​Seven months. That is how long I fought for someone to listen.

​I am a mother, but I am also a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). I know my daughter, and I know medical signs. For seven months, I brought my daughter, Zamara, to Pediatrics in Rutland, local Urgent Cares, and Rutland Regional Medical Center. I went almost every week sometimes twice a week pleading for help because of her persistent, localized leg pain.

​Every time, I was brushed off. I was told it was a "viral infection" or the "Rutland Crud." My daughter was suffering, and the system treated my concerns as an inconvenience.

​The Breaking Point

​On December 16th, Zamara turned two years old. On December 19th, she saw Dr. Woods for a physical exam. By this time, a 6.7 cm  solid mass the size of a tennis ball was in her abdomen he never felt her right eye visible patruding by a 5.7 cm mass pushing it outta socket and he still sent us home.

​Three days later, on December 22nd, I brought her back because her fevers were uncontrollable and multiple other symptoms Only then did someone listen. By that time, the cancer had spread. Zamara had nearly over 100 tumors in her tiny 22.2 lb body. We were rushed to UVM, but even there, the system that should have protected her continued to fail her they left us in the ICU on January 24th with full fluid over she  struggled to breath monitors continued to go off no pediatric doctors on the unit I begged for help for hours as I started to record as Zamara’s condition worsed she went in full organ failure I was left alone as she began to bleed out her nose and mouth as a nurse sat bedside texting updates on a computer a resident doctor came in around 430am on the 25th admitted on camera due to fluid over they messed it up but Zamara had to wait for any kinda real help till 8 am Zamara passed away at 8:47 that morning.

​The Problem: A System Protecting Itself

​The Medical Board recently concluded that "no protocols were broken."

​I am here to tell the world: If a doctor can miss a 6.7cm mass and  nearly a100 tumors after seven months of maternal warnings, the protocols are the problem. "Following protocol" is not a defense for medical blindness. When the system clears itself of wrongdoing despite clear evidence of negligence and video proof of failure at UVM, the system is broken.

​Our Demand: Zamara’s Law

​We are calling on the Vermont State Legislature to pass Zamara’s Law to ensure no other child is ignored until it is too late. This law will mandate:

​The Right to Imaging: Any pediatric patient with unresolved, localized pain lasting more than 21 days must be referred for advanced imaging (Ultrasound/MRI), regardless of a "viral" suspicion.

​Mandatory Specialist Referral: If a parent visits any combination of facilities three times for the same unresolved symptom, an automatic "Complex Case" review by an outside specialist must be triggered.

​Documented Denial: If a provider refuses a parent's request for a diagnostic test, they must legally document the clinical justification in the permanent medical record.

​Independent Oversight: Medical Board investigations must include independent patient advocates to stop hospitals from "investigating" and clearing themselves.

​Why This Matters

​We cannot bring back the time Zamara lost, but we can stop this from happening to the next child in Rutland, in Burlington, or anywhere in Vermont. We are asking for a new investigation by an independent third party someone outside of the Vermont medical "circle" to look at the records and the videos and provide the accountability that our state boards refuse to give.

​Sign this petition to demand justice for Zamara and to demand that Vermont lawmakers pass Zamara’s Law. Stop the silence. Start the change.