I fight back because it's my life at stake here. My health care is not a political game. 

My name is Jasmine Shea and I have been a patient at Planned Parenthood for 16 years. I live in Albany, NY, I just went back to college and I am a full time student.

Planned Parenthood has been the only health care provider I trust with my birth control, updated information and my overall reproductive health.

I have always known of Planned Parenthood as my mother has been a part of the health care centers since 1971. She found out she was pregnant with my brother, and then me five years later, by going to Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood lead her into two healthy pregnancies and located an ob-gyn who would bring us into my parents lives. In 1984, when she was pregnant with me, Planned Parenthood found a lump in her breast and referred her to a surgeon before it became a problem. 

My mother brought my brother to Planned Parenthood when he turned 16. She wanted to make sure he got accurate, honest and non-judgmental information when it came to sex, health and being safe.

When I was 15, I had irregular periods and my mother brought me to Planned Parenthood. She knew the importance of me being able to talk about sexuality, birth control, my periods, being safe and overall female health with someone else besides her. My mother knew how wonderful the Planned Parenthood staff was and is due to her involvement with the health care center. I have gotten my birth control, cancer screenings, yearly pap tests and well-woman exams at Planned Parenthood ever since. 

I know that the knowledge, information, and care I have received from Planned Parenthood over the past 16  years as allowed me to be where I am at today. I have never been pregnant — and I have always been "in tune" with my body and health. I am finishing my education and the future I want is in sight. Planned Parenthood has always been there for me.

Currently, my health insurance is through Medicaid.  I fear that my ability to see the health care provider I know and trust might be at risk. I fear won't have the availability to get in as quickly, because with Planned Parenthood I have three locations in a driving distance. For almost 7 years, I didn't have a car and I was fortunate that there was a Planned Parenthood on a bus route. 

My health care is not a political game. It is personal.

I fight back because it's my life at stake here. I stand up and fight back because if I don't want my friend's children to have to go through the worry of losing health care. 

I don't care who you are, where you live, where you work, what insurance you have — we ALL should be able to make our own choices about our health care. 

 

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