About
ABOUT stepping stone advocacy
Lori Schellenberg
My Story: A Life Rooted in Advocacy
My nursing journey has always been guided by a deep desire to help others feel supported, informed, and empowered in their healthcare decisions. As I married and raised four children, I continued to pursue roles that allowed me to stay connected to my career while growing personally and professionally. I have always been willing to step into new opportunities that stretched and challenged me—each one strengthening my ability to advocate for others.
Over the years, I served in a variety of roles:
- Staff Nurse
- Home Health Nurse
- Occupational Health Nurse
- Workers’ Compensation Case Manager
- Travel Nurse and Rehabilitation Liaison
- Clinical Medical Record Reviewer
In each position, I looked for ways to improve communication, streamline processes, and ensure patients received care that was coordinated and compassionate.
Where Advocacy Became Personal
Advocacy took on a deeply personal meaning when my parents moved near our family so they could be part of our daily lives. My mother underwent cardiac bypass surgery, and I naturally stepped in to help manage her care and support her recovery.
My father’s journey was more complex. He lived with multiple chronic health challenges, including severe sleep apnea that led to a tracheostomy (before CPAP therapy was an option), recurrent infections, multiple surgeries, and eventually kidney failure. When dialysis became necessary, we refused to let go of hope. Together, we pursued the possibility of a kidney transplant—despite his age and medical obstacles.
We advocated tirelessly.
We asked questions others were hesitant to ask.
We pushed for care coordination and new treatment options.
And ultimately—he received a new kidney.
That gift gave my father renewed time, energy, and dignity. It was a blessing that strengthened our determination and deepened my resolve to never stop advocating.
Throughout this process, my mother learned how to speak up for him and for herself. We became a strong and united team—focused, informed, and unwavering.
A Peaceful End and a New Beginning
When my father’s health declined years later, we made the compassionate decision to transition him to hospice care—a decision guided by love, dignity, and respect. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Today, my mother happily lives in a continuing care retirement community—a transition I also supported and guided.
why i continue this work
Although I have retired from traditional nursing practice, I have not retired from caring.
These personal and professional experiences have led me to my purpose:
Helping patients and families navigate a healthcare system that is often overwhelming and difficult to manage alone.
I know what it feels like to be the one who must speak up.
I know the questions to ask, the barriers to expect, and the conversations that need to happen at every level of care.
I know what it takes to keep going—even when it’s hard.
This is not just my work—this is my calling.
