In Virginia, access to affordable health care is at stake—and folks across the state are coming together to stand up to Congress and tell them to save the Affordable Care Act.

That’s why the Save My Care Bus stopped at the State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia on Thursday afternoon. While we were there, we met Emma, a 26-year-old, who was able to stay on her parents’ health insurance—despite her pre-existing condition.

“When I was 24 years old, I went to my doctor for a yearly check up. That’s when my life started to unravel.

A few days later, I was at the airport waiting to get on a plane when my mom called me to tell me that I had Stage III, fast-growing Breast Cancer. I remember she kept repeating to me that she wished it was her. I had no symptoms whatsoever, but it had been growing inside of me for two whole years. It was a nightmare from then on.

Just to know that I could stay on my parents health insurance until I turned 26 was a relief. Now, I have to go to the market with the pre-existing condition—but because of the Affordable Care Act, I cannot be denied insurance.

I had to go through chemotherapy, reconstruction, and I just finished radiation over a month ago. All of my treatments added up to over a million dollars. The Affordable Care Act saved my life—and it saved me and my family from medical debt.”

Check out what else happened in Richmond by tuning in to our livestream here.

SMC

SMC