My daughter was about a year old and I felt as if something just wasn't right...she was healthy and acting normal...but I could not shake the feeling that something was wrong...my husband encourged me to take her to the doctors for a check up...they told me she was healthy but I asked for more tests ...she was 2 points away from the level of lead paint poisoning that can have permanant negative effects. We were renting a 2 bedroom in an old building...I went home and moved her play pen were she took her naps and the paint was chipping and peeling behind it. It had never been disclosed to us that there was lead paint in the building! We were lucky. We moved out immediately and my daughter is fine...but that was very scary...since then I do not second guess what my husband refers to as my "spidey-senses"...

My daughter was born healthy but had flu-like symptoms at 4 weeks old. The Dr. tried to reassure us, over the phone but I pressed him to see her. Within an hour she was in critical care at the hospital. She almost died that night from heart failure. The 'flu' was a viral infection in her heart! This is an uncommon condition that can affect anyone. Trust yourself and push as hard as you must. Laura survived, and beat the odds. She lives with chronic heart problems 17 years later, but absolutely would have died within hours that night if we hadn't trusted our instincts and acted on behalf of our baby. Don't underestimate yourself! As that first pediatrician said, Drs. know alot, but not as much as you do about yourself, and your children. You are the expert in that field, not them. It is okay to question authority! Thank you Gail for getting your story about trusting your instincts in regards to your health.

For several years, I complained to my former physician that something was wrong with my heart. He kept telling me it was stress, hormones and depression. I had a stress test which showed irregular rhythms, but that male cardiologist also waved them off as stress. In May 2006, something changed and I knew I was dying. There was an urgency to find closure so I attended my high school reunion and got together with my siblings. In July, my insurance plan changed and I immediately got a new doctor. This man rocked! He listened to me and really heard me when I said something was wrong. He had me wear a holter monitor and sent me to another specialist. Between both of them and within one week, I was in the hospital having both a pacemaker inserted and a workup to rule out lymphoma. My body and heart were very sick. Now I'm on a path to healing because my instincts were correct. It is terrifying how many doctors discount women's cardiac complaints as hormones and stress. I knew I was dying; now I know I'm living!~

I was unemployed for 20 years, 6 of which i went back to school and completed undergraduate and graduate work in Social Work. I did this all while I was considered a person who was serverly depressed. That was what the doctors said. Maybe I was but during my darkest days I raed everything in sight and followed my insticts that led me to believe that somewhere inside of me was a person yelling to get rid of the stigma depressed people are supposed to have. I knew I had the will to do more with my life when my family and friends thought otherwise. I am now waiting for a position with my Count Office on Aging for Social Work/Gerontology was my major. I am 58, single and ready to begin life again. Who says it can't be done? Always believe in yourself, for only you know your capabilities!