Turning Pain into Policy: How a Grandparent's Loss is Fixing a Broken System with Rep. Jamie Thompson

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After losing her daughter in a tragic motorcycle accident, Jamie Thompson was faced with a choice. Instead of giving up, she turned her pain into power, becoming a Michigan State representative to fight for families like hers. This week, Craig Nash of It's a Grand Life podcast and I interviewed an extraordinary conversation with Representative Thompson, who's not just a policymaker in her second term, but a full time grandmother raising her three grandchildren. Join us to hear how her journey through unimaginable grief has fueled her fight to fix a broken system and how her background as a licensed practical nurse and professional doula has shaped her powerful voice for change. This is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose.

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Welcome to Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Nurturing through Adversity. In this podcast, we will delve deep into the challenges and triumphs of grandparents Raising Grandchildren as we navigate the complexities of legal, financial and emotional support. I invite you to join us on a journey of exploring thoughts, feelings and beliefs surrounding this growing segment of our society. Drawing from real stories and expert advice, we will explore the nuances of childrearing for children who have experienced trauma and offer valuable resources to guide you through the intricate journey of kinship care.

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We'll discuss how we can change the course of history by rewriting our grandchildren's future, all within a supportive community that understands the unique joys and struggles. This podcast was made especially for you.

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Welcome to a community where your voice is heard, your experiences are valued and your journey is honored.

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Today we have a guest who is a true champion for community, State Representative Jamie Thompson. She's in her second term fighting for families in Michigan, but her journey to the State House was forged through a deeply personal tragedy. After losing her daughter in a motorcycle accident, Jamie stepped up to raise her three grandchildren.

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But she didn't stop there. Instead of giving up, she truly turned her pain into power and ran for office to fix the very systems that affect families like hers. What I find so incredible is that her entire life has been about advocacy. As a licensed practical nurse providing long term care and as a professional doula empowering women.

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Today, we're talking to a lawmaker with the heart of a caregiver. Hello, my name is Craig Nash. We'd like to welcome you to another It's a Grand Life, but we've got a little tag on it this time. It's a Grand Life and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. My new co host Laura, who's joining us from the wonderful state of Louisiana and who is also a grandma raising her grandkids, is going to help with the co hosting duties and I think you're going to love that we're looking at these wonderful interviews from two different vantage points. Laura, thanks so much for joining us here on It's A Grand Life, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. And welcome.

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Thanks. It's a pleasure to be here. Craig. We have an amazing guest again on the program. I'm so glad you are going to get a chance to meet Representative Jamie Thompson. She's from the 28th district of the wonderful state of Michigan and she's in our House of Representatives. And I think we talked, Representative Thompson, maybe a year ago. I know we had a long segment with several folks from the Michigan Kinship Care Coalition and I thought that was just one of the best shows we've ever done. But since we have talked about a lot of things have been happening in the house and with your nursing background, you've kind of been in the middle of all that. So first of all, welcome to It's A Grand Life, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. And so give us a quick update what's been happening. Thank you so much. It's so good to be back on the show. So as I was telling you a little bit before we jumped on and started getting to work here on your show, I really have been focusing on things that touched my family, that I know have touched other families. And maybe you don't realize how it would impact someone unless you went through it yourself. So some of the legislation that I've really been digging my heels in, first and foremost, is two bills that just passed yesterday in the House. I was very proud of them. They're related to recipient rights. So for those of you that don't know, here in the state of Michigan, our state run psychiatric facilities fall under the state.

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They're ran by the state. So. So in order to make sure that patients rights are being protected and families are protected, I think it was about 1996, they created a recipient rights Advisory board to oversee that any complaints filed against facilities related to two children or even two adults in state care would be addressed. And early on, as soon as I ran, I had a lot of families reaching out to me. There was a lot of controversy going on related to the Walter Reuther facility, the Hawthorne facility where children were housed. They shut down Hawthorne. So I began hearing the stories and what was going on with the families. And then me and Senator Weber, he's from Oakland county, we requested the auditor general do a review over these recipient rights complaints and how many were actually followed up on.

