Patient Leader & Caregiver Accomplishments
Whether big or small, share something you are most proud of that you have accomplished as a Patient Leader or caregiver.
In June 2003 I fell off a cliff while rock climbing. At the time I did not have any health insurance. Due to not having any insurance the bill from the hospital was obscene. After doing some research, I discovered I had the right to call for a full audit of the bill. So for several hours one day a nurse/auditor from the hospital went through the bill line by line. Long story short, I was able to get the bill down to what my dad's insurance (at the time he was a 1 star general in the military) would have paid. Big self advocacy win I think.
, that's AMAZING self-advocacy, and a great guideline for the many others who fight for affordable healthcare. Thank you for sharing this story! - Warmly, Donna (team member)
I live with CPTSD and have been routinely dismissed for having "anxiety" when in fact it was decades of chronic pain due to endometriosis and fibroid tumors that ultimately left me bedridden for two years while I waited for surgery. I wrote a blog post about experiencing medical trauma as someone with CPTSD, and it caught the attention of an instructor at a medical school. She invited me to work with her students to help them understand what trauma-informed care is, and this project has been going on for a year now. If you had asked me at the time what would make it right, this is exactly what I would have suggested, and yet--this just fell in my lap! Yesterday was the biggest moment of my advocacy journey yet: I gave a three-hour lecture at a symposium at this med school, and it went really well! A lot of opportunities have been opening up lately, and I'm so happy to do something constructive and creative with sharing my experience as a patient to improve care.
Ok, thanks! Very good blog post. I found it very informative. I found your story telling intriguing and well written. It was self reflecting and yes, somewhat triggering. Great Job!
I am happy to share my interaction with others.I am also proud of my contribution in sharing my story and moderating and replying to people's questions or situations.
Hi
, We're so glad that you're here and grateful that you are sharing your story and yourself with the community. - Warmly, Donna (team member) 
So good to be able to contribute in such a great way. Congratulations on all you are doing. ~Racquel~ Social Health Network Moderator
I have a lot of things I am proud of, but *Spin the wheel* I am very proud that I have been asked to speak multiple times at the HealtheVoices conferences. As someone who, growing up, never felt like people cared what I had to say, being asked to share my thoughts, feelings, and stories to a group of industry leaders and patient advocates really empowered me as an advocate and human being.
Granted, my presentations were all moved to virtual due to the pandemic, I am hopeful to be up on the main stage in 2024! 😁, those are some pretty spectacular accomplishments! You'll have to keep us posted on the 2024 conferences. - Warmly, Donna (team member) So awesome. HealtheVoi8ces is such a great conference. You are amazing and I am glad you are able to contribute in such an important way. ~Racquel~ Social Health Network Moderator
