Sharing Connor's Story at the BayCare Kids Conference

I recently had the honor of presenting at the BayCare Kids Pediatric Behavioral Health & Specialty Conference. I stood in front of a room full of pediatricians and healthcare professionals and shared Connor's story.

Sharing it is never easy. But I continue to share it, because I believe his story can save lives.

Why I Keep Telling Connor's Story

Every time I tell Connor's story, I am asking a room full of people to sit with something painful. But that pain is often what resonates. A statistic is easy to forget. A child with a name and a family who loves him is not.

If Connor's story helps even one family have a conversation about safety, and prevents another family from experiencing this kind of loss, then sharing it is worth it.

Why I Wanted to Speak to Pediatricians & Healthcare Professionals

Pediatricians and healthcare professionals have a trusted voice with parents, children and teens. Families listen to them in a way they may not listen to a news story or a school flyer.

That trust is why this audience mattered so much to me. Providers already talk with families about car seats and water safety. E-bikes and e-scooters belong in that same conversation.

One Conversation can Make a Difference

A simple conversation about e-bike and e-scooter safety can make a difference. It does not need to be long, and it does not need to be a lecture.

It can start with a question during a regular visit:

• Does your child ride an e-bike or e-scooter?

• What are your family's rules for riding it?

  
  

A question like that, from someone a family trusts, can start a talk at home that might not have happened otherwise.

I am grateful to BayCare Kids for the opportunity to turn Connor's story into awareness and, hopefully, safer choices for our kids.

And there was a bonus: Connor's pediatrician was in the audience! Having someone who cared for Connor in that room meant a great deal to me.

If you are a parent, talk with your kids about how they ride. If you care for children in your work, please ask the question. One conversation is a small thing to give, and it could save a life.