Episode 70 | Sara's Story - Telling Your Child You Have Cancer
Release Date: 06/02/2021
225: Embracing Alopecia: A Mother’s Journey of Advocacy, Instincts, and Resilience-Lexi's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
"I feel like I owe it to him to explore other avenues. Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up; it means continuing to learn and adapt."- Lexi In this episode of Child Life On Call, Katie Taylor speaks with Lexi, a devoted mother of two, about her family's journey with alopecia universalis. Lexi shares the emotional challenges and triumphs of supporting her three-year-old son, Penn, who was diagnosed with this rare condition. Through sharing her story, Lexi highlights the power of parental instincts, blending Western and Eastern medicine, and advocating for her child's unique...
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224: A son with Burkitt lymphoma at 8 year's old - Reina's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
"My immediate thought was I'm going to lose my son. That was where my head went immediately." - Reina Introduction In this episode of Child Life On Call, Katie Taylor talks with Reina, a devoted mother from Nashville, Tennessee. Reina shares her heartfelt journey of caring for her son Elliott, diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma at eight years old. She discusses the emotional and practical challenges faced during Elliott's treatment, the importance of advocating for her child's needs, and the support systems that played a crucial role in their journey. Reina’s story highlights resilience, the...
info_outline![223: [6 minutes] Big News: The Child Life On Call App is Now SupportSpot! show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/31831742?height=50&width=50)
223: [6 minutes] Big News: The Child Life On Call App is Now SupportSpot!
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
Episode Description: In this special impromptu episode, Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist and CEO of Child Life On Call, shares some exciting news! We're rebranding our beloved Child Life On Call app to SupportSpot. Tune in to hear why we made this change and what it means for you and your family. Plus, get a sneak peek into the new features and benefits you can expect from SupportSpot. This is an announcement you won’t want to miss! Show Notes: [00:00] Introduction Welcome from Katie Taylor Brief overview of the exciting announcement [00:30] Reflecting on the Journey ...
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222: A son born at 25 weeks after loss, NICU NP mom and podcaster: Ashley O'Neil
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
In this episode host Katie Taylor sits down with Ashley O’Neil, a family nurse practitioner and a NICU mom. Ashley shares her journey when her son, Colin, was born at 25 weeks gestation and the following 183 day NICU stay. Listen to hear how she balanced work, advocating for her son’s needs, coping with personal loss, as well as providing invaluable support and resources to other families in similar situations. "The hardest part isn't being in the NICU; it's the real advocating that starts after discharge." - Ashley O'Neil Key Insights: Early Challenges: Ashley shares...
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221:Collaborative care between a Child Life Specialist and Social Worker with Annie Gunning and Haley Thomas at Hope for HIE
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
On today’s episode, Katie had the privilege of speaking with , a Certified Child Life Specialist and Grief Counselor, and , a Licensed Master Social Worker, on their collaborative efforts to support families at . Annie and Haley tailor their support to each family's unique needs, dedicating time to assess and implement the most effective strategies. Annie and Haley are setting new standards in providing exceptional support to the families they serve. Key Takeaways It’s important to meet families where they are. Finding ways to help prepare children...
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220: Know EXACTLY When Rounds is Happening with Q-Rounds with Dr. Michael Pitt
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
Episode Description: Join Katie Taylor, CCLS in this episode as she talks with the founder of and a compassionate pediatrician (and magician!) dedicated to enhancing doctor-patient communication. As a child life specialist, Katie understands how crucial it is for families to not only be present during rounds but also to feel empowered and actively engaged in discussing the care plan with their team. When she learned about Q-Rounds, she knew she had to share this innovative approach with her parent and child life community. shares his insights on how healthcare professionals can better...
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219: 60 Years Later: Reflecting on a Daughter with Ichthyosis
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
“We, we weren't letting those people push us around because, believe it or not, living with us 24 hours a day, we knew more than some of the doctors.” - Skip Vilas In this heartfelt episode of the Child Life On Call podcast, host and CCLS Katie Taylor interviews Deb Vilas, an expert child life specialist, alongside her parents, Skip and Joyce Vilas. They share their story spanning over 60 years, recounting the challenges and triumphs of raising Deb, who was born with ichthyosis, a rare skin condition. The episode dives deep into the emotional and medical journey of Deb's early years, the...
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218: How NOT to Give Families Medical Information - A son with CHARGE syndrome, Taylor's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
Today's guest is Taylor Happley, a mom of a child with CHARGE syndrome. "We need to figure out why and how to help these kids get the medical attention that they need." In today's episode, Katie Taylor had an important conversation with Taylor Happley, whose son has CHARGE syndrome. Taylor’s prenatal journey was filled with miscommunication and emotional challenges. Taylor's story of learning about her son's diagnosis of CHARGE Syndrome in less-than-ideal circumstances underscores the need for healthcare professionals to provide information in ways that are both sensitive and...
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217: Navigating IEPs, Infantile Spasms, NICU & STXBP1 - Erin's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
Today’s guest is Erin Prosser, an IEP expert consultant and a mom of a daughter diagnosed with STXBP1. "You don't see it coming. Being a rare disease parent hits you like a ton of bricks." In today's episode Katie Taylor had the chance to speak with Erin Prosser, an IEP expert consultant and a mom navigating the complex world of pediatric healthcare due to her daughter Lucy's rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Erin shares her profound journey from a second-time, confident mom to a whole new role as a crucial advocate for her daughter's specialized needs. The challenges and...
info_outline![216: How to talk with Kids about Child Abuse - Jane's Story [Repost] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/30936023?height=50&width=50)
216: How to talk with Kids about Child Abuse - Jane's Story [Repost]
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. We have reposted this episode to bring awareness and give you tangible tools to speak with your kids about child abuse. Today’s guest expert is Jane Donovan, who is a child abuse prevention advocate. "And like we say in child life, you have to prepare. So you know what to expect and you know how to cope with what's going to happen next." - Katie Taylor, CLOC In this crucial episode, Katie Taylor is joined by a child abuse prevention advocate, Jane Donovan, to delve into the sensitive and vital topic of child protection within the...
info_outlineNot only does Sara talk with us about getting diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34, but she also talks about how she went through it as a single mother navigating life with a six-year-old.
We talk about
+How she advocated for herself and encourages parents to ask the same things for themselves that they do for their children
+How asking for help was non-negotiable and she had to learn to get comfortable with it
+How she told her six-year-old that she had cancer and her daughter’s emotional response to having a mother go through chemotherapy and painful surgeries.
Learn more about Sara’s calendar and book resources for families going through difficult experiences through Mighty and Bright.