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Well, the numbers that came back was just disgusting. They were not being followed up on so the two bills that we passed, the first one took the state's ability, so the Department of Health and Human services on this 12 member board, they were appointing their executive staff to the board. So that meant that they were basically investigating themselves, which is nonsense. So the first bill took their ability to investigate themselves away. So it gave more transparency for the board to look into these cases. And I think that's just a small part of what we need to continue to do. But it was a first step. And then the second bill, you wouldn't believe this, but in the Michigan mental health code, if a patient involuntarily is committed to facility. So if a doctor or a court or a spouse or involuntarily, you're committing yourself for psychiatric care in a facility, you get your bill of rights, you get it verbally and you get it written for a voluntary commitment, which actually ties into our children. Because they're not involuntarily committed because they're a minor, their parent is placing them there, which means it's a voluntary commitment. The parents were not getting a notification of what their rights were. So that really impacted how parents were navigating the system, but also how adults that just chose to say, I think I need some help if it's substance abuse or if it's anxiety, panic attacks. There was a story of a woman who testified that she really, it was just, it was terrible what happened. She just had a really bad day and was going through some emotional stuff and ended up going and seeking help at the emergency room, got committed, chose to do it, but then got stuck in a state run facility and couldn't get out and didn't know that she had the right to leave services or to petition to leave. She felt like she would be retaliated against. And she's actually still fighting to prove her competency. She was just like, she had no diagnosis. It wasn't like she had previous history. She was just didn't really realize that if she just, she just wanted help and really got sucked into the system. So this bill made sure that on a voluntary commitment, you were given your patient's bill of rights. This is your right.

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And parents were struggling with those rights because they didn't know they had the right to. Did the doctor contact me prior to changing my children's medication? Did the doctor contact me that my child lost 30 pounds? That my child now is non verbal? Their behaviors have gotten worse. How long were they in seclusion? I don't want them here.

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They were molested on a unit that was cohabitancy unit. I want them to be placed on, you know, a female unit without males around them because they've been molested in a facility. They didn't know how to navigate that. So now they get their Bill of Rights. It's verbally, it's on paper, it has to be given to another family member to make sure that people know.

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So it was a huge win. I'd really worked hard on that. I was happy about that. That did pass the House. So now we've got to get it through the Senate. Something else that passed the health policy committee that I think is huge is a next of kin legislation. Michigan is not a next of kin state. I did not know that until I lost my dad. He was born and raised in Kentucky, came here to Michigan, married, met my mom, had us when they divorced when I was 15, probably about 10 years. I was probably in my early 20s. He moved back down south. So back in Kentucky, he felt he got a terminal diagnosis. So when I went down there to see what was going on, and this was actually after I was elected to office, so it was my first year in office. It was in 23, went to Kentucky. He's got this terminal diagnosis. They gave him 10 days to live. He had a hole in his heart and they couldn't repair it because of where it was located near the aorta. So I immediately thinking in Michigan mind, I said, do I need to get power of attorney? And they said, no. This is a next of kin state. You're his daughter, you're his eldest child. You make decisions for him if he becomes incapacitated. So I'm like, great. He was alert and oriented at the time. He signed all his documentation for his final wishes. He signed his dnr, he went hospice. I ended up transferring him to Michigan as soon as he got into Michigan.

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And now we're like on day seven of that original 10 days that he would have to live. By the time he got to Michigan, he now was confused. And then his DNR didn't cross state lines.

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So they said he cannot be a dnr. He has to be a full code.

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You cannot make his final wishes known or you can't make decisions for him because you have to go get guardianship with him.

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And I'm a nurse and I'm a state representative and I'm going, you gotta be kidding me. You know, my poor father had. He was now, you know, he lost so much weight. He was completely disoriented. He was semi comatose. And you want me to Go to Wayne county when I know that he has three or four days to live to try to obtain guardianship, to make sure that he. His final wishes are followed through on. So the hospice doctor that took care of him, the organization I went through, he ended up having to take responsibility to make him a dnr. And it took me probably two or three days to get that to happen because I knew I wasn't going to go to try to get guardianship in such a short time.

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He did end up passing away peacefully and he didn't have to be thumped on and put on a ventilator and sent to the hospital. It was insane. I'm like, this man is hospice. This is a skilled nursing facility. What happened with. I had never heard of it. So that past health policy, I'm looking forward to it getting on the floor for a vote. And it would follow just the common sense on what you think in an emergency situation, if there is not a legal binding document or a power of attorney in place, then, you know, it would be, follow the line. It would be a spouse, it would be an eldest child, it would be a sibling, whatever, you know, goes right in order. Very simple. And we even put in there a space for someone because we know maybe you've lived with their partner for 25 years, but you never got married, right? You know, should they have a say in your final wishes? So there's that one.

