By Lisa Freeman
The student session at Telluride East is wrapping up and I feel very hopeful. I came here as a patient advocate and as a family member of someone who was harmed during surgery and subsequently died. I have had the privilege to share my family’s story with many who are here and I have been told that you have taken something positive away from it. I have watched many of the participants have “Ah ha!” moments during the various exercises and games. Listening to the commitments that have been made, and the ideas for change that everyone is bringing back home with them, I feel hopeful that what Patty, David, Helen and I, as well as all the other victims of medical harm have experienced will occur less and less often!
One last thought that I want to share as you return back to your home bases and continue your work with patients and others….
People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel! ~Maya Angelou