August 2025, Volume 16
Celebrating MedicAlert Awareness Month – Thanks to You!
August is National MedicAlert Awareness Month. This event shines a light on the lifesaving mission started by Dr. Marion Collins over 69 years ago. Thank you for being at the heart of our life-changing work. Our mission–to protect and save lives by getting your important medical information to the people who need it–is powered by your generous support.
Kelly's Story
35 Years of Courage
At just 18, Kelly’s life nearly slipped away. What started as an unknown heart condition suddenly spiraled; she suffered a stroke and fell into a coma. The stroke caused cognitive impairments, and Kelly spent months in the hospital recovering.
When she finally returned home, recovery stretched into years. Kelly eventually learned to walk again and acquired the skills to manage daily life, even as she faced permanent disabilities. Through it all, her determination never wavered.
Years later Kelly embraced motherhood, only to face new fears. As she anticipated the delivery of her first child, old concerns resurfaced— unexplained bleeding issues she’d had since childhood. Tests reassured her all was well. But after delivering a healthy baby boy, Kelly’s world turned upside down.
During delivery, she hemorrhaged so severely she was left bedridden. It was only then that doctors discovered a serious, inherited bleeding disorder—von Willebrand disease—putting both her life and her newborn’s future at risk.
Kelly needed a way to protect herself and her new baby in case of an emergency, so others would know about their pre-existing conditions. She wanted wearable medical identification, and that’s when she found MedicAlert.
To communicate her bleeding disorder to others when she isn’t able to, she placed a MedicAlert bracelet on her wrist and a tiny anklet on her baby–and eventually his brother–all engraved with their vital medical information. For the first time, she felt real relief. She knew this was more than a bracelet—MedicAlert was a constant lifeline, with 24/7 live support for medical emergencies.
“MedicAlert has given me the courage to keep going, and the comfort of knowing I’m never truly alone. MedicAlert has been my voice for decades—my shield, my peace of mind, my constant companion.”
Over the next 35 years, Kelly faced more health battles than most could imagine—surviving situations her doctors still call extraordinary. In fact, they tell her she’s a medical anomaly. Every step of the way, MedicAlert has been her guardian-–speaking for her when she can’t speak for herself, and ensuring first responders know exactly how to help her in an emergency.
For Kelly, MedicAlert meant she could keep living her life with her boys-–attending their field trips, cheering them on during soccer games, and making memories together–-all of them protected by that small but powerful MedicAlert emblem that tells their unique story.
Now at 62, Kelly looks back in awe at how far she and her boys have come. “MedicAlert has given me the courage to keep going, and the comfort of knowing I’m never truly alone,” she says. “It’s been by my side for decades—my shield, my peace of mind, my constant companion.”
This is what MedicAlert means to the many people who depend on us to protect their life. Your ongoing financial support means that MedicAlert can be here for them without fail. For people with chronic medical conditions, that kind of peace of mind is priceless. Thank you for making it possible!
Share your story!
Do you have a MedicAlert story? We’d love to hear it! Has MedicAlert made a difference in your life? Why do you give to MedicAlert Foundation? What does being part of this mission mean to you?
Your story can inspire others to follow your generous example. Please consider sharing your reasons—your voice makes a difference!
You're Helping First Responders Save Lives
In previous editions of this newsletter, we shared the launch of our Everyday Heroes platform, designed to celebrate first responders and raise awareness of MedicAlert in the first responder community. Thanks to your generous support, we’ve recently taken two major steps:
1. First Responder Council
In May we created an official feedback loop with the first responder community. We partnered with five high profile representatives across fire, EMT, and law enforcement to form our inaugural First Responder Council. This group is already helping us increase visibility through their outreach, and providing helpful feedback on making our services and products even more valuable for emergency personnel.
2. First Responder Education
We’re creating a series of educational videos and other materials for first responders. The objective is to demonstrate how to identify MedicAlert IDs in the field, and show how easy it is to access our 24/7 emergency service for their patient’s medical details. The goal, as always, is to help first responders deliver the best possible care when it matters most.
Here’s a short video, starring our First Responder Council members!
We couldn’t do this without your financial support. It’s important work that helps all of us – you, MedicAlert, and the first responders who benefit from having your medical history close at hand.
Program Spotlight:
Sickle Cell Disease
The Challenge
Sickle cell is a cruel and often debilitating inherited disease. Frequently, patients suffer sickle cell crises that happen when abnormally shaped red blood cells block blood flow in the body. The crisis causes severe pain and can lead to organ damage, stroke, or death.
Treatment should be immediate and usually requires a high dosage of painkillers (often opioids), IV fluids, and potentially blood transfusions. But when patients go to the ER, they often hit a roadblock.
Most sickle cell patients are Black. When they go to the ER complaining of extreme pain and asking for pain meds, they’re sometimes labeled as “drug seekers” by ER personnel wary of dispensing opioids. In addition, many ER practitioners have little knowledge of sickle cell–it’s considered a rare disease–and may not recognize the signs of a pain crisis.
These two factors – lack of knowledge and inherent bias – cause delays in treatment, and the patient suffers unnecessarily while they wait. A young adult with sickle cell told us that during a pain crisis, “It feels like broken glass is moving through my veins.” Another said, “It’s like being stabbed, over and over, for hours.”
Finding Solutions
Thanks to your generous support, in September 2023 MedicAlert joined forces with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America to transform emergency care for those living with sickle cell.
We’re equipping sickle cell patients with free QR code medical ID cards that ER personnel can scan to access the patient’s diagnosis, medications, physician contacts–and most importantly–a Sickle Cell Pain Plan prescribed and signed by the patient’s regular hematologist.
By leveraging MedicAlert’s strong awareness and reputation in the medical community, our goal for people seeking care for a pain crisis in the ER is to help validate their sickle cell diagnosis and expedite effective care during their visit.
Today, close to 300 people with sickle cell are enrolled in this program. After each ER visit, they’re asked to complete a survey measuring how MedicAlert tools changed their ER experience. We’re learning with every survey, and seeing positive signs that having a card to present with their medical history is making a difference. In one case, a participant told us that just knowing she had MedicAlert behind her gave her more confidence to advocate for herself, resulting in quicker treatment.
You helped make this happen!
This is a prime example of how your donations make a difference for this vulnerable, underserved population. There are 100,000 people in the U.S. living with sickle cell disease. With your help, we’re continuing to expand the program to serve everyone who needs this support and protection. Together, we’re ensuring that people facing a sickle cell crisis get the urgent care they need, and the compassion and respect they deserve in every emergency room.
Learn more about the program here.
September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month—follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see how your donations are directly supporting people living with sickle cell disease.
MedicAlert's Legacy
During MedicAlert Awareness Month, we reflect on the enduring legacy created by our founder, Dr. Marion Collins, and his family.
After realizing the widespread need for medical identification, they could have easily monetized his invention. But the Collins family deliberately chose to form a non-profit organization, and created MedicAlert Foundation in 1956.
MedicAlert is based on the principle that medical identification should be available to everyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay. And that’s how we continue to operate today.
All funds collected through product sales, memberships and donations go back into the organization to keep our 24/7 live support team running, maintain our data systems to the highest standard of security, and most importantly, provide MedicAlert protection for those in need.
Dr. Marion Collins
Founder of MedicAlert
Create Your Legacy with Planned Giving
Have you thought about your legacy? Remembering MedicAlert Foundation in your will or estate plan is a simple yet powerful way to create a lasting legacy. Your gift ensures that MedicAlert can continue protecting lives, easing worry, and giving first responders the information they need—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