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And then just really quickly, it was brought to my attention some legislation that a previous former rep, Graham Filler, he never ran again for reelection, but he was working on continuing education for physicians about symptoms related to menopause.

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And he brought it to me and I kind of said. I was like, are you trying to tell me something like, I might be a grandma, but I don't look like I'm old enough to be going through menopause? And then he's like, I just think with your nursing background and, you know, your ability to work across the aisle, I just think it'll be good for you. So when I looked into it, yes, it would put in place a continuing education credit for physicians when they renew their license. It's not mandatory, but it does set something up within the system that they can do that. And I think it's much needed because I have now on honesty. The last year, I have been going through perimenopausal symptoms and trying to navigate that. I just kind of had the realization I'm raising kids, but I've got all these symptoms that's making me crazy. And I go to my doctor and bless her heart, I've been seeing her for probably 25 years and I explaining to her all my symptoms and I say, I'm kind of talking to people. Can you do some blood work? Check my vitamin D. I've heard a lot of things about vitamin D now and it's really good for gut health and related to hormones and see where my hormonal levels are at. And she looked at me and she goes, I, why would I do that? That's a waste of time. She's like, you're perimenopausal. I know it. I don't need a blood test to tell me it.

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Go for a walk. And I'm like, you gotta be kidding me. I was so mad at her. And then I thought, this legislation is exactly what we need. Because not everyone gets to have that good doctor that I've heard about that actually goes into your diet and checking your hormone levels and seeing where you're at. And you've got to pay most of the time. And that's going through that now. It's like a special doctor and you got to pay cash for it. It's crazy.

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Yeah, well, they found all kinds of stuff through the blood work that I wasn't even aware of and they put me on D4 and calcium and stuff that's.

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Nobody's asked me those questions before. No. And I hear from women and honestly, the coolest thing about it is because of me being a state rep, I am on all social media platforms and the algorithm has to have connected with my age because I am seeing these wonderful, funny, real life, light hearted, you know, Instagram videos and tick tock videos and it's like, you know, a husband laughing about what he's going through with his wife and a wife laughing about, you know, I'm not crazy and you know, the connecting songs. And it's just, I think that we do have to have more education around it and understanding that we're not crazy. This is normal. We gotta have to laugh about it because you do feel like you just became a different person. And then how is you as a grandma?

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Same as me navigating. We raised our children and God intended for us to raise those children in our 20s and 30s. And then when we have our grandchildren, we get to have moments where we're baking cookies and playing games and taking them shopping and then we take them home and then we go through our crazy when they're not with us. And now it's like, oh my gosh, now I'm I'm going through crazy and I'm trying to have the patience for a 7, a 9 and an 11 year old. And it just hit me that, wow, you know, God intended our bodies to go through this after our kids were raised so well. Yeah. I was going to ask you about your roles as a caretaker, as a nurse and a doula and how that's helped you in your current role. Well, there's your answer right there.

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Yeah, Follow through. You know, the doula, the nurse, the compassion, the empathy, the advocacy for people. I am such a believer in empowering people to, to give them the information and they make the decision themselves.

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And it comes right back to, even in Lansing, you know, it can get ugly. And I've seen piece of legislation that my colleagues on the right will say, does something and then my colleagues on the left will say, no, it does this. And then I read it and I go, it doesn't do either one of those things. So they're lying. They're lying. Can somebody just please tell the people of the state of Michigan the truth? Because it makes me angry because I think in my role as a nurse, it's so important for people to have adequate information to make choices and that's their choice when they do it.

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I'm not going to push my beliefs on them, but follow up is so important. I think that's why people have been so pleased with the work I've been doing, because I always make sure that my office is following up with you if it's something I wasn't able to do. I just got back with you and I said, hey, I sent that information over to that department.

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Did you hear back from them? You know, if not, let me know or if things didn't go the way they wanted it. I'm so sorry we weren't able to help you. But if you ever need anything else, and that's just like that common courtesy, that nurse and me to go back in the room and say, you know, are you good? Because I can't leave for the day unless I know that my patients were good and that their families were good. And I just.

