Fifteen-year-old Alexis McRae’s application for the Katie Beckett Medicaid insurance waiver was denied, putting her life at risk – until Gov. Brian Kemp stepped in.
ATLANTA — A 15-year-old Georgia girl has a new lease on life after getting some much-needed help from the highest office in the state.
The world is a stage for Alexis McRae – even her hospital room.
“Whenever I am in the hospital or just homesick, I’ll watch a play or a musical, or I will put on a little show for my mom in the hospital room. It fills my spirit,” she said.
Those shows prepared her for her biggest stage: the Gold Dome, with the governor as her audience.
She shared her story with Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp at Georgia’s Capitol. She was invited to read Georgia’s proclamation on Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September. McRae stepped into the spotlight to highlight healthcare and, admittedly, some of the struggles to afford it.
Every day, 47 kids in the United States are diagnosed with cancer. Every minute of the fight counts for those children since getting treatment is critical. When McRae’s family learned their teenage daughter may not get the treatment she needed, they were desperate to find help.
“I got a port placed in my chest and I started chemo. Chemo is the worst,” she said.
She explained having osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, the way only a teenager can.
“It sucks, and it’s frustrating,” McRae said.
More frustration came when her renewal for the Katie Beckett Medicaid waiver was denied. The waiver, also known as TEFRA, provides supplemental insurance coverage for kids suffering from chronic, life-threatening conditions.
She was denied.
“This treatment is her last option. So being told that she could not receive it was life or death for her,” said her mother, Katy McRae.
Her parents said they ran into roadblock after roadblock as the time to appeal the decision ticked down.
“We couldn’t get any definite answers because we didn’t understand the language. ‘Well, send this in, what is this, it’s that,'” said her father, Michael McRae. “Because we wanted to do the right thing, but we didn’t understand what needed to be done.”
hat’s when the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research took center stage.
“I thought, ‘We have to do something,'” Executive Director Dean Crowe said. “So immediately, I just started thinking, ‘What is it that we can do to help her be approved for Katie Beckett?”
She leaned on the foundation’s connections to appeal to Alexis’ former audience: the governor.
“Had the governor not stepped in, our time would have been severely cut short with her,” McRae’s mother said.
Just an hour before the deadline, the McRae’s got the call that their waiver was approved.
Kemp’s spokesperson, Garrison Douglas, said the governor was glad to help.
“The Governor and First Lady are delighted and thankful that Alexis is able to receive the treatment she needs,” Douglas said on behalf of the governor. “They are keeping her, her family, and all those afflicted by this terrible illness in their prayers.”
McRae’s family said the call was life-changing because of how dire it was that Alexis received treatment. For them, the governor getting involved meant her life.
“My first thought immediately was: ‘He listens,'” McRae said.
The governor’s involvement set the stage to let McRae shine in the spotlight another day. She begins her treatment in early January.
Doctors are hoping the medicine will get her well enough to take part in another clinical trial that could help slow the progression of her cancer.
She wants people to hear this story and understand how many kids need this waiver in the state.
Please join me in rooting for my sweet friend, Lexy.
Her infectious smile and incredible personality make her easy to love.
But it’s her determined spirit that has me cheering as loud as I can.
This kid has been dealt such an unfair hand.
She’s battled osteosarcoma for 4 years now, survived countless surgeries, and had 3 failed clinical trials to kill the cancer.
To hear her Mom tell it, this next treatement is Lexy’s last chance.
“She’s so brave. She might not realize it. But Lexy is the bravest person I know,” her Mom told me.
Lexy isn’t one to focus on herself though.
When I talked to her this week, she wanted to tell me about other kids fighting cancer.
“They’re all so strong and they’re all so courageous. They are my heroes and I want to be their friend.”
Lexy is living to fight another day because of a friend she made recently: Governor Brian Kemp.
Lexy shared her story with the Governor and the First Lady for childhood cancer awareness month in September.
When Lexy’s application for an insurance waiver was denied over the holiday break, the Governor himself stepped in to help her get approved.
Lexy wants to fight and this treatment will give her the best possible chance.
Please know we are all cheering for you Lexy and with you every step of the way 
