Welcome to our site. If you are here, you may be dealing with health issues yourself, or for a loved one. Our goal is to use the knowledge we have gained through a variety of experiences (oh, so many experiences) to help others with their hospital visits, and with chronic health care issues. When faced with health issues, it can be difficult to think clearly about everything. Hey, a loved one, or you, perhaps, is ill. It is scary. And let’s face it, who thinks about all the details when faced with a scary situation?
The last several years, our family has been faced with many challenges. We have learned a lot about the rights of patients, the services available, how to get maximum benefits in rehabilitation centers, ways to prepare in advance for visits to the hospital, and so much more. Our goal is to share what we have learned so that others who are facing medical challenges may be able to lessen the stress and improve the experience the best that you can.
Our posts will be practical and personal in nature. Not everything will apply to everyone. Our site is born as one of the blessings to others from some very trying times. Cancer, 
kidney stones, abdominal surgery, shoulder surgery, dislocations, chronic intestinal and bowel conditions, open heart surgery, and that is just the last three years! Go back ten years and we can add in broken bones,
torn tendons, cracked pelvis, hernia surgeries…well, you can see that we have done our part to keep our doctors in business. It has been a learning experience, and so many of the thing we will share may seem insignificant but have a huge impact on the family and patient experience.
We are not giving legal advice (though one of us is a lawyer.) We are not giving insurance advice (though one of us is a former insurance executive). Our family is important, and we are strong personalities who take our health as a personal responsibility. It is also our belief that the patient and family are the customers, and the health care industry are the vendors or service providers. The money flows from our pockets, via insurance coverage, to them. This is a critical piece of information to remember. The patient is paying them for a service.
Who are we?
Laurie LeClerc is a 58 year old daughter, mother, sister, who has been the ‘go to’ person in the family for 40 years for her family and friends whenever health related issue arise. An educator, working with at risk youth, she has a real need to serve. As a former insurance professional, there is a lot of policy knowledge, and insurance lingo that she can weed through.
Amanda Lawton is a 29 year old attorney, who has been 
a care giver for the last three years to her family. She has had her own health challenges, and has lived daily with in home care as a provider and a recipient. She has seen both sides of the fence. It is our hope that sharing what we have learned will help those who may be facing their own medical challenges. If our knowledge can make it a little easier, a little less stressful, or a little more comfortable, then we have succeeded.
Our Motivator
Our primary motivator was my Mom, Jean Dussing, who was a champion throughout many different situations. In the last two years of her life, 
she was hospitalized 26 times with chronic bowel and intestinal episodes. She came home for the last time in July of 2016, and passed on to Heaven shortly thereafter. Her grace, courage, faith, and fighting spirit provided us with so many blessings. She told us
often how grateful she was to have us as her advocates, and that she felt so sorry for folks who didn’t have us. Well, Mom, we are doing what we can to help them in your honor.
You can reach us through: email at Support@EmpoweredHealthAdvocates.com
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