my name is kathy stokes. and when i started my adult life about 25 years ago, i could not have imagined that one day i would own my own business, that i would be a mom let alone single mom to twins. and i could never have imagined that i would be standing here before you this morning as a breast cancer survivor. this is my obamacare success story. in 2006, i made the jump into self-employment to start my own communication consulting business. it was scary, but i was able to get health coverage through my husband's work and we both thought it was as good a time as any to make the leap. and that was a really great plan, until my marriage ended at the end of 2010. at that time i tried to get health insurance in the private marketplace, but i was denied due to some really very minor preexisting conditions. however, i was eligible for a cobra benefits from my ex husband's job so i knew i would have coverage for three ears. fast forward to 2012. i found a lump on my breast in late august. and several days and many

so to help us remember why this work is so important plays will come kathy stokes who will tell her own story about why the affordable care racked isolde meaningful for her life and roll introduced the vice president. [applause] >> my name is kathy stokes and when i started my adult life i could not have a badge and one day i would go my own business, be a mom and a single bomb to twins it ever could have imagined that would stand here before you this morning as of breast cancer survivor. this is my obamacare survivor story. made the jump in to self employed to start a consulting business. it was scary but i could get health coverage through my husband's work camp we both thought it was a good time to make the leap. it was a great plan and tell my marriage ended 2010 regret that ever tried to get health insurance to the private marketplace but i was the night due to a minor pre-existing condition. however was eligible for cobra benefits from my ex-husband is a light do i would have coverage for three years. fast forward 2012 i found a locked on my breast late august and is several days

my name is kathy stokes and when i started my adult life 25 years ago i could not have imagined thatone day i would own my own business, that i would be a mom let the gone -- let alone a single mom to twins and i could never have imagined i would standing before you today as a breast cancer survivor. .. well, fast forward to 2012. i found a lump on my breast in late august. and the several days and many tests later, i was dumbfounded to hear my diagnosis. i had breast cancer, and it was aggressive. what followed was a whirlwind, a double mastectomy at the end of 2012, five months of chemotherapy, and a year's worth of antibody infusions starting in january 2013. i lost my appetite, my hair, and at times my will to keep going. but any time i faltered, my twins were there to give me that puts the guy needed to get to that next day, to get through that next phase of treatment. in july i had a breast reconstruction surgery, and a few months later i learned that the antibody infusion i had been getting cause heart damage. now, the good news is that the damage is irreversible, but it requi