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Woman too. A nurturer, emotional anchor, you know? Yeah, yeah, 100%. And then we go back to the. We don't take care of ourselves because we're taking care of everybody else. So when all these crazy perimenopausal symptoms that hit me and even what prompted the doctor's Visit was a 23 pound weight gain and I'm like, I have not. Okay. So I get It. But you don't just miraculously turn 47.

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47 and a half. And one day you wake up and somehow you just put on £23. And I'm like, I have done nothing different. I'm not extremely. I don't eat well, I don't exercise. I don't do all the stuff I should do. Right. But I didn't do anything different to put on this much weight.

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And again, my doctor was just like, oh, it's just. Just menopause, go for a walk. So for the grandmothers out there that are doing everything for their families, what's your bit of advice for how to take time to nurture themselves?

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How are you doing? Well, I'm probably not doing it successfully. I will be honest.

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I can't lie about it. I probably need to be doing more. I find that I don't take care of myself, but I find fulfillment in my life by helping each other, which is probably avoiding my problems, which is not healthy. But prayer, I think the number one thing is I've really dug deep into spirituality and my faith in God and realizing that you can't control everything. I heard something. There's a pastor that stops in Lansing every now and then, and he has a podcast. And I can't remember the name of it, but if I ever do, I'll shoot it to Craig and he can pass it on. I was listening to his podcast on the way home from Lansing, and one of his co hosts, a female co host, he had asked her, how do you deal with things that you can't control? And I think it was probably about being an enabler. Like the title was an enabler. You know, how do we stop enabling our adult children?

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And I was listening to it, and it was, no matter what happens in life or in her job, she takes the situation and she says, okay, God, tell me what my part is, and then I'm going to let you do what you need me to do with the situation, what I should say or do, or what my part is in it, and then I'm just giving the rest to you. And she really said she did that. And I've been really trying to practice doing that. There's a difference.

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Amen. There's a difference between being an enabler and being a servant. Right.

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I love that. Just checking in with God and saying, you know, I've been involved a lot of education on knowing my true identity and following a group out of Kingsport, Tennessee, the identity exchange group with Jamie and Donna Winship, and their favorite prayer is God, what do you want me to know about this situation? And then what do you want me to do? And then waiting and listening from God to tell you, which is kind of what the podcast you were listening to is saying, tell me what my part is and then you can do your part. That's really the whole abiding piece, you know, it's just. Listen to this. How powerful is this? This was something else she said in East. You reminded me of it.

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Tell me what I am believing. That is a lie.

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When you think about that and you think about when you're in a state of anxiousness, when you're all worked up and stressed out or whatever your situation is, it kind of hit me out with that anxiety. I thought, tell me what I'm believing. That's a lie. Why is my body telling me, my telling me that I'm so stressed out or anxious? And when I look around I'm like, there's no reason to be anxious. Why am I allowing myself to feel this way? So what am I believing? That's a lie.

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And I started practicing saying that too. Very powerful. And did you hear what you were believing? That was a lie?

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Yes, yes, yes. That I. Being stressed and being anxious was a defense mechanism for me. I guess it was a protective mechanism. I mean, I've always kind of been an anxious person. I've always suffered from anxiety since my early 20s. Never would take anything because I was either pregnant or breastfeeding. Sort of just dealt with the anxiety.

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Couple really years of bad panic attacks and even as a nurse, never really understanding what was happening because those panic attacks were so that my son, my 24 year old son, he. I think that I passed it down to him because he has panic attacks now and it come out about two or three years ago. My mom never knew what it was like. No one in my family, my dad had anxiety and I think my dad had panic attacks, but my mom didn't.

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My mom was a nurse and she had a nurse brain and she was like, are you doing this to yourself? Why do you get yourself so upset? You're not going to die. There's nothing wrong with you. And if you've never had one, you had no idea what it felt like. So, yeah, I think that the constantly being stressed with my shoulders to my, you know, like this. Yes.

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Is you got to remind yourself, stop, there's nothing to be upset about. What is the worst thing that's going to happen? You know?

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And then I'll look around and remind myself, okay, house is standing sky's not falling. Kids are all healthy.

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Okay. Yeah. The laundry's not done, you know. Yeah, I really need to fix that door. Yeah. I didn't get to mop up the.

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Sweep them up the dog hair. So that's another thing. Giving yourself grace and trying to live in the moment and opposed to trying to make everything perfect, which is really hard in this day and age, because you, again, you see all these people on Instagram and TikTok and social media, and they've got the beautiful, clean house and their makeup is perfect, and they're living their fabulous life. And when you're hormonal and they're going to the dollar store and getting little twigs to put together little, pretty little baskets, you're like, I just want to take that twig and shove it up your, you know, rear end.

