Invisible: A Patient’s Haiku Series by Nikki Montgomery

Nikki (Charisse) Montgomery, MA, MEd, GPAC is the Executive Director of Madvocator Educational and Healthcare Advocacy Training. Her experiences as an educational psychologist, a communications expert, a patient advocate, and the parent of a child with complex healthcare and educational needs led her to create Madvocator.

In addition to a graduate certificate in Patient Advocacy, for which her research was focused on increasing the capacity of parents of medically fragile children, Ms. Montgomery has a master’s degree in Educational Psychology with thesis research on critical thinking and engagement for parents of children with disabilities. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and on the Global Patient and Family Advisory Board for The Beryl Institute.

Invisible: A Patient's Haiku Series

Door glides open. I inhale.
Approaching the desk, I smile.
Smile is not returned.

Clipboard, pen, ID –
Requested and given back,
all without a glance.

Silent waiting room.
Called back to the exam room,
First name mispronounced.

Doctor enters, rushed
Stands and types and doesn’t ask
What I really need.

Nude, except the gown
Poked, prodded and examined
Never feeling seen.

- Nikki Montgomery