March 23rd will mark the second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act. In the time since it first went into effect, this law has improved the lives and health of millions--with many more improvements to come as the law is fully implemented in 2014.

At MomsRising, we've heard from thousands of moms and dads across the country who are sleeping better at night because they know their families can get the health care they need.  So far, because of health reform, 86 million Americans have been able to get important preventive care including well checks, vaccines, and cancer screenings that help reduce health care costs down the line.  Approximately 2.5 million young adults are no longer uninsured because they now have the option of staying on their parents’ health plans - giving this generation a chance to get a healthy start to their adult life.  And, importantly, approximately 5 million children with pre-existing conditions are not facing a lifetime of insurance denials and reaching a lifetime limit of medical care.

Our MomsRising Affordable Care Act Blog Carnival features the stories of our members about how the Affordable Care Act is helping their families. These stories are moving and powerful.  Stories from moms like:

MomsRising member Tracy Muñoz who writes that the provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance policies till the age of 26 allowed her oldest child to continue to pursue his graduate studies and secure his financial future without putting his health at risk.  He says that without this support, he would likely be forced to discontinue his studies. 

--and--

MomsRising member Felicia Willems, who shares that without the ACA, her family probably wouldn’t have had coverage for her son, Ethan, who had a benign vascular tumor and required chemotherapy and other medical treatment, followed by physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Millions of families, like Tracy’s and Felicia’s have been helped, but millions more are hanging on, waiting until the law is fully implemented in 2014.   Even as we speak, some lawmakers and candidates are vowing to repeal this important consumer protection law.  Too much is as stake to remain silent. We've seen first-hand the positive impact health reform has had already and we won't go back to the days when consumers had no power to fight against insurance company abuses like dropping people from coverage when they get sick.

Speak Up/ Tweet Up on Thursday, March 22nd with the White House and Felicia and Tracy!

Please read the moving stories below and share them with your friends and family. And please also join us Thursday, March 22nd at 2:00 PM EDT for a tweetchat with Tracy and Felicia and top White House officials about the Affordable Care Act.  Ask a question, share a story, or simply retweet to get out the info to your network.  Follow #ACAwhchat on Twitter.

If you have questions on how to participate, contact anita@momsrising.org.

And check out the inspiring stories below!

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Children

The Night Health Reform Was Passed, Kris Cambra

Keeping your child healthy is stressful enough, Deidre Bagocki

Thanks to the ACA, my daughter is safe from losing coverage, Elaine Cornett

A lifetime limit on insurance would limit my daughter's lifetime, Julie Walters

Thanks to the ACA, our son is fully covered, Dawn Josephson

How much more pressure do families have to face?, Tracy Heiman

An unusual first four years of life, Felicia Willems

My son is a leukemia survivor, Michelle Cunningham

Informarse para cuidar mejor la salud de nuestros hijos, Jeannette Kaplun

Prognosis ACA: Two Years Later Children are Healthier and Better Off, Lisa Shapiro

How Health Reform is Helping Children Nationwide, Voices for America's Children

Young adults

Now a beautiful grown woman, but still my baby girl -- with a pre-existing heart condition, Lisa Doyle

The Affordable Care Act allows my children to invest in their future, Tracy Muñoz

Diagnosed with liver disease at 19, planning for my health coverage, Bonnie Brueggeman

Knitting hats for babies: Why I'm grateful for the Affordable Care Act, Teri Kepner

The Limbo of a College Graduate, Brittany Papalia

How the ACA is Helping My Family, Sarah Robinson

Thank you, ACA: Protecting Our Country’s Well-being by Protecting Students, Andrea Alajbegovic

Pre-Existing Conditions

I finally have hope that I can maintain my health!, Jordyn Zimmerman

Let my husband and his incredible doctors fight his disease, Beth Herkert

My daughter has non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Carol Rayner

Health reform gave my son affordable coverage, Donna Crane

I have been a Type-1 diabetic since childhood, Jasmine Ong

I believe everyone should have access to health care, Akbar Rahman

I am so grateful for health reform, Peggy Jenks

We pray every day that my daughter's health holds up, Mary Tabatcher

We can't afford to drop COBRA. We can't afford COBRA., Marya Kowal

Getting health coverage for my pregnancy, Katelyn Oldham

New Options for Those with Chronic Illness, Dania Palanker

Medicaid

I want to stand up for the expansion of Medicaid, Gail Schimmelpfennig

Small Business

I'm a small business owner covering health care for my employees, Nan Warshaw

The Affordable Care Act has impacted me -- and my employer, Donna Rodriguez

Health Reform and the Economy

Health reform has given our family hope, Brenda Adrine

Preventive Care

The Affordable Care Act has helped me get necessary preventive care, Cindy Okolichany

Women's Health

The Affordable Care Act and Women - Two Years On and Working Strong, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis

5 Ways Health Reform Helps Women, Erin Armstrong

Health Care Reform and Breastfeeding, Saray Hill, IBCLC

Reform. It's Good for Your Health., Leni Preston

I will NOT be denied: Protect Women's Health!, Leni Preston

The Last Two Years: Health Care Reform Continues to be the Right Choice for Wisconsin Women, Raising Wisconsin Women's Voices