Deciding Whether to Share Your Child’s Story for Advocacy and Fundraising

Is public sharing of my child’s story appropriate?

Human interest stories, like surviving against the odds, have great power to connect emotionally with audiences—especially if there is an educational purpose that can save future lives. That’s why news outlets may reach out to you to share your child’s story. Hospitals and advocacy organizations also feel the power of personal stories helps make the cardiac arrest experience real. For both groups, stories raise awareness and understanding of cardiac arrest, CPR, and AEDs to save lives and engage viewers and/or donors. But it is and always should be the decision of the child and parents whether or not to go public. We provide tips on how to consider and manage media and advocacy requests about your child’s story on your terms. The journey of your family’s recovery is uniquely yours.

Should you share your child’s story or allow them to?

This is a difficult decision and there is no wrong answer. You have control over whether to share your child’s story now or later. Simply put – your family’s story, your terms.

Here are some things to consider as you weigh this decision:

• • Determine purpose and motivation in telling your child’s story. Are you trying to raise awareness, encourage CPR education, advocate for your local first responders, etc.? Having a clear goal and direction helps.
  • Consider the possible negative impacts of having your child’s medical situation disclosed. 
  • Does your child consent to having their story shared (and would they still consent when they are older)? Once the story is out on the internet, in this digital age, there’s no turning back. This one is difficult for a younger child that can’t truly understand the factors at play; however, you should still talk with them, using language that they understand, and allow them to weigh-in.
  • Are you and your family emotionally ready to share your story with the world? Be prepared for a possible flurry of requests from other sources that could follow. 
  • Recognize how telling your story on your terms can help you and others, too. Some survivors and families find sharing their stories healing while processing their experiences. The awareness created by your story could help others recover and even save more lives.

If you do want to share your child’s story what should you consider?

If you and your child have decided to take your story to the public, what should you expect? How do you prepare? Here are some general tips and important factors to consider:

• • Who will be interviewing your family and what media outlet or organization do they represent? 
  • Do the values and mission of the organization align with yours? You’re associating your and your child’s name, reputation, and personal story with their brand. 
  • How will your story be treated, and in what format?
  • Who will be interviewed–you or your child or both?
  • Will this be a live interview on camera? Will it be taped in advance? 
  • Can you receive the questions in advance?
  • When and where will your story be shared? Will it be shared in a way that other organizations can pick it up and share content beyond how it was initially intended (e.g. on social media or on a newswire service so other outlets around the world can run the story?)
  • Will you have any say in what gets presented before it is published?
  • If the story is online, will the comment section be turned on or off? How will it be moderated? How will feedback impact you?
  • If the content is on social media, will you be invited as a collaborator? Do you want to be a collaborator?
  • Are their expectations for what you and your child will wear? If so, are you comfortable with those expectations? Generally, wearing solid-colored clothing works best on camera. 
  • Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and state your terms and conditions before you commit. You are your child’s biggest advocate.

Sharing your child’s story with the media, a hospital, or an advocacy group may not be in your child or your family’s best interests at this time. Carefully weigh the pros and cons before you commit. Your family has no obligation to anyone, and you can always decline. It is not about what others want from your family that matters. Rather, it is about what feels right and is meaningful to you. This is your child’s story. This is your family’s journey.

Sources

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Thank you to our contributors

Alessandra Dinin, Jennifer Chap, & Cindy Marchionda