The Immeasurable Impact of Personal Connection

This is part of our series reflecting on 20 years of Family Advocacy Day. Learn how the experience impacted our former child advocates.

“What if this were your child?” 

It’s a simple question Brian and Megan Busenbark would ask congressional leaders who have the ability to impact child health.

Brian and Megan’s son, Andrew, was born with a series of congenital heart defects. At just three days old, he had hours of open heart surgeries that saved his life at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.

Sen. Chris Murphy visits with the Busenbark family.

They jumped at the opportunity to participate in Children’s Hospital Association’s Family Advocacy Day in 2010 to champion health care for all kids and represent the children’s hospital that provided essential care for their son.

“Maria Fareri cared for Andrew in such special and extraordinary ways, and we have a family because of everything they did for him,” Megan said. “We wanted to not only represent the hospital but also be the voice of children who need this kind of care and make sure we continue to get the best pediatric caregivers across all disciplines.”

Today, Andrew is a healthy and active freshman at the University of Kansas and wears the scars on his chest as a badge of honor.

Growing up, he never had a problem talking about his health journey and sharing his story. It made him a compassionate person — a kid who would come home from school worried about a classmate going through a rough time.

“I think his empathy has been born out of what he has gone through,” Brian said. “A lot of kids have something that they are embarrassed or shy about. Andrew leads by example and has always said ‘This is who I am.’”

Andrew may not remember visiting policymakers when he was a four-year-old, but Brian and Megan recall having important conversations with children’s health advocates like Sen. Chris Murphy. He gave the Busenbarks his full attention as they shared their experience and spoke for children’s hospitals and the families they serve.

“That is the beauty of Family Advocacy Day,” Brian said. “There is no substitute for having a family in front of Congress so they can hear a child’s story and understand the challenges they face and the important mission of children’s hospitals.”

Brian and Megan’s commitment to advocating for kids and the pediatric specialists who care for them didn’t end when they left Capitol Hill. For many years, they volunteered at events, helped with communications, and served on the Family Advisory Council at Maria Fareri in Valhalla, New York. They also engaged with Children’s Hospital Association to help tell the stories and advance the work of children’s hospitals across the country.

The Busenbarks say they’re thankful they attended CHA’s annual advocacy event 15 years ago because it helped them develop relationships they wouldn’t have otherwise and remains a special memory for their family.

“Andrew felt like a superstar; the event was magical for him,” Megan said. “It was an honor to go to Family Advocacy Day and represent the hospital that we love and respect so much. We’re glad to have contributed in some small way to help advance better care for children.”

About Family Advocacy Day  

The Children’s Hospital Association is celebrating its 20th year of hosting Family Advocacy Day. Each summer, patients and their loved ones meet with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. Together with children’s hospitals, we elevate their voices and advocate on important pediatric health care issues.