The AFL-CIO protests any cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. So it's organizing candlelight vigils across North Carolina. Monday evening at 5 p.m. in Greensboro, Raleigh and Asheville, representatives from the union and supporters will gather outside of U.S. Congressman Mel Watts' office. He represents our state's 12th district and has said these key programs are needed.

82-year-old Bobby Sparks plans to be there. In 1998, his daughter Patricia was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She was 44, single and raising three daughters. According to Sparks, Social Security Disability covered most of her treatment.

“The next time she took chemo, her doctor wrote her one prescription for 10 shots for nausea and dehydration. That one prescription was $4,100. All it cost Patricia was $1," explains Sparks. "So I think it's very important that our leaders in Washington, DC protect Social Security to the fullest extent.”

Patricia lost her cancer battle when she was 50. 

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