Utawna Leap
"It is incredibly important to include the family dynamics into any treatment for a patient. In the end, everyone benefits from working together to help a child." -- Utawna Leap
Utawna Leap
Family Advisory Council member Utawna Leap.
Lianna Leap, daughter of Family Advisory Council member Utawna Leap.
Lianna and mother Family Advisory Council member Utawna Leap.
Utawna Leap joined the Family Advisory Council at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center during April 2004. "I am a divorced, single mom blessed with a beautiful daughter that happens to have quadriplegic cerebral palsy."
Utawna said she joined the Family Advisory Council "to learn more about how Cincinnati Children's functions so I can understand the challenges the staff face. I want to help the staff learn more about CP [cerebral palsy], especially the impact on the family and the importance of including the family in the care / treatment of the child."
Utawna said her daughter Lianna has been a patient of James Heubi, MD, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, since she was 14 months old. "Dr. Heubi has been an amazing, positive support and has a great 'bedside manner' with parents and children," Utawna said.
"It may sound simple, but eye contact has been incredibly important to me. When I first met Dr. Heubi, he walked into the room, laid the chart on the table and sat down. He looked me in the eye, after talking to my daughter in a happy tone, and simply asked what he could do for me. And then he really listened!" Utawna said.
"Because of our discussion and his respect for my knowledge of my daughter and what I was able to share with him, Lianna did not need to have a rather uncomfortable test performed. Dr. Heubi has been a favorite of mine ever since," Utawna said.
Utawna said Lianna also goes to the Cerebral Palsy Clinic, where she sees Jilda Vargus-Adams, MD; Amy Newmeyer, MD; and Twee Thi Do, MD. Lianna is also a patient of Lois Krousgrill, MD, at Cincinnati Children's Outpatient West Chester location.
"We've always had a positive experience with the physicians, and they have always taken time to answer my questions," Utawna said.
As a Family Advisory Council member, Utawna hopes to use her experience to help educate new medical professionals about how having a special needs child can impact a person's life.
"Because I am not afraid to tell our whole story and what it has been like for me, I feel I can be a good learning tool for the staff at Cincinnati Children's," Utawna said. "The more the medical staff understands, the better they will be able to help future patients and their families cope and adjust.
"Lianna has not had an inpatient stay at the hospital, so my knowledge base will be from the physical disability perspective. Also, since the divorce rate is very high when special needs kids are involved, I hope my experience might help a medical professional understand the family dynamics and challenges," Utawna said.
"The Family Advisory Council is changing the way the medical system interacts with the families -- for the better! It is incredibly important to include the family dynamics into any treatment for a patient. In the end, everyone benefits from working together to help a child," Utawna said.
"I am currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Butler County Board of MRDD. I received the 2006 Young Pioneer Award from Butler County MRDD." She is a participant in the Partners in Policymaking through the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council and a family representative for the Southwestern Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center's Family Forum meetings.
A Miami University graduate, Utawna is a licensed realtor at a family-owned realty business and is also a pistol instructor certified by the National Rifle Association.
