201: Personal Growth Theory, NEC in the NICU and Shielding Siblings - Kathryn’s Story
Release Date: 01/10/2024
A Rare Diagnosis Journey: Collagenous Gastritis and IGG deficiency (250)- Alexis' Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
What if every milestone your child was supposed to reach came with countless curve balls? For Alexis Kaplan, motherhood quickly turned into a journey of advocacy, strength, and unwavering love as she navigated her daughter Gabby’s complex and rare health conditions. In this moving episode, Alexis shares: ✅ The moment her newborn was rushed to the NICU with a collapsed lung ✅ How her daughter’s recurring infections led to a diagnosis of immunodeficiency and collagenous gastritis ✅ The emotional toll—and strength—of being the medical historian and advocate for a...
info_outline![How to Talk With Children About Child Abuse [REPOST] (249)- Jane's Story show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/35991140?height=50&width=50)
How to Talk With Children About Child Abuse [REPOST] (249)- Jane's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Knowing how to talk to kids about child abuse can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this impactful episode of Child Life On Call, host Katie Taylor interviews child abuse prevention advocate Jane Donovan—who also happens to be her mom. Jane shares her personal journey, sparked by a tragic event, that led to a decades-long mission to protect children and educate communities. From creating a long-running puppet program for abuse prevention to empowering kids with body safety tools, this conversation is full of actionable advice for parents, caregivers, educators, and child...
info_outline
MERRF Syndrome and Motherhood: Raising and Remembering Dahlia - Jessica’s Story (248)
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"We followed Dahlia’s lead—and Dahlia was not going to let this stop her.” — Jessica Fein What happens when your child’s diagnosis is so rare that no one—including your doctors—knows how to help? For Jessica Fein, navigating life with her daughter Dahlia’s MERRF Syndrome meant redefining motherhood, finding joy in unexpected places, and transforming grief into connection and advocacy. In this honest and deeply moving episode, we explore: ✅ What it’s like to go on a diagnostic odyssey, and finally get answers that bring more questions ✅ The complexity of parenting a child...
info_outline
A Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis: Traumatic Birth, Micropreemie Twins & the Power of Hope {REPOST}- Savannah’s Story (247)
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
“It wasn't any kind of strength within myself that helped me get through the NICU. It was the strength they had—they gave it to me.”- Savannah O'Malley We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their What happens when your birth plan is shattered in an instant? For Savannah, the unexpected arrival of her micropreemie twins at just 24 weeks turned her world upside down. One of her sons faced significant medical challenges, including...
info_outline
Pyroxd1 and the Path Forward: A Rare Disease, a Life-Saving Lesson & a Mission to Help Others- Maria + Matt's Story (246)
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"What we realized was that rare isn’t as rare as we think—there are so many of us out here searching for answers, fighting for our kids, and trying to make a difference."- Maria Granados We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their What if a simple miscommunication in the hospital could have cost your child their life? For Maria and Matt Granados, parents of a daughter with Pyroxd1, that terrifying moment led to a groundbreaking...
info_outline![Navigating HIE: Hope for Families, and Life Beyond the NICU [REPOST]- Betsy's Story (245) show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/35575705?height=50&width=50)
Navigating HIE: Hope for Families, and Life Beyond the NICU [REPOST]- Betsy's Story (245)
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"I remember sitting in the NICU thinking, ‘Am I going to lose my baby? Is this the best outcome for him? What will his life look like?’ And then I realized—I wasn’t alone in these thoughts. Other parents had been here before, and they found a way forward. That’s when I knew we needed a community like Hope for HIE." — Betsy Pilon, Founder Hope for HIE We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their What happens when your...
info_outline
A Mother and a Physician: Navigating Her Daughter’s NMOSD Diagnosis – Maggie’s Story (244)
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"I thought my job was to save my daughter, but I realized my job was to show her how to live with strength and resilience." – Dr. Maggie Kang We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their In this powerful episode, Dr. Maggie Kang shares her deeply personal journey as a physician and a mother navigating her daughter’s rare disease diagnosis, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD). She discusses the emotional and medical...
