Miranda has faced unique challenges navigating life with medical devices, yet she has found ways to turn these experiences into opportunities to help others. Her story highlights the importance of community, advocacy, and reshaping healthcare from the patient perspective. Continue reading to learn how Miranda transforms her personal journey into meaningful impact.
Turning Experience Into Helping Others
I have made it a goal to use my experiences to help others. If I can use the hard things I’ve been through to help others, it will have all been worth it. I am pursuing a career in child life and currently practicing as a speech language pathology assistant. My personal experiences give me empathy and the ability to understand what it’s like to be on the other side of the scrubs. I have also used social media to tell my story in hopes to help others feel less alone.
The Power of Community and Peer Support
On my nineteenth birthday, I was told I was going to have to get a feeding tube after eight months of not having access to nutrition. The next day I met up with @chronicallyopal and her mom. Opal had the feeding tube I would receive and she was able to describe that experience to me. We soon after became best friends.
Opportunities to spend time with people with similar diagnoses and medical needs have been healing more than healthcare could. When you have a medical device or mobility aid, you often feel isolated in public. Having friends in that community has helped me gain courage to overcome these challenges.
Advocacy in Action
I am most proud of my Tubie Teddies charity endeavor. Through this effort, I have provided 500 teddy bears embroidered with nasal and abdominal feeding tubes and donated them to the local children’s hospital.
Reimagining Healthcare
The first change I would make would be to highlight patient-family-centered care and trauma-informed care as the cornerstone upon the practice.
Follow Miranda on Instagram to learn more about her journey.
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