Meet ZZ: A Children’s National Hospital Champion
ZZ never fully recovered after contracting COVID-19 in May of 2022.
participating in Family Advocacy Day 2023.
“Getting an official diagnosis of long COVID from Children’s National Hospital was honestly such a relief,” says Katy, ZZ’s mother. “Their care is so important to us because they are whole-child centered.”
The diagnosis allowed Katy to advocate for accommodations at ZZ’s school, which were backed by his medical team at Children’s National and have laid the foundation for ZZ’s recovery process. “The information they provided also helped me understand the why and how,” says Katy. “Which led to me being better able to care for him.”
With ZZ’s asthma under control, a modified school schedule and intense academic accommodations have relieved a lot of his chronic fatigue and given him some of his energy back. “He continues to have vision challenges that are unexplained, including seeing static, spots, and he has also gone partially color blind sometime between August and December of 2022,” says Katy.
ZZ is still facing challenges with complications from long COVID but has seen improvements. Two of his favorite things are working on his art and getting out in nature.
Family Advocacy Day
Elevating patient stories and educating lawmakers remains critical to increase awareness about the essential care provided by children's hospitals.
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