About Us

After 17 years as a stay-at-home mom, I re-entered the workforce with a dream of becoming a nurse. Life took unexpected turns and I found myself in the laboratory instead. I explored many roles: instrumentation, histology, and more. But I always came back to one place: phlebotomy.

And not just any phlebotomy — pediatric phlebotomy. Working with children, especially those who were scared, neurodivergent, or needed extra compassion.

It was something no lab ever offered; helping our littlest, most vulnerable  patients

Later, I became a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and entered the world of ABA therapy. It was there that I realized I didn’t have to choose between the two things I loved — I could combine them.

Poke Pals was born from that realization. A place where trauma-informed pediatric phlebotomy and vaccinations  meets behavioral support. A place where we help children feel brave, prepared, and celebrated — one blood draw at a time.

Blood draws and vaccinations are a vital part of healthcare — from routine screenings to life-saving diagnostics. But when these experiences are traumatic in childhood, the impact can echo far beyond the moment.

When our littlest patients are scared, overwhelmed, or unsupported during vaccinations and blood draws, we don’t just risk their short-term comfort — we risk their long-term trust in healthcare.

Children who have frightening early medical experiences may grow into adults who avoid care altogether. They might delay testing, skip appointments, or live in fear of procedures that could protect their health — all because no one took the time to help them feel safe when they were young.

Poke Pals was created to change that.

By combining gentle, trauma-informed pediatric phlebotomy and vaccinations with behavioral science and playful preparation, we help children feel brave, empowered, and in control. Because when we support kids today, we build healthier, more confident patients for tomorrow.