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Real life is not like that. No, it's not.

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It's messy every day. This is the real world, you know, so it's like, you know, I have friends that take a picture of every meal they eat and put that on Facebook. I'm like, why are you doing that? I don't understand those things. But just, you know, life is real, and there's all sorts of challenges throughout the day. But I love the idea of. Of just dealing with your fears. And from the training that I'm, you know, one of the lines in it is that negative emotion is an opportunity for transformation.

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That when we deal with this negative emotion and we take, oh, God, how did I get these thoughts? This anxiety where, you know, what fear is driving this, and then exchanging that fear for his truth is really pretty powerful. I've got to get you a book called Living Fearless by Jamie Winship. I think it'll change your life. And, Representative Thomas, it is so great to have you on It's a grand Life and to hear all the things that are going on. I love this legislation that's being passed and. But, you know, I want to ask you about this. You know, we're in a very divided country, but what I'm hearing from you is that your colleagues are starting to recognize that you do cross over on the aisle and that you are probably the only person in the Michigan House of Representatives who can handle healthcare questions as a practitioner. And really, you can read the medical books or you have read them and you've had classes on them and what have you. But how are you able to be a bridge builder in a very divided time, in a very divided state?

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It's been natural for me to do that. I'm not quite sure how I do it because we get into our tips when things get hot and heavy over really partisan issues.

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But we're really able to. The colleagues on the other side of the aisle that I've built relationships with set that aside because like the Representative Steckloff, the woman that I did the menopause legislation with, she is a woman who had breast cancer and had to be medically put through menopause because of her high hormone levels. It was estrogen based cancer. So she went through menopause, went through the cancer and the treatments and everything, and then came out on the other side, but now is going through menopause again naturally. So she had a double whammy. So her and I kind of just. We realized that you're not sent there to hate people. I mean, nothing gets done when you hate people and nothing gets done if you can't compromise or if you can't share your story that, hey, we're normal people, we live in homes, we put our shoes on one foot at a time. We bleed. We bleed the same color. And really I go to those people and Steck off is one that I've been started to build that relationship with this year.

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Representative Young, she does a lot with guardianship and foster care and she's from Detroit, cares a lot about kids that don't have anyone to care about them. And I think that they started realizing that I'm not that person. They love my speeches, they love when I talk about real stuff. And sometimes even when I tell the Republicans, you know, stop clinching your pearls and pull that pole out of your butt.

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Like, you guys act like you never do anything wrong. You're such a hypocrite. Like, I can't say understand that, you know, I just am a kind of unique down river person that kind of just tells it like it is. And, and that helps. Truth speaking, the truth always seems to work on both sides. It does, it does. And to admit that it's not fair for the people that we represent if we can't work together because of the division. It was never like that. I hear so many stories in lansing of even 20 years ago of maybe getting into a little argument on the House floor over some legislation.

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And I think that the original basis for a Democrat and a Republican and what our core political leanings were just a couple things off. And then now we've just went so far to each side that. And I think even you found that those people that were independent and they were in the middle and they're like, well, that's not fair because, yes, I agree with this on the Democrat side, but I also support this on the Republican side. I don't want to have to pick either one.

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I consider myself more of an independent now. And I see those people more and more coming out and saying, there used to be, you know, I, I am a Christian. I am pro life. I'm also very pro Second Amendment. There used to be a time when there was Democrats that were pro life and Second Amendment, pro Second Amendment. Right. And would never vote on, like, legislation that we've seen happen. They would never support that. They were getting endorsements from, you know, right to life organizations. And having to pick is frustrating to people because I have even talked to people that say, you know what? I'm a Republican, but I believe that a woman should have the right to choose. You know, but I'm still, I'm a Republican. I believe I'm fiscally conservative. I believe in my Second Amendment right. But you just got me hung up on that. I believe that women should have abortions. So there's so much in the middle now. But as parties, we've gone so far to the extremes that we were losing the people in the middle. And everything is just nasty and name calling and God bless Donald Trump. I voted for Donald Trump. But sometimes I get sick of the nastiness. I can't take the nastiness anymore. It doesn't help in a society where everything our kids are hearing is so negative all the time. Well, that's why the good Lord gave us a mute button on the tv. So because, you know, you can have high hopes for your representative and sometimes they go off the rails. You can't believe what folks are saying.

