214: Sacrifice, Advocacy, Joy: Raising a Son with End Stage Kidney Disease - The Ransome Family's Story
Release Date: 04/10/2024
235: A Mother’s Journey of Love, Loss, and Resilience- Kathy's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
“If anybody was to ask me what is one of my biggest strengths, I have to tell them it's resilience… You can throw almost anything at me and I can handle it. I mean, there isn't anything any bigger in this world than losing a child.”-Kathy In this heartfelt episode, Katie Taylor sits down with Kathy, a mother who shares her journey of raising and caring for her daughter Lauren through multiple medical challenges and eventual passing. Kathy’s story is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Kathy reflects on the emotional, physical, and logistical challenges of managing long hospital...
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234: Expert Child Life Tips for Supporting Children Through an Upper GI Procedure
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
Today's episode is dedicated to the loving memory of Dr. Meredith Hitch, a cherished pediatric gastroenterologist at Ochsner Baton Rouge. “You want to make sure that you are ready to be able to prepare not only yourself but your kiddo.” - Emily Martinec, CCLS In this episode host Katie Taylor chats with Emily Martinec, another experienced Child Life Specialist. These two dive into the complexities of preparing children for an upper GI procedure. They provide valuable insights and practical tips for both parents and fellow specialists, sharing lessons learned from their...
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233: From NICU Nurse to NICU Mom: Premature Twins born at 33 weeks - Brittney’s Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
A huge thank you to our sponsor of today's podcast, 30% of children struggle with constipation and it can feel impossible trying to find a solution for your child. Especially if your child has food allergies or has a condition or illness, you want to feel good about the products you are selecting for your child. To me, finding a company whose products have the highest quality and natural ingredients is really important. Begin Health®’s flagship product, Growing Up Prebiotics, is a tasteless, textureless fine powder that easily mixes into water, juice, or smoothies. This...
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232: Preparing and Supporting your child: A son with Breath Holding Spells-Alessandra's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
A huge thank you to our sponsor of today's podcast, 30% of children struggle with constipation and it can feel impossible trying to find a solution for your child. Especially if your child has food allergies or has a condition or illness, you want to feel good about the products you are selecting for your child. To me, finding a company whose products have the highest quality and natural ingredients is really important. Begin Health®’s flagship product, Growing Up Prebiotics, is a tasteless, textureless fine powder that easily mixes into water, juice, or smoothies. This makes...
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231: Child Life Specialist Secrets: Flu Shot Prep Strategies Every Parent Should Know
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
Child Life Specialist Secrets: Flu Shot Prep Strategies Every Parent Should Know Thank you to the sponsor of today's podcast: In this episode of the Child Life On Call Podcast, hosts Katie Taylor and Emily Martinec, both certified child life specialists, discuss strategies for preparing, supporting, and responding to children during flu shots. The conversation extends to other medical experiences, offering developmentally appropriate ways to engage children. They emphasize collaboration with medical professionals, highlight coping techniques, and provide resources like the Support Spot app...
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230: Navigating Childhood Cancer: Supporting families through her own experience - Heather's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
230: Navigating Childhood Cancer: Supporting families through her own experience - Heather's Story "We’ve joined a club that nobody wants to be a part of, but the good part is we have the best members." A huge thank you to our sponsor of today's podcast, 30% of children struggle with constipation and it can feel impossible trying to find a solution for your child. Especially if your child has food allergies or has a condition or illness, you want to feel good about the products you are selecting for your child. To me, finding a company whose products have the highest quality and...
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229: Trusting your parental Instincts when addressing your child's chronic pain- A son with Juvenile Arthritis- Kim’s Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
"Trust your gut. If your parent radar comes up and says this is not right, keep pushing." – Kim In this episode, Katie Taylor speaks with Kim Miller, a mother whose journey navigating her son Grant’s diagnoses of juvenile arthritis reshaped her life. Kim shares how her relentless advocacy led her family through unimaginable challenges, including managing chronic pain and finding the right medical care. Her inspiring story unfolds from the hardships of watching her son struggle to walk, to his incredible transformation into an NFL player. The episode highlights the critical role of...
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228: Early Diagnosis, Advocacy and Equity: A daughter with Cystic Fibrosis- Nikki's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
"We are the experts on our daughter and we deserve a say, and we deserve to be given the time to ask questions." – Nikki DeLeo 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 website. In this heartfelt episode, host and Certified Child Life Specialist Katie Taylor speaks with Nikki DeLeo, a mother of Taylor, her daughter who has Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Katie and Nikki discuss Nikki’s journey navigating her daughter Taylor's...
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227: Searching for a Diagnosis: A Rare Disease Mom and Advocate's Journey - ADCY5 Gay's Story
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
"If you have a doubt about something with your child or a family member, it's just really important to keep pushing through and get to the answers." – Gay Grossman In this episode, host Katie Taylor speaks with Gay Grossman, a passionate patient advocate and mother, about her journey navigating the rare disease world. Gay shares her experience of seeking a diagnosis for her daughter, advocating for genetic testing, and supporting families through complex medical and educational challenges. Her story highlights the importance of persistence, building a support network, and staying organized....
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226. Moms on a Mission: Raising Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness with Jaclyn & Athena from Feeding Matters
Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist
"Combining my personal experiences as a mom with my professional role has given me a unique perspective on the challenges families face and the solutions they need." - Jaclyn Pederson In this insightful episode, host Katie Taylor speaks with Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters and mother, and Athena Flicek, a dedicated mother of a child with feeding difficulties, about the complexities of pediatric feeding disorders. Jaclyn and Athena share their personal and professional experiences, emphasizing the importance of early intervention, advocacy, and comprehensive resources. They...
info_outline"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:
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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.
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How establishing a disciplined routine for medical care fosters a sense of normalcy and control.
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The unexpected journey of becoming medical parents, including the steep learning curve and the importance of specific communication with family and friends.
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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:
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The Ransome Family’s Daily Routine: A glimpse into managing home dialysis and medical care with love and dedication.
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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.
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Coping with the Unexpected: Strategies for dealing with the initial shock of a diagnosis and finding support.
We want you to join our community!
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Follow us on Instagram @ChildLifeOnCall for more stories, support, and inspiration.
Whether you're a parent, healthcare professional, or simply interested in learning more about child life, this podcast is for you.
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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.