My illness began at the age of 16, I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease.  I went through 21 years of renal failure which led to dialysis, after 5 1/2 years of that came the transplant.    During all these years i was covered by insurance, from my fathers insurance to my husbands and even the States.  I finally went to work full time which is what social security prefers; however, I  lost my medicare and social security because of work.  I was covered by my employers healthcare (secondary to medicare) while working.  In may of 2009, I lost my job  and benefits because I was not able to return to work after having 2 surgeries.  Now I have an income of 800.00 per month (unemployment), no insurance and cannot be covered because of pre-existing condition.  I continue to need medications that cost approximately 2,500. a month.  Blood work to maintian my medication levels, injection for anemia and other tests for kidney function.  What did my illness teach me?  How to be grateful for those who are looking after you and want to help.  What I have learned since; is if you are ill and can only work for periods of time, or think your capable of working full time and are on social security because of your illness, don't do it.  In the end, if your illness is anything like mine and continue to have health issues while working, it's not worth putting yourself out there and taking chances of getting sick again.  These past few months have been the worst struggle of my life.  I just hope there are enough people out there to insist on health care reform.  I would like to know what a reform would do for me in this situaltion.  Thank You.