Empowered by Hope

You want the best possible quality of life for your child regardless of diagnosis or prognosis. Raising a child with medical complexities is often lonely, scary and overwhelming. Join two parents of amazing children with rare medical complexities, Emily K. Whiting and Ashlyn Thompson, to get help and grow with them into empowered advocates for our kids. Here you’ll find a community of support, encouragement, education and resources, equipping you to navigate your child’s medical complexities with hope. To get more personal support, connect with us directly at www.ParentEmpowermentNetwork.org.

Co-host

Ashlyn Thompson

Co-Founder and Executive Hope Director
Ashlyn is a passionate advocate transforming parents of children with medical complexities into capable, courageous champions. Inspired by her daughter Emery, born with bladder exstrophy, Ashlyn’s journey includes advocating for improved safety protocols after Emery’s near-death experiences as an infant. Refusing to accept limited surgical options in the U.S., Ashlyn found a solution abroad, making Emery the first American to undergo a groundbreaking bladder neck reconstruction in the U.K. in 2023. She later worked with the surgeon to bring this procedure to Cleveland, Ohio, ensuring greater accessibility for U.S. families. Ashlyn is also a devoted wife, mother, and marketing professional.