Turning advocacy into power for patients and families.
- Ryan Sheedy
- Aug 19, 2025
- 3 min read
Written by: Ryan Sheedy
Advocacy is a word we hear often in healthcare. But for many families, advocacy isn’t a choice, it’s survival. For me, it started the day my son Reynolds was born.
From the delivery room to the NICU to countless appointments and hospital stays, advocacy has been woven into every step of our journey.
Advocacy Begins in the NICU
When Reynolds was born, he spent 103 days in the NICU. Every decision felt life or death. Every conversation with doctors carried weight. Every late-night update from a nurse mattered more than I could ever have imagined. That was my introduction to advocacy — learning to speak up, ask questions, and push for what my son needed even when I didn’t have all the answers myself.
It was a crash course in navigating a complicated healthcare system. I learned quickly that being an advocate meant being present, being persistent, and being willing to say, “This isn’t good enough. My child deserves better.”
And when we finally brought him home, the advocacy didn’t end. It grew with every appointment, every therapy, every new medication. It deepened with each hospital admission and in the everyday moments of just trying to be a dad to a child with a rare disease.
Fighting for 313 Fewer Needle Pokes
One moment that stands out was the fight for a new growth hormone treatment. Reynolds had been receiving daily injections, and a weekly option became available.
The insurance company asked why we needed a new treatment since he already had one.
My answer was simple: because I was fighting for 313 fewer needle pokes a year.
That is advocacy. It’s not always about changing laws or standing at a podium. Sometimes it’s about reducing pain, stress, and burden for your child and family. Sometimes it’s about seeing the human being in front of you, not just the patient in the chart.
And moments like that remind me that advocacy, at its core, is love in action. It’s doing whatever it takes to protect and care for the people who matter most.
Advocacy Is Just the Beginning
But here’s what I’ve learned, advocacy is only the beginning. The real change happens when advocacy turns into power. Power for patients. Power for caregivers. Power for families to not only be heard, but to be equipped with the tools they need to navigate this overwhelming journey.
That is why we built mejo. To transform the energy of advocacy into action. To help families:
Organize care so nothing gets lost in the shuffle
Reduce chaos and stress in daily life
Stay connected and share what matters most with providers, schools, and care teams
Put patients and caregivers in control of their own stories
mejo is more than a tool. It’s a companion for the journey. A place where patients and families can bring together health details, daily life, and clinical care, all in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
When you are in the thick of managing care, small victories matter. Having the right information at the right time matters. Feeling like you are not alone matters.
Standing Together on Patient Advocacy Day
On Patient Advocacy Day, I stand with every parent, patient, and caregiver who knows what it means to fight for better. I stand with those who are still in the NICU, those battling insurance denials, those walking into yet another specialist’s office, and those simply trying to make daily life a little easier for their loved ones.
Your voice matters. Your story matters. Your persistence matters.
Together, we can turn advocacy into power — for the patient, for the family, and for the future.
From one dad, caregiver, and advocate to all of you, keep going. The fight is worth it.
👉 Learn more about how mejo supports patients and caregivers: www.mymejo.com
Comments