It’s been eight months since Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama heard the personal story of Cedar Rapids resident Katherine Marcano, but her story is not one that’s easily forgotten and perhaps that’s why she was chosen to tell it to those in attendance at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Katherine Marcano, a 22-year-old college student from Cedar Rapids, told the story of her family's plight to attendees at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. It was the same story she told Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama during a roundtable discussion in December of last year.

Katherine Marcano, a 22-year-old college student from Cedar Rapids, told the story of her family's plight to attendees at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. It was the same story she told Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama during a roundtable discussion in December of last year.

Marcano, a student at Mount Mercy College, was one of five local residents invited to sit down with Obama in December 2007 to discuss his white paper on reclaiming the American dream.

“I work night shift so my days start at 1 a.m.,” she told Obama. “That’s when I get up every morning. I never go to bed before 10 p.m. because I’m raising my two siblings.”

Marcano says she is able to function on an average of three hours of sleep each night by drinking coffee and energy drinks. One of the most looming issues in her life is health care because one of the relatives she is caring for is restricted to a wheelchair because of cerebral palsy and her employer’s health care plan refuses coverage.

“Right now, you just can’t pay the fees to get through the process of naturalization for her?” Obama asked and Marcano responded with a nod. “In the meantime, she is a legal resident, but because she is a legal resident, she doesn’t qualify for government benefits. So, basically, any help she needs in terms of her medical care — if she was going to get it — would have to be paid for out-of-pocket.”

Marcano agreed that this is the situation she and her family faces.

“You are doing heroic work,” Obama said. “I’m worried about you because I don’t know if you should be drinking that Red Bull all of the time. In the meantime, there are a couple things I think we should do. No. 1 is: I’m a strong believer that people who are legal immigrants should be getting basic health care. That is something I think is important. These are not illegal, undocumented workers. These are legal immigrants … they should get care.

“Obviously, in terms of school, helping you pay for your college education is very important.”

Marcano, who recently had the added stress of the flood placed on her already full plate, traveled to Denver to tell her story to those attending the convention.

“This is the greatest nation in the world,” Marcano said during her speech. “Yet people like me and my younger sister, Barbara, are going through real hard times. Barbara has cerebral palsy and she is developmentally disabled and in a wheelchair. I took her under my wing because our mother has heart problems and is physically unable to take care of my sister’s needs.”

In addition to attending classes at Mount Mercy, Marcano works the night shift. She is determined, she said, to obtain her degree so she can earn a better wage and provide for her family.

Katherine Marcano, shown at the far right, was one of five Cedar Rapids area residents who were invited to tell their personal stories of pursuing the American dream to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama during a discussion held at Kirkwood Community College in December 2007.

Katherine Marcano, shown at the far right, was one of five Cedar Rapids area residents who were invited to tell their personal stories of pursuing the American dream to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama during a discussion held at Kirkwood Community College in December 2007.