Ellen said.
Ellen Lewis is a 50-year-old woman from Anna, Illinois. She works as a desk monitor at an apartment complex but her part-time status makes her ineligible for employer-sponsored insurance. 