
My journey into the controversial world of radical gender ideology began when I made the decision to expose Texas Children’s Hospital for illegally using Medicaid dollars for cross-sex hormone treatments and transgender procedures on minors.
I became a pediatric nurse because I wanted to help children and in 2018, I accepted my dream job as a nurse at the largest and most prestigious children’s hospital in the United States in Houston.
Several years later in 2021, I found myself in a new role in the endocrine clinic seeing young patients confused about their sex, and I immediately had concerns. Children were being manipulated into believing that they were born into the wrong body, and affirmed in their delusion by being lied to that they could medically and socially transition into the opposite sex. Parents were convinced that initiating their confused child onto the conveyor belt of pharmaceutical and medical interventions would be life-saving. They were told their option for their little girl was that she could become a boy, or she would commit suicide.
As a Christian and as a healthcare professional, I knew this view was wrong. It not only contradicted biological reality, but reality but would ultimately result in the permanent sterility and surgical mutilation of vulnerable children who were made in the image bearers of God.
I also knew I couldn’t remain silent.
In 2024, I worked with journalist Christopher Rufo to shine a light on the unethical and illegal practices I uncovered at Texas Children’s Hospital. I came forward publicly to reveal that the hospital had used taxpayer funds to illegally fund sex change treatments and procedures, in violation of Texas law. This revelation came after numerous public statements in which the hospital denied the existence of its transgender medicine program, going as far as to remove all traces of it online.
When I came forward anonymously to corroborate Dr. Haim’s anonymous whistleblower testimony revealing the existence of this sex change program at Texas Children’s Hospital, I never imagined the ripple effect this would have, the positive impact on Texas policy, and the unexpected retaliation from the Biden DOJ.
In July of 2023, two FBI agents came to my house and asked to question me about “issues at my work.” This exchange captured on our Ring camera garnered over 6 million views online in just a few days, a visible manifestation of the police state being mobilized by a radical leftist administration with no regard for the First Amendment rights of someone like me. My husband and I were stunned, momentarily paralyzed by the realization that my decision to expose the harm being done to children at the hospital had led to this moment.
These two FBI agents proceeded to inform me that I was a person of interest in a case involving “a leak of medical records,” and issued a series of threats to my career and my safety if I didn’t comply. The weeks and months following this encounter were defined by many sleepless nights and much uncertainty, but our faith and trust in a faithful and sovereign God sustained us and propelled us to go public with the wrongdoing at Texas Children’s Hospital.
In August of 2024, I was fired from the hospital in retaliation for blowing the whistle and exposing their activities.
Despite these challenges, I have no regrets. I’ve remained just as passionate about helping children, but I have realized that the best way for me to do so is by defending them from radical gender ideology and sexualization. My commitment to upholding a biblical perspective on gender and sexuality, my experience as a medical professional, and my devotion to protecting children’s health and well-being led me to found Protecting Texas Children in January 2025.
At Protecting Texas Children, we work to advocate for the safety, well-being, and future of every child in Texas. I have witnessed first-hand the dangers that exist in the lives of children around the state. From radical gender ideology being pushed in public schools to the blatant sexualization of vulnerable children; someone needs to take a stand for Texas kids, and that’s exactly why PTC is here.
My goal is to actively engage with communities across Texas, working to inspire collective action and drive meaningful legislative changes to safeguard the next generation of Texans. With Texas lawmakers meeting for the 2025 legislative session, there is no more important issue and there is no better time than now to take up this fight and defend our children.
God will continue to equip and empower His people to be ambassadors of truth and righteousness in a culture defined by chaos and confusion. I’m reminded of Mordecai’s words to Esther:
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, and you and your father’s family will surely perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
We cannot be silent, and we cannot allow ourselves to be defined by fear and hesitation as it relates to celebrating and embracing our God-given biological identities. We must courageously proclaim and affirm what God has called good — and in this case, He has called male and female very good.
Vanessa Sivadge is a seasoned pediatric nurse who is trained to provide medical care and look after the well-being of children. Vanessa founded Protecting Texas Children to advocate for a future where every child can grow in a safe, nurturing environment free from radical gender ideologies. Find out more at ProtectingTexasChildren.com.