214: Sacrifice, Advocacy, Joy: Raising a Son with End Stage Kidney Disease - The Ransome Family's Story

"Sometimes it's really therapeutic though to remember all that you have gone through because I feel like there are times when we look at each other and I'm like how did we get here?" -Tayler Ransome

We're grateful for our sponsor for this episode, Nestle Health Science, and are thrilled to share their incredible MyTubeFeeding.com/ChildLifeOnCall website, your go-to online resource for valuable information and support.

In this episode, Katie Taylor welcomes the Ransome family, known to many as the Ransome Fam on social media, where they share their daily life and the challenges of managing their son Sully's end-stage kidney disease.

From their initial shock and learning curve as medical parents to the powerful advocacy that led them to seek better care, the Ransomes' story is a beacon of resilience and hope. Their journey underscores the importance of community, the power of advocating for your child and finding joy amidst life's toughest challenges.

Key Insights:

• The critical role of advocacy in securing the best possible care for your child, is illustrated by the Ransome's transition to a more capable hospital.

• How establishing a disciplined routine for medical care fosters a sense of normalcy and control.

• The unexpected journey of becoming medical parents, including the steep learning curve and the importance of specific communication with family and friends.

• Discovering inner strength, resilience, and the ability to find joy in the most challenging circumstances.

"Seeing how ceaseless his joy is... reminds me every day of the strength and beauty in our life, no matter the circumstances." – Tayler Ransome

Resources and Tips Shared in the Episode:

• The Ransome Family’s Daily Routine: A glimpse into managing home dialysis and medical care with love and dedication.

• Advocating for Your Child in the Healthcare System: Tips from the Ransome's experience on how to navigate healthcare providers and ensure your child receives the best possible care.

• Coping with the Unexpected: Strategies for dealing with the initial shock of a diagnosis and finding support.

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Meet the host: 

Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside.

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