We asked you last week to share why Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are lifelines. We've been hearing from working families all over the country that Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security make it possible to afford health care, live independently and avoid bankruptcy in the event of an illness. 

The upcoming lame-duck fight is urgent so we're asking you to please share your story, if you haven't already. 

Here's a story from Ronda B. of Rochdale, Mass. (stories are unedited):

When my father was suffering with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) he was able to go on Medicare and Social Security for about 21 months before he passed away. As a small business owner, he was fortunate to be on my mother’s union benefits and he was able to use his Social Security retirement to take the pressure off from no longer being able to work. And with medical bills coming in, Medicare completely covered his many hospital stays in those last two years as a feeding tube was placed, a tracheotomy was performed and he was treated with IV antibiotics when he had pneumonia. He lost his battle with ALS on Thursday, March 20, 2008, but Medicare and Social Security made a difference so that the little time he had left was spent with his loved ones rather than worrying about how to pay for medical bills.

Share your Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid story. 

Learn more: www.aflcio.org/ProtectOurFuture.