Children's Hospital Association Family Advocacy Day stresses the importance of children’s hospitals

      This year, 11-year-old Ellie and her family from Seymour, Wisconsin, traveled to our nation’s capital last week to share Ellie’s experience receiving care from several specialists at Children’s Wisconsin. Ellie was born with cloacal exstrophy and has had several surgeries and procedures at Children’s Wisconsin, including regular dialysis. When Ellie was 3-years-old, she received a kidney from her mom. However, 8 years later, her kidney is showing signs of rejection. She sees several specialists including nephrology, urology, GI and many more.

Ellie has secondary Medicaid coverage that helps support her many medical needs that stem from her health conditions. Her family describes Medicaid as “an absolute blessing throughout her complicated and scary medical journey.” Ellie and her family met with members of Congress to share how important Medicaid is to families like theirs and to Children’s Wisconsin - including her elected official, Rep. Tony Wied.

Each year, Children's Wisconsin participates in Children's Hospital Association's Family Advocacy Day. Patients from children's hospitals across the country gather in Washington, DC to meet each other and with members of Congress on important kids' health care issues. 

In 2024, 4-year-old Caroline and her parents from Kenosha, Wis. traveled to our nation's capital to share about their experience receiving care from nearly a dozen specialties at Children's Wisconsin. They shared how important pediatric specialists are to Caroline and kids across Wisconsin and beyond who rely on their expertise to help children by healthy, well and thriving. In addition, they shared how impactful the Medicaid program is and encouraged support of the program to improve access to care for kids like Caroline. Just like she does at Kenosha Clinic, she gave members of Congress and their staff countless fist bumps and high fives.

Each year, Children's Wisconsin participates in Children's Hospital Association's Family Advocacy Day. Patients from children's hospitals across the country gather in Washington, DC to meet each other and with members of Congress on important kids' health care issues. 

This year, two Children's Wisconsin patient families participated in the annual Children's Hospital Association's Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day. Back in person, participants and their families met with Wisconsin members of Congress. We're so proud of Phoenix, from Sister Bay, Wis., and Vince, from Mazomanie, Wis., who met with members of Congress about the importance of kids' specialty care! Read more about Phoenix, Vince and other kids who have received specialty care at Children's.