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But tell us a little bit before we let you go. Tell us about what you're working on in the future and what you're really excited about.

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I'm going to start working on legislation to. I can't control what other states do when it comes to that do not resuscitate order, but I can in Michigan make sure that anyone that comes into the state of Michigan that has a DNR that was implemented in a different state, we can make sure that Michigan acknowledges their dnr.

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So that's the first steps. That's something we're working on. We're working on expanding the scope for licensed practical nurses because there's a lot of restrictions on their license in Michigan that when you look at places like Ohio, they will allow an LPN to insert an iv. But here in Michigan, an LPN cannot insert the iv, but they can maintain it, they can use it, they can put medication through it, they can discontinue it. They just can't put it in. But in Ohio they can. So kind of going through those scopes of practice, I'm going to be working on a respiratory continuing education for respiratory therapists. What else do we got in the works? Those are the ones that pop to my head the most.

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Mostly health care and family related. You know, that's my. That's what I believe I was sent there to do. There's a ton of people already working on stuff to lower our taxes. You know, we did a great budget that we cut out $5 billion worth of waste that was happening here in Michigan. Definitely wanted to come on and wish everyone. That's why what prompted me to reach out to you is that we are Kinship Care Month. Yes. Nationally and here in the state of Michigan.

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And I just want. I did a little video on the house floor yesterday. Hopefully I get it back soon and I'm going to start sharing that. Just letting families know that we want to and we should strive to keep families together, make sure they have the resources they need, whether it be grandparents raising grandchildren or aunts and uncles and cousins. You know, our little ones need their families and we should make sure that they're getting priority to be placed with family and with loved ones. And that whole kinship care thing that's getting talked about more too with unfortunately the dynamics of our world. But if you think that video would be apropos, you could send it to us. We'd love to put that out. And anytime you do something like that, I just love where the good Lord has got you. You're in the right spot making, helping to make bipartisan decisions. It's absolutely great.

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And thank you for congratulating all of us. Grandparents, Grandparents month or kinship month, whatever we want to call it.

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It's just so exciting to see. Laura, any final thoughts before we let Representative Townsend go? Well, I just have one question. For listeners out there that feel powerless, what's one of the most important things they can do to advocate for themselves, health wise for grand families in their communities in Michigan and elsewhere in the country? The number one thing that you can do is you have to use your voice. Don't be afraid to use your voice. I think that maybe you don't understand something and you don't want to feel ignorant or you don't want to feel like someone's going to shame you. You definitely have to speak up if you Believe in something. You have to continue to fight for it. The answer may not come right away, or you may get shut down multiple times. But I've had so many situations where parents, they've been fighting with the school board over their family, their children, and they want to give up. And I say, don't give up. It's not going to be easy. The walk is not going to be easy, but you can't give up. You got to keep going. And they've had huge wins. And I said, see? God said, it's not going to be easy, but don't stop. Make sure that if they have legislation or things that they see wrong. Reaching out to the representatives. I wish there was a world where politicians didn't matter. I don't really like politicians. I don't consider myself one. But I do know that the legislation, the laws in the state of Michigan affect everything from our work to our schools, to our roads, to our courts, probate court, everything. And there is corruption and there's wrongful doings. And if you have an idea, you need to know who your state rep is. You need to know who your state senator is. You need to know that they're not the ones that go to Washington, because everyone assumes that. I work in Washington and I work with Donald Trump. I work at Washington D.C. we have a federal Congress, we have a state Congress. And then you also need to change.

00:32:26.130 --> 00:32:40.210
That's local. Start talking about things. Build, like what you're doing. Build on having podcasts and sharing, because you'd be so surprised that other people are going through the same thing that you're going through. So I would say that. Just don't give up. Don't give up.

00:32:40.450 --> 00:32:48.009
Fight, fight for it. Don't stop believing, as the song goes, right? Yes, yes. Don't stop, believe it. And you know what, Laura?

00:32:48.009 --> 00:33:05.289
You and I need to talk about what you're taking, because that's what I'm gonna start doing. I'm start making videos, and I'm gonna start saying, tell me what you're taking. Tell me what doctor you went to. Because I really, you know, I don't want to feel aggravated and irritable all the time, you know, especially. It's not fair to the kids.

