Jennifer's story personalizes and brings home the most salient issues of the current health care debate while simultaneously doing that thing that all great writing does: making the local universal. Her story, and her father's, help clarify for those with questions and doubts about the current health care reform proposals why a public option is so important. It's simple: people deserve to be taken care of by a country that can afford to provide care. Our country can and should care for its people; to do anything less is reprehensible. Those seeking to thwart or dismember health care reform by touting insupportable "facts"--or simply remaining silent during this crucial time--need to read this article and reconsider. Kudos to Jennifer Nix for sharing her family's story, and for fleshing out what's happened with health care over the past decades; what's happening now; and what could happen if we don't pass the critical health care reform that could one day save my life--and yours.