APHON Advocacy Action Days with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer

Dear APHON Community,

This year’s Action Day with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer was inspiring, energizing, and a powerful reminder of the impact nurses can have beyond the bedside. Turns out, advocating on Capitol Hill calls on many of the same skills we rely on at the bedside: clear communication, quick thinking… and comfortable shoes.

I headed to Washington, DC on behalf of APHON’s Advocacy Committee, our working group that uplifts our Health Policy and Advocacy Agenda. Also, representing the committee was long time nurse advocate Beth Siever, CPNP CPON® MSN RN.

The event kicked off with a training day where advocates from across the country learned the key “asks” and how to effectively communicate our stories with legislators. As a Hill newbie, this preparation gave me both the confidence and inspiration I needed before setting foot into a legislator’s office.

Natalie K. Alwin

The next morning, we hit the ground running with back-to-back meetings with local and state representatives. This year, we had the privilege of opening each meeting with a heartfelt “Thank you!” for passing two major advancements in childhood cancer policy: the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act and the Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act. Following our gratitude, our discussions emphasized the critical need for sustained research funding, improved access to care, and policies that support children throughout their cancer journey. I had the honor of attending meetings alongside families who opened each conversation with their personal journeys, their heartbreak, their resilience, and their unwavering love for their children. Their voices filled the room in a way no statistic or clinical explanation ever could.

As nurses, we understand how powerful our patients’ stories are, but witnessing bereaved mothers and aunties stand in front of complete strangers and bravely relive some of the hardest moments of their lives is something I will carry with me forever.

What left the greatest impression on me were the families who courageously shared these stories. The night following Action Day, I found myself completely overwhelmed with emotion. As nurses, we understand how powerful our patients’ stories are, but witnessing bereaved mothers and aunties stand in front of complete strangers and bravely relive some of the hardest moments of their lives is something I will carry with me forever. There is something profoundly unfair in the reality that these incredibly strong women not only had to endure the loss of their children, but now must continue to fight and stand in those rooms proving that children deserve funding, research, and a chance at life.

Progress in pediatric oncology has been made possible through sustained investment and policy support, but continued advancement depends on our willingness to speak up. Our patients and families rely on us not only for clinical care, but for representation and Action Days is a powerful reminder that our voices and stories truly matter.

As a Director-at-Large for APHON, I was especially proud to represent an organization that is deeply committed to advancing nursing practice, education, and advocacy. APHON empowers nurses to use their voices to influence policy and improve care at both the institutional and national level. This experience further strengthened my commitment to that mission and highlighted the impact we can have when we step into these spaces as leaders. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to continuing this important work alongside the APHON community.