Only one week till my big trip.

Hello Everyone           

    I can’t believe that it is only a week until my big trip to Washington DC. I have to admit I am both a little nervous and very excited about trip. I have a lot to say.

    As most of you have read I was hit by a car when I was 17 months old. I do not remember the accident. The accident caused a fracture in my skull and I was not expected to survive. I spent 10 days in a coma at a children’s acute care hospital. Unfortunately the hospital closed shortly after I was there. When I woke up from my coma I was transferred to Children’s Specialized Hospital. Children’s Specialized Hospital is the largest children’s rehabilitation hospital in the country and lucky for me it was only minutes from my house.

    When I arrived at Children’s Specialized Hospital I could not move at all. My dad tells me I could not even smile or hold my head up. Children’s Specialized Traumatic Brain injury Team put together a rehabilitation program for me and my journey back began. My family tells me that the physical therapist worked with me to help me sit up, hold my head up and that all these little steps lead to me taking my first steps all over again at the age of 2 with my little red walker. My mom says that she was even more proud of these steps than the first ones because I worked really hard for it. They also remind me how the speech pathologists worked with me to teach me how to swallow so I could eat on my own. How the occupational therapist taught me to use my left arm and how to accomplish almost everything with one hand.

    I would like to remind the law makers in Washington DC that the reason I can write this blog is because I had access to the best rehabilitation therapy at Children’s Specialized Hospital. Their name says it all; a hospital that specializes in the care of children. Please don’t forget the children when working on health care reform some of us need specialized care in order to achieve our dreams.

Comments

[Sharon Ladin]

Melissa,
I'm really looking forward to meeting you next week. I visited Children's Specialized Hospital last year, and I agree that it is a very special place. Thanks for taking the time to write and share your blog with us. Travel safely to Washington and we'll see you soon.
Sharon Ladin, National Association of Children's Hospitals

[Trisha Yurochko]

Melissa -

Don't worry - you will do a great job in Washington! You are going to WOW everyone you meet with your passion and commitment of being a spokesperson for healthcare reform for kids.

You have a wonderful story to tell and have had such successes and at the same time you realize that these successes came not only from hard work and a very supportive family but also because you had access to the best healthcare and rehabilitative care around. You have been around those that have not had the same successes and know in part it is because they couldn't fully access the services they needed.

You have compassion and first hand experience. You are living proof of what good insurance coverage and access to all medical care can accomplish.

You never cease to amaze me -Trisha

[Pat O'Hanlon]

Hey Melissa,
Don't worry!! You are going to Washington DC in the company of the best women I've had the pleaure of knowing. You know some women get their hair done, do their nails, go out for dinner, and call it a day! You however, have decided, at a very young age, to surround yourself with women, who are intelligent, compassionate, doers, who can't rest unless they've made an impact on others! You should be so proud to be working with them. Your Mom, Kerry, Donna, and Amy are representing the 16,000 children who make up our family at Children's Specialized Hospital, and by doing that, you will affect children and their families across our nation. Thank you so much for speaking on our behalf! Your voice, and your Mom's, and Donna's and Amy's will make a difference!!
Pat O'Hanlon