Sumer Cave’s mother lost the ability to speak before she died.

Her mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer of the mouth and esophagus when Cave was 14.

Cave, 21, spoke about her mother at an event held Friday afternoon in the lower rotunda of the state Capitol to protest the American Health Care Act.

About 30 people gathered in protest of the bill, currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. The American Health Care Act, proposed by Republican leaders, cuts an estimated $880 billion over 10 years from Medicaid, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and would end Medicaid expansion in West Virginia, which has brought health care to about 170,000 West Virginians. It also would eliminate the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, among numerous other controversial provisions. All three members of the U.S. House of Representatives from West Virginia already have voted in favor of the bill.

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