SEATTLE - Ten-year old Marcelas Owens packs for Washington D.C. Carefully he puts in some of his most precious possessions - pictures of his mother, Tifanny.
Marcelas' mother died three years ago at the age of 27.
"It's been sad when I go somewhere that I have a memory with her it comes back and then I just feel this emptiness inside my heart," he said.
Left behind were Marcelas and his two younger sisters, Monique and Myanna. All three now live with their grandmother Gina.
"My mom was a good person; she was a believer in people," said Marcelas.
Tiffany had pulmonary hypertension. Her illness forced her to stop working and she lost her health care coverage.
Before Tifanny died she took up the cause of affordable health care coverage for all, testifying in Olympia. Now her son is determined to carry on her legacy.
"I want to say health care should be passed so we can save another family from having to go through the pain we've gone through and save another child from losing their mom or dad," said Marcelas.
Marcelas wonders at times if things would have been different if his mom had had health care coverage.
"I think she would have lived a little bit longer so I could have at least said bye to her in the proper way," he said.
Marcelas hopes to meet with Democrats and Republicans and maybe even the president himself.
"And even if they say no I'm going to still say that it should be health care still for all," said Marcellas. "My mom always said to never give up and keep on trying."
Marcelas will speak at a health care rally and will meet with Sen. Patty Murray. He will also celebrate his 11th birthday while he's in Washington D.C.
