Rebecca Meyer
"The Family Advisory Council gives parents a voice. Cincinnati Children's recognizes the importance of family input. We know our children best." -- Rebecca Meyer
Rebecca Meyer
Family Advisory Council member Rebecca Meyer.
Rebecca Meyer joined the Family Advisory Council at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center during April 2006. She and her husband Rick have a daughter Kali, 6, and a son Brady, 3.
"Our son was born with numerous conditions, but lacks an overall diagnosis. He was born with a kidney disorder, a cleft palette and low muscle tone. Later he was diagnosed with a seizure disorder which is currently uncontrolled," Rebecca said.
"At one year of age, he had a swallow study that showed he aspirated all foods, and he was given a g-tube for feeding," Rebecca explained. "He has delayed brain myelinization, which means he does not have enough myelin to help support the transfer of information. He is nonverbal and not ambulatory.
"I wanted to join the Family Advisory Council because it gives parents a voice to make change. Cincinnati Children's has many wonderful services, and I wanted to be a part of something that helped them achieve such a high standard of service," Rebecca said.
"As a parent of a medically fragile child, I've experienced many different areas in the hospital. I feel I have great insight into what works well and what doesn't work as well," Rebecca said. "The council is made up of so many different entities and can tackle many different issues.
"I hope to increase awareness in regards to programs that aren't as well known. I hope to initiate change in areas that will help parents relieve stress while their children are hospitalized. I hope to make bonds with fellow parents and gain insight into their lives and how they view Cincinnati Children's," Rebecca said.
"As parents we learn from one another. We laugh, grieve, and learn together," Rebecca said. "I'm honored to be part of a group that strives to continually improve services at a hospital that already has great things happening.
"The Family Advisory Council gives parents a voice. Cincinnati Children's recognizes the importance of family input. We know our children best. Therefore, our thoughts and concerns are valid," Rebecca said. "I respect Cincinnati Children's for entering into family-centered care and establishing a program that helps them achieve that status.
"I became a teacher in 1996 and taught seven years in a public elementary school. Although, I'm not teaching in a classroom anymore, I'm still teaching. Now I'm teaching people how to cope with children with children with special needs and how to access the resources they need.
Rebecca's children have used the following services at Cincinnati Children's:
Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs; Feeding Team; Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; General and Thoracic Surgery; Human Genetics; Neurology;Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy; Ophthalmology; Pain Management; Pediatric Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery; Plastic Surgery; Pulmonary Medicine; Radiology and Medical Imaging; Speech Therapy; Urology; Mason and West Chester outpatient campuses
