What's Up Wednesday -- Maggie

#WhatsUpWednesday is our chance to hear from the teens who are involved with the Speak Now for Kids community. This week’s post will focus on Maggie, a 12-year old patient at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (MWPH) in Baltimore, MD. Maggie became a patient at MWPH last year after she suffered a concussion while playing soccer.

So, Maggie…what’s up?

1. Why do I advocate?
So that kids like me don't have to be put through as much pain as I had. My coach should not have put me back on the field without a proper exam being done to determine if I had a concussion.

2. Person I find most inspirational
Myself. I like to figure out my life with my own decisions and walk my own path.

3. What makes me unique
I will try anything and everything to do what I put my mind to.

4. What jam gets me up when I’m down
Pop music. My favorite right now is Ride by 21 Pilots.

5. What have I overcome?
I overcame my concussion and having speech difficulty when I was little.

6. What do I want the world to know about my condition?
It is something that is not recognized very well and not always treated correctly.

7. If I could change the world, I would….
Make it a friendlier place.

8. Who, or what, is my biggest supporter?
My family

9. What does my children’s hospital mean to me?
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital means a lot to me because they got me back to my old self before I had the concussion.

10. How do I plan to give back to the world?
By being an advocate for concussion care and traumatic brain injuries.

11. What do I want to be when I grow up?
A lawyer or someone who works with animals, (or at least volunteer with them).

To learn more about Maggie, and the efforts around brain injuries click here