info_outline
243: A Child Life Specialist’s Search for Answers: A Long COVID Diagnosis - Jessica’s Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. Keep asking questions. You know your child better than anyone."-Jessica Baird, CCLS We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their What do you do when doctors keep telling you nothing is wrong—but your child is in pain every single day? For Jessica, a child life specialist and mom, that answer was simple: keep pushing until someone listens. In this powerful conversation, Katie sits...
info_outline
242:A Daughter's PCHD19, Autism + Epilepsy Diagnosis: The motivation behind the connected parent-Julie's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"I had to teach myself to advocate – no one should leave a hospital with more trauma than they came with."- Julie Walters We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their In this episode, Katie speaks with Julie Walters, a mom of two neurodivergent children, entrepreneur, and fierce advocate for inclusion and health equity.Julie shares her deeply personal journey navigating her daughter's epilepsy diagnosis, the challenges of parenting...
info_outline
241: How a Kidney Transplant started a mission to help Transplant Families-Cheryl + Kimmy's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
“Our goal wasn’t to build something huge overnight – it was to listen to families, fill the gaps, and take that first step.” – Cheryl Whitty We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their In this heartfelt episode, Katie sits down with mother-daughter duo, Cheryl Witty and Kimmy Witty to hear the inspiring story of how their family journeyed through chronic kidney disease and how a kidney transplant led to the creation of...
info_outlineI'm his mom, and I carried him for almost nine months, and no one loved him more than me. I'm his expert, and I'm going to own that. - Kathryn Whitaker
Have you ever found yourself amazed at the strength people find in the toughest of times?
Well, on today’s podcast, we’re talking about one of the common themes we’ve seen over the past 200 episodes of Child Life On Call and something I consistently see parents share on social media.
We’re talking about the incredible phenomenon of PTG, or post-traumatic growth. We're taking a special look at one of the deeply personal journeys a parent has embarked on during and after their child's medical battles. Together, we'll explore how these intense experiences can unexpectedly sow seeds of strength, knit tighter family connections, and awaken a profound appreciation for every precious moment of life. And guess what? We have a special guest, parent, and passionate advocate, Kathryn Whitaker, who's here to share her inspiring story. So grab your favorite cup of comfort, settle in, and join us as we uncover the resilience and beautiful transformation hidden within the heart of every parent's medical challenge.
Kathryn Whitaker, a proud 6th generation Texan and a mother of six, brings a wealth of personal experience and resilience to the Child Life On Call podcast. With a background in agriculture and marketing, Kathryn's journey as a seasoned NICU parent has inspired her to advocate for families facing similar challenges. Her work with Hand to Hold, a national nonprofit supporting NICU families, showcases her passion for providing strength and support to others dealing with the NICU experience. Through her difficult experiences, Kathryn has found personal growth and hope, offering valuable insights to parents navigating similar paths. Her unique perspective and unwavering resilience make her a compelling voice for anyone seeking strength and inspiration during challenging times.
You are not going to be the same person, thankfully, but hopefully a stronger, better version of the person who walked in the door, as opposed to the person who walks out. - Kathryn Whitaker
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
-
Check out the NICU Heroes podcast for NICU professionals looking to earn continuing education credits while learning from amazing guests.
-
Purchase Kathryn Whitaker's book Live Big. Love Bigger. on Amazon or wherever books are sold for an inspiring and transformational read about living an intentional life.
About Katie Taylor, CCLS and Child Life On Call:
Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform revolutionizing pediatric healthcare by putting parents at the center of the medical journey. With over 13 years of experience as a certified child life specialist, Katie has made significant contributions to the field of child life and the families she’s served with over a decade of working at the bedside. She is an accomplished author, engaging child life and entrepreneurship speaker, and the Child Life On Call Podcast host. Katie's work emphasizes the vital role of child life services in supporting caregivers and enhancing children's medical journeys.
Learn 6 Positions to Help Kids Feel Comfortable and Safe During Procedures