Advocates in Action: Stephanie Hurovitz

Hello all!

It is Amy Collen again, here to highlight another of our amazing volunteers at React19.

This month I am spotlighting Stephanie Hurovitz, Communications Coordinator. You could say it all started with a good friend’s advice. Stephanie, a former theatrical stage manager, was looking for what was next in her life. But she wasn’t sure what that next step was.

“So a friend of mine said why don’t you make a list of people you admire, you consider your heroes, organizations that are doing what you believe in.” Stephanie took her friend’s advice and started volunteering with React19 in 2022 after watching the “Stop the Mandates” rally in Los Angeles, and taking up the call when the group asked for volunteers. After sending in her information to the React19 website and after a bit of time, she was put in contact with Brianne Dressen. Stephanie was stunned.

“I had watched the Ron Johnson Round Tables and seen Bri, and other folks speak. When Chris Dreisbach, React19’s volunteer coordinator at the time, told me he was going to put me in touch with Bri, I was like ‘Oh my gosh!’ To me, she has celebrity status.”

Stephanie soon was able to meet many of the health care heroes she admired. Folks such as Ryan Cole, Jessica Rose, Robert Malone, Richard Urso, and Peter McCullough. A good many of these people, along with other organizations such as the FLCCC, were all on Stephanie’s list. Her dreams were coming true.

And it wasn’t just about the thrill of meeting these wonderful scientists and doctors that she admired. She had also found her life’s purpose in helping others. Stephanie says it best, “I felt for the first time that my actions were aligned with my purpose.”

Once Stephanie received the role of Communications Coordinator, she got right to work. She handled the backlog of emails that had accumulated in the React19 mailbox. She answered every email, connected folks with all the right people, and set herself up as the first point of contact for those needing help.

Stephanie has one of those strong, clear voices you want to hear during your most desperate times. The one that seems to say, “I’ve got you, I am here to help, and you are not alone.” You hear that in her voice, and you also feel that in her emails.

Stephanie takes her role very seriously. She makes it a point to keep her computer on and email open 24 hours a day to catch any and all people in need of help. So when someone messages in, no matter what hour, they will get a quick response.

As many of you can imagine, some of the folks who email are those who feel no one understands them, or that they are the only ones suffering. Many have had such poor treatment that Stephanie’s quick response comes as a surprise. She often receives compliments on the speed of her reply, and her eagerness to get them connected to the person who can help. Sadly, there are some who don’t know how much longer they can “stick around”. These folks are often ready to give up. Stephanie is quick to get these folks where they need to be. She sings the praises of the wonderful social workers and patient advocates willing to help. One phrase she told me that I loved was, “We can get your head back in the game.” Her enthusiasm no doubt a soothing balm to the gaslighting, denial, or loneliness many injured have experienced.

And as that initial point of contact she is very happy to be able to deflect any naysayers that happen to write in. Although thankfully, that is rare. And we can only guess where all those negative emails go. Certainly not to all the wonderful volunteers that make up React19, not if Stephanie has anything to do with it.

Stephanie’s overall mission is this, “My goal is to make everybody else’s life easier. I love the idea of taking things off of Bri’s plate, and getting things off Joel (Wallskog)’s plate. In other words, who can do that instead of you?”

Besides helping the vaccine injured that write in, Stephanie also makes sure to let the volunteer team know the difference they are making in people’s lives. “I tell everybody who doesn’t get to see that, you might not realize the impact we are having but it is tremendous. Every once in awhile I will take a line, or something from an email I get, and I will post it in our chat group. Just so that people know. The other day I posted a quotation from an email [that said], ‘I have hope for the first time in years of disappointment.’’’

I finished off our interview by asking her what others can do to help. Stephanie says folks can share React19 posts on their social media pages, donate to the React19 Care Fund which helps the vaccine injured, and to continue to plant the seeds of service for the vaccine injured. For example, perhaps there is a medical provider willing to help, folks can give them the information for React19. There is always a need for more medical help.

As for Stephanie, she is grateful, and feels that she has found her life’s purpose. She is thankful for the people she gets to work with and the work she gets to do. “I tell people I work with the vaccine injured, to help the vaccine injured.” Thank you, Stephanie, for all your hard work, and aligning your purpose with React19.