When Love Meets Innovation
How MedAdvocate Was Born
A journey from fear to hope on the Oregon Coast
December 2024 - The Night That Changed Everything
It's 2 AM in Waldport, Oregon. Toni is in pain—again. As her husband and biotech researcher, I've watched her struggle for months with symptoms that don't make sense. Rural healthcare means 15-minute appointments every three months.
The Breaking Point
Toni's symptoms were like puzzle pieces scattered across time. Inflammatory pain, headaches, numbness—each specialist saw only their piece. No one saw the whole person suffering.
"Each doctor's visit felt like starting over. Each specialist saw only their piece. No one saw me—the whole person suffering in front of them."
- Toni Mendoza
When Silicon Valley Tech Meets Rural Healthcare
That night, I couldn't sleep. With 25 years in biotech and three patents in stroke treatment, I started building. Not just another app, but a lifeline.
Track every symptom
Find hidden patterns
Tell Toni's story
Doctor language
The Discovery That Saved Everything
The patterns emerged slowly, then all at once. What looked like random symptoms began forming a clear neurological picture. Armed with this timeline, we advocated for aggressive testing.
The Results That Changed Everything:
- 🧠 A brain tumor - Hidden but growing
- 🦴 Cervical stenosis - Explaining the numbness
- 🔬 Autoimmune markers - The missing piece
Three serious conditions hiding in plain sight
100 Tests in 30 Days: Building While Battling
The whirlwind of medical tests and platform development. 100+ tests, 12 specialists, countless sleepless nights refining the platform that became our voice.
"The system became our voice when we were too exhausted to advocate."
The Shocking Truth
After Toni's successful surgery, I searched for existing solutions. The results were staggering—thousands suffering in silence, stories untold.
That's when MedAdvocate stopped being our tool and became our mission.
Today: From Our Family to Yours
Toni is healing. She's here, she's fighting, and she's winning. Every day, we think about the other Tonis out there—in rural Oregon, in small towns across America.
Hope, packaged in code
Your voice, amplified
Your story, finally told
Your catalyst for care
Your Story Matters Too
If you're fighting for your health, you're not alone. We built MedAdvocate because we needed it ourselves. Now it's here for you.
Start Your Journey