205: How to Support Kids who are Grieving, Bittersweet Relationships & Personal Loss
Inside the Children's Hospital
Release Date: 02/07/2024
Rare Lung Disease, Epilepsy and the Diagnostic Journey
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your child survives one medical emergency only to face another, parenting becomes a constant act of advocacy and courage. Today’s guest joins us to share her daughter's journey with rare and complex medical conditions, from early respiratory failure and unexplained hospitalizations to epilepsy, lung disease, and life with medical uncertainty. As a military spouse navigating deployments, Brittany shares what it means to walk this path largely alone, trust her instincts as a mother, and fight to be believed by medical professionals. This episode explores navigating rare disease without...
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Severe Hemophilia: A Newborn, A Brain Bleed, and PICU Experience
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your newborn is healthy one moment and rushed to the PICU the next, life can change in an instant. Today’s guest joins us to share her son’s journey with severe hemophilia—from unexpected bleeding after a routine circumcision to a spontaneous brain bleed, emergency surgery, and a months-long PICU stay. This episode explores being thrust into medical motherhood, learning to advocate under unimaginable stress, and how community, child life, and modern medicine help families navigate life with a complex diagnosis. Download our free to help empower your child and family during hospital...
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When Insurance Isn’t Enough: A Parent’s Type 1 Diabetes Story
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your child receives a new medical diagnosis, it can feel like the world shifts beneath your feet. Today’s guest joins Katie Taylor to share her daughter’s Type 1 Diabetes journey—from dismissing "textbook" symptoms to navigating the financial challenges of families when it comes to chronic illness. This episode explores how one Mom moved from denial to "work mode" and how the HealthWell Foundation helps families afford life-saving medications. Sponsored in part by —learn how you can help families afford life-saving medications at healthwellfoundation.org. Download our...
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New Diagnosis: What to Do When Your Child Gets Diagnosed
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your child receives a new medical diagnosis, it can feel like the world shifts beneath your feet. Here’s how to move forward with clarity, support and connection, hosted by Katie Taylor and the Inside the Children's Hospital podcast. Listen to more stories at insidethechildrenshospital.com. Medical information provided is not a substitute for professional advice—please consult your care team. Sponsored in part by HealthWell Foundation—learn how you can help families afford life-saving medications at healthwellfoundation.org. Keywords: children’s hospital, NICU, child life...
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Launching Inside the Children's Hospital: What Listeners Can Expect
Inside the Children's Hospital
Hear the story behind Child Life on Call's transformation into Inside the Children’s Hospital. Discover what’s next for families seeking support and real hospital stories. Listen to more stories at insidethechildrenshospital.com. Medical Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for guidance about your child’s health.
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3 Proven Strategies for Parents Navigating Pediatric Healthcare in 2025
Inside the Children's Hospital
Feeling alone after your child's diagnosis? Discover three powerful lessons that have changed how families find hope, support, and confidence while navigating pediatric healthcare. In this solo episode, child life specialist Katie Taylor distills eight years of conversations with hundreds of families into three essential takeaways every parent needs when thrust into the pediatric healthcare world. If you're overwhelmed by medical decisions, uncertain about switching providers, or searching for ways to support your child—and yourself—during hospital life, this episode offers tangible steps...
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A Father's Journey Through Loss, Healing, and the Birth of a Rainbow Baby: Jeff's Story
Inside the Children's Hospital
In this profoundly moving and honest conversation, we sit down with Jeff Loving, a NICU dad, husband, and now an author, who shares the intimate and often unspoken grief experienced by fathers after pregnancy loss. Jeff walks us through the heartbreaking loss of his two sons, Davian and Jadon, the struggle to find empathy and appropriate medical care, and how these experiences ultimately led him and his wife, Cassie, to become fierce advocates for their future family. This episode is a raw look at marriage under immense stress, the importance of empathetic medical staff, and the redemptive joy...
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Understanding Homocystinuria (HCU): How one Mother Uncovered her Son’s Diagnosis
Inside the Children's Hospital
Melanie, mom to 12-year-old Masen, shares the unexpected path to her son’s diagnosis with Homocystinuria (HCU) after a routine eye exam revealed something “off.” What followed was months of uncertainty, a rare diagnosis few providers had even heard of, a crash course in low-protein diets and metabolic formulas, and two back-to-back eye surgeries to prevent further damage. With gentleness, honesty, and deep advocacy, Melanie describes how they adjusted as a family, how Masen built resilience, and how finding community changed everything. A story of early detection, parent intuition, and...
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Autism, Advocacy and the Power of a Medical ID Bracelet
Inside the Children's Hospital
Tara Cohen opens up about her son Will’s autism diagnosis and how it transformed her family and career. From navigating meltdowns to discovering AAC as a communication lifeline, Tara shares her honest reflections on parenting, resilience, and hope. What began as a search for a medical ID bracelet led to a career at —where she now helps other families feel safe and supported. This heartfelt episode reminds caregivers that advocacy grows from love and that even small acts of compassion can make a life-changing difference. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 03:10 – Early diagnosis...
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When Your Baby is Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes: Marlee's Story
Inside the Children's Hospital
“My baby went from fussy to lifeless in hours—by the time we reached the PICU, they said he might have had six hours to live.” In this episode, TikTok Influencer and Medical Mom , a pediatric speech-language pathologist turned full-time mom, shares the whirlwind diagnosis of her 12-month-old son Bain with Type 1 diabetes and severe DKA, the traumatic hospital stay, and the everyday advocacy that followed. Raw, practical, and deeply hopeful. Why this episode matters Emotional clarity: what a Type 1 diagnosis really feels like in infancy Practical advocacy: scripts, choices, and...
info_outlineIn this episode, we're honored to have Jessica Correnti, a certified child life specialist and a bereaved mother, share her profound insights on grief. Jessica's dual perspective offers a rich understanding of the multifaceted nature of grief beyond the loss of a loved one. She discusses her personal journey, the importance of recognizing and naming grief in children, and how this awareness can empower kids to navigate their emotions.
Key Highlights:
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Jessica's background as a child life specialist and how her personal loss has shaped her professional and personal life.
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The concept of "grief bombs" and the physical manifestations of grief.
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How grief evolves with children as they grow, and the importance of reprocessing their emotions at different stages of development.
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The significance of creating space for children to express and process grief through activities and conversations.
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Jessica's contributions to the field through her books and private practice, aim to enhance grief literacy among children and adults.
Take a look at Katie’s favorite books to help kids grow, thrive and learn!
Resources Mentioned:
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Jessica Correnti's Instagram: @KidsGriefSupport
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Website: kidsgriefsupport.com
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ABCs of Grief series by Jessica Correnti.
For anyone looking to deepen their understanding of child grief support and the power of connection through shared experiences, this episode is a must-listen. Join us in exploring the complexities of grief with empathy, knowledge, and hope.
Other recommended episodes on this topic:
Episode 197 | James’ Story - 5 Years with a Remarkable Son (tw: death)
Episode 173 | Dr. Korie Leigh – What Does Grief Feel Like?
Episode 152 | Kelly’s Story - A daughter with epilepsy (tw: death)
And more here.
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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