Being There When You Can't: Advocating for College Students in Health Emergencies
College students and parents…
Wishing you could be there for your student?
If you have read my bio section, you will see that I have helped my daughter advocate for her health over the years. This incident was a little different.
In my journey as a parent and patient advocate, there's one experience that truly stood out, highlighting the crucial need for local support, especially during unexpected emergencies. It was Labor Day Weekend, when my daughter, a college student in Florida, was involved in a frightening accident.
Three weeks after dropping my daughter to college (we reside in Houston, TX), we had the opportunity to attend a business-related event two hours away from her. At 11:45 pm, we got a call that we, as parents, hoped we would never get. It was a call saying our daughter had been hit by a car, as a pedestrian. My heart sank and my mind began racing.
I called my daughter, not sure if she would answer. She did answer the phone, but not much she said made sense. I asked her to pass the phone to a policeman or EMT on the scene. They explained the basics of what happened and I asked which ER she was going to be taken to. We were not given any sort of assessment of how she was doing medically.
We jumped out of bed, packed all our stuff, and drove 2 very long hours in the middle of the night, wondering how she was. I knew she was scared, based on the few minutes I spoke with her and so was I. We called the hospital trying to get some information but were not able to get much. We were not sure what would happen once we got there because hospitals were still under COVID protocol. Arriving at around 2:30 am, we ran into the ER asking to see her and for any information. They gave us limited details and did not want us to remain in the ER waiting room because of their COVID protocol. They were NOT going to let me see her.
After some discussion (a mother's determination knows no bounds), they finally let me in to see her for a few minutes. It was a busy emergency room and she was in a hallway. She was covered so I could not see bruises, but she was coherent and able to speak. Able to at least lay eyes on and reassure her, I gave her a phone charger so that we could stay connected throughout the night. This way, I could properly advocate with staff for her. Being in person allowed me to accelerate the slow process of her care. There were several times throughout the night, that just going back into the waiting room from the car to talk to staff, helped move along her care, scans, and assessment. I was so thankful to have been in Florida that weekend.
Late morning, she was released into our hands. Not so happy with the care that she had received, I wanted a second set of eyes on her injuries. We were fortunate that her University’s medical director was a former ER director. Meeting with him, we were able to discuss and look at all her injuries in detail together. The good news was that although she was scraped, bruised, and traumatized, there was no permanent damage, and with proper follow-up and treatment, she was back to herself after about a month.
However, all I kept thinking was — what if we weren't there? Who would have advocated for her, ensured she received the necessary care, and provided the reassurance she needed?
This experience solidified my commitment to being a support system for families with college students facing acute or chronic health situations. Whether it is advocating for medical attention, coordinating follow-up care, or offering reassurance, my goal is to be there when you can't.
If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, know that you don't have to navigate it alone. Reach out, and let me be there for you and your student when it matters the most.
