Conner Drummond was born premature at 25 weeks and was diagnosed with a number of associated conditions including cerebral palsy, seizures, developmental delays and blindness due to a brain bleed. Although Conner was a stillborn, fighting minute by minute for his next breath, he has come a long way. Through the help of Children’s Specialized Hospital’s (CSH) early intervention program and outpatient services, Conner is now speaking, eating and crawling on his own. CSH also assisted the Drummonds by teaching them strategies that they could use at home to help support Conner. None of this would be possible, however, without the Medicaid coverage they receive, which supplements their family’s primary insurance coverage, received through TriCare and private insurance which does not cover all of Conner’s medical needs.
Conner, his parents Katiane and Clinton, his brother CJ, and Warren E. Moore, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Specialized Hospital, met with Senator Bob Menendez (NJ), Congressional members Tom Malinowski (NJ-7), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Frank Pallone (NJ-6) and Chris Smith (NJ-4), and staff from the offices of Senator Cory Booker (NJ) and Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-9). They urged the members of congress to improve health care for children with complex medical conditions by safeguarding Medicaid and reauthorizing the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program.
The Drummond’s efforts in Washington, D.C., were part of a broad national push to address key health care needs for children by the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA).
“Though our story is not unique in that our child is differently abled, Conner’s life shows the broad spectrum of difficulties that families face,” said Katiane Drummond. “It is important for us to participate in Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day to share our story and highlight the critical need to invest in children’s health care. Every child is different and each has a unique story, but too often children require extensive medical intervention that leaves many families like ours in financial distress. Our goal is to continue to work towards the accessibility of quality medical services for all children.”
“Every year we visit Washington, D.C., with one goal in mind – to remind members of congress why Medicaid and CHGME are so important to children’s health care,” said Warren E. Moore, FACHE, President & CEO, Children’s Specialized Hospital. “Families like the Drummonds face complex health care challenges every day and without these critical resources they wouldn’t be able to focus their full attention on their child’s care. Therefore, these resources are supporting our commitment to patients and families to provide healthier futures and ensure every child across the nation can reach their full potential.”
Children’s Specialized Hospital is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient care for children from birth to 21 years of age facing special health challenges across the state of New Jersey and beyond. Our locations in Bayonne, Clifton, East Brunswick, Egg Harbor Township, Hamilton, Jersey City, Mountainside, New Brunswick, Newark, Toms River and Warren treat everything from chronic illness and complex physical disabilities like brain and spinal cord injuries, to developmental and behavioral issues like autism and mental health. Our pediatric specialists partner with families to personalize our many innovative therapies and medical treatments so each child can reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.childrens-specialized.org.