Nationwide Children's Lobbying Day

A few weeks ago, I was able to participate in a fly-in for one of our clients, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The issues on which we were lobbying were TRICARE (the military personnel’s health insurance) and increased funding for pediatric research. The CEO of Nationwide, Steve Allen, and the Director of Federal Relations, Morna Smith, were both there, as well as the youngest lobbyist on the Hill, a two-and-a-half-year old, Patrick Bibbee. Patrick is a former patient of Nationwide, having been born seventeen weeks premature. He and his twin sister were both under 1.5 lbs. and suffered from many afflictions that are prevalent among preemies. Patrick’s sister, Paige, did not survive. But the doctors were able to use what happened to Paige and forecast what would happen to Patrick—in effect, Paige saved her brother’s life. After having multiple operations and spending six months in intensive care, Patrick is a bubbly, happy toddler today, and he and his family spend some time pushing for adequate investments in military health care (Patrick’s father is in the army) and in pediatric research are made. Though I was on crutches, I was very proud to be crutching around Capitol Hill, learning more and more about Patrick’s story with every meeting and providing support to the partners at Normandy who have worked so hard on this issue.

Patrick Bibbee and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3).
I am in the top left. Can't you tell from my stylish power tie?

When in Congresswoman Joyce Beatty’s office, Patrick handed the Congresswoman a baseball card that had his picture on it and his story, then high-fived her, and jumped up and down excitedly. The Congresswoman reiterated her support for pediatric research, and said, “Patrick is a miracle, and we need more of these miracles.”