00:33:05.289 --> 00:33:16.368
It's not fair to my poor husband. It was so funny. Even the assistant nurse, while I was waiting for the doctor come in, I asked her, how old are you? Are you experiencing any of the symptoms? She goes, oh, yeah.

00:33:16.368 --> 00:33:27.390
And I actually got her to go see the doctor after I left the office because I Told her that the doctor I just visited was so great in what they were doing to help me. I, I didn't.

00:33:27.789 --> 00:33:31.549
You don't know till you talk about it. Right, exactly. And you know what?

00:33:31.549 --> 00:34:43.050
I've had colleagues that said what? Me putting out those two pieces, legislation related to continuing education for physicians on menopause and perimenopausal symptoms and treatments was stupid. It didn't need to be. Why are we talking about that? Why are we advocating about that? Like, just deal with it, by the way, you know, go to your doctor. You know, go to a specialist. Like that's not anybody's business. And I was like, I know. Like I said, I'm a nurse, I'm a state rep. I can't afford to find a fancy doctor. I don't know everything, you know, I'm open to new things. Not everybody has all of these beautiful opportunities that you may have to have found a great doctor. And I'm so glad that you did. But a lot of women don't. And you trust that was covered under Medicare? Because I can only afford what's covered under Medicare. I didn't mean like you couldn't afford, but I'm talking like my colleagues when they were like, oh, just figure it out. And I'm like, well, I'm glad that you can figure it out, but other people might struggle. And I think there's no reason. I get really angry. I was always that nurse that got angry at doctors when they dismissed patients concerns, you know, I would be right back at them. And I think eventually they started respecting me for that because you can't be dismissive of people's concerns.

00:34:43.449 --> 00:35:00.010
And just to dismiss like that, like even my own doctor to say, go for a walk. And I'm like, oh, yeah, like that's, that's going to fix everything. Right. I think of that a long time ago. I'm just going to go for a walk. If it was that easy, I would have gone to medical school. I could tell them to do that. Go for a walk.

00:35:01.769 --> 00:35:19.369
But listen, this has been absolutely great today. We just appreciate you coming back on and it's been too long. A year is too long. I know, I know. Working on all these issues and we've got to get together at the first quarter next year and just give us an update on what's going on and let's do it. But reach out anytime. Laura and I would love to chat.

00:35:20.010 --> 00:35:44.309
Something's coming up we want to get to the bottom of and get it out to our folks that are participating. If your folks, if your folks have any ideas on legislation, you know, hurdles that they're facing within the courts or within guardianship and things of that nature, I would love to, to hear their ideas on legislation or what's broken. I keep wanting to dig so, so much that's broken and I'll keep digging and figuring out little wins.

00:35:44.550 --> 00:36:02.630
I have some people in talking to about that so I'll get that information to you. Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. Well, thank you guys. I hope you have a great day. Oh, thank you so much. And we'll see you again on God bless you all. Take care now. What an incredible conversation about the power of using your voice.

00:36:03.269 --> 00:36:06.789
Representative Thompson's final message was clear. Don't give up.

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Fight for what you believe in. We want to ask you what's one area where you feel called to use your voice for your family?

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The first step is knowing who to talk to. Take a moment this week to look up who your state representative and state senator are.

00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:36.619
As Jamie said, change starts local and your story is the most powerful tool that you have. Share your thoughts on this episode in our online community and let's continue to support each other in this important work.

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Behind the glossy brochures and promises of healing lies a multi billion dollar industry quietly profiting from vulnerable children. The troubled teen industry.

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Next week we sit down with Dr. Corey Gentry, a troubled teen industry survivor who leveraged this experience to earn a PhD in Political Science where he studied power structures and systematic violence. In this raw and essential conversation, Dr. Gentry shares his journey, exposes the red flags every parent and grandparent must know, and reveals how systematic failures allow abuse to flourish. He delivers a powerful mix of emotional storytelling and evidence based analysis, giving listeners the tools to spot warning signs, advocate for ethical care and join the fight for reform.

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Don't miss this episode. See you next week.

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Thank you for tuning in to grandparents, raising grandchildren, nurturing through adversity. Remember, you are not alone. Together we can find strength and hope in the face of adversity.

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Peace be with you. And I pray that you find some time this week to listen to your inner wisdom amongst the noise and the pandemonium of this world.