How support helped Laurel’s mom navigate care
Armed with the right words, her mom moved her from “not critical” to life-saving PICU care.
Before contact with advocate
Jessie felt unheard by the hospital staff.
Doctors insisted Laurel was “not critical enough” for PICU admission.
Conversations were confusing, and important concerns were not being documented.
Jessie was unsure how to assert her role as her child’s advocate.
After contact with advocate
Jessie learned how to clearly repeat back what doctors were saying and ask for documentation.
She used specific language to make her concerns impossible to ignore (e.g., asking that symptoms like tiny strokes, fevers, and blood in secretions be recorded in Laurel’s chart).
The hospital changed Laurel’s status and transferred her to the PICU.
Jessie felt empowered, confident, and supported in advocating for her daughter.
Laurel’s Background
The Challenge
Laurel was experiencing tiny strokes, blood in her secretions, and persistent fevers. Despite these serious symptoms, doctors insisted she wasn’t “critical enough” for PICU admission. Jessie felt unheard and powerless in the face of decisions being made about her daughter’s care.
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The Solution
Micaela stepped in to coach Jessie on exactly how to respond. By calmly repeating back the doctors’ words and asking for them to be documented in Laurel’s chart, Jessie forced clarity and accountability.
The Impact
That phrasing made the care team reconsider. Soon after, Laurel’s status was changed, and she was admitted to the PICU. Jessie later shared this message with our founder:
“This amazing woman could very well have saved my daughter’s life… This is what Reviews Rule is all about.” — Jessie
This is what Reviews Rule does: empower parents to advocate effectively so their children receive the care they need. Laurel’s story is just one example of why advocacy, training, and family support change outcomes for medically complex kids.