GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- A 10-year-old patient will visit Capitol Hill to advocate for better pediatric specialized care.
 
According to a news release, the patient from Children’s Nebraska will attend the 19th annual Children’s Hospital Association Family Advocacy Day event in Washington, D.C.
 
Emersyn Arterburn and her mother, Lori Arterburn, both from Grand Island, will meet with U.S. Reps. Don Bacon, Mike Flood, and Adrian Smith as well as Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer from Nebraska’s congressional delegation.
 
“We are so excited to head to Washington, D.C., to advocate for kids just like Emersyn and families just like ours,” Lori Arterburn said. “Pediatric health care is incredibly important to me, and we are honored to speak in support of kids needing specialized care everywhere.”
 
The duo will be there from June 12 to 14 and will also meet with dozens of patient families from member hospitals and health care systems to advocate for important legislation that ensures access to high-quality pediatric health care.
 
The Arterburns will discuss investments to support Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, expanding mental health services for children and teens, and increasing the pediatric health care workforce.
 
Arterburn was diagnosed at age 7 with medulloblastoma, a type of cancerous brain tumor, and has battled it for nearly two years. Her final chemo treatment was completed in April 2023.