Conor is a young man with Down syndrome and autism. Just after he turned 21, he underwent his first procedure with an adult provider. What was supposed to be a routine experience quickly turned into a nightmare.
Shortly after returning home, it became clear that something was terribly wrong. Conor had aspirated during the procedure and developed aspiration pneumonia. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he was admitted to the hospital, where he was placed on IV antibiotics and oxygen. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, his fever spiked uncontrollably, and his oxygen levels plummeted to dangerous levels. The team was called in to intubate him.
As the emergency intubation began, his mother was told to leave the room. Standing in the hallway, she could hear Conor fighting the team—scared and unable to understand what was happening. Overcome with emotion, she cried as she listened to her son struggle. At that moment, a nurse took her firmly by the arms, looked her in the eye, and urgently asked, “Do you want to do everything possible to save his life?” In an instant, she was forced to confront the unimaginable, making it clear to the medical team that every possible life-saving measure should be taken for her son, who had his whole life ahead of him.
As Conor’s condition worsened, doctors diagnosed him with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and warned that his chances of survival were only 50/50. His family was asked if they should bring his older siblings home from out of state to say goodbye.
In those darkest hours, the medical team made a final, desperate attempt to save his life using a RotaProne bed. They explained that they would know within four hours whether it would work. Miraculously, it did. After a few days, Conor was taken out of the RotaProne bed and extubated. Shortly after that, he was able to return home. In total, he spent 13 days in the hospital, 10 of them in the ICU.
But this story is about more than just a miraculous recovery—it is also about the financial reality that families like Conor’s face. The intensive care, life-saving equipment, and specialized treatment he received came at an astronomical cost. Without Medicaid, his family would likely have lost their home, overwhelmed by medical bills.
Medicaid is not just a health insurance program; it is a lifeline for families caring for loved ones with disabilities. It ensures that individuals like Conor receive the critical care they need without forcing their families into financial devastation. Without Medicaid, many families would be left facing impossible choices—or worse, the loss of their homes and futures.
Protecting Medicaid means protecting families like Conor’s. It is not just a program; it can mean the difference between life and death.