Julia Brownley: “I rise this morning to share the story of Judith and her daughter KC. Like all mothers, Judith only wants the best for…”

“I rise this morning to share the story of Judith and her daughter KC. Like all mothers, Judith only wants the best for her children--to live a full and purposeful life, the ability to pursue their dreams and reach their utmost potential. However, at a very young age of 11, KC was formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This health condition causes KC to have uncontrollable mood swings, to perceive reality differently, to see and hear things that aren't there, and to sometimes even become disconnected with reality altogether. It has taken an enormous emotional and physical toll on KC and her family. As a mom of two kids, I cannot imagine the difficulties that Judith has faced. Some nights, Judith had to hold her daughter tightly all night long to help her through her psychosis and her panic, not to mention the emergency hospitalizations. Living with this condition has been a lifelong struggle for KC and for her family. It requires a combination of daily medications, weekly psychiatric treatments, hospital visits, and constant support and medical care. And that is only half the story. Without this intensive treatment, KC would simply be unable to function. With it, she has the tools she needs to live a healthy and productive life. When KC was younger, she was covered by a family healthcare policy, but even then, Judith needed to pinch pennies and barely scrape by due to the high cost of insurance co-pays and deductibles, costing her $13- to $15,000 per month.…”