223: [6 minutes] Big News: The Child Life On Call App is Now SupportSpot!
Release Date: 07/01/2024
![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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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240: How to Stay Calm During Medical Procedures
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
In this episode of Child Life On Call, host Katie Taylor, a certified child life specialist, shares personal experiences and practical advice on maintaining calm during your child's medical procedures. Katie recounts a traumatic incident with her daughter, emphasizing the natural parental panic response and how to manage it. She offers three key strategies: getting informed about medical procedures, finding a supportive role during the process, and taking care of your own physical and emotional needs. Katie introduces the Support Spot app as a valuable resource, providing step-by-step guides...
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239: Finding Grants Brought Hope - Abby's Story: A son's near drowning accident
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
“Hope doesn’t take away the darkness, but it shines some light in it.”- Abby Zachritz 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 first episode of the year, Katie sits down with Abby Zachritz—better known as Advocacy Abby—who shares her journey from personal tragedy to becoming a beacon of hope for families in need. Abby recounts the near-drowning accident that changed her son Wyatt’s life and how her...
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238: Parents: How to Make the Most out of Rounds in the Hospital
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Navigating Medical Rounds: Tips for Parents from a Child Life Specialist In this episode, Katie Taylor, a certified child life specialist, offers critical insights and tips for parents navigating medical rounds with their hospitalized children. She introduces Q Rounds, a new tool developed by Dr. Mike aimed at making rounds more predictable and accessible for families. Katie explains the purpose and structure of rounds, highlighting the importance of family-centered rounds. She provides strategies for effective communication with the healthcare team, including preparing...
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237: Holding Space for Hope : The Final Episode of 2024
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"Hope isn't about avoiding the hard truths. It's about staying grounded in them and still believing that something good is possible."- Katie Taylor In this final episode of 2024, Katie dives deep into the meaning of hope, exploring its role in navigating challenges for parents, children and Child Life Specialists. Reflecting on personal experiences and heartfelt conversations with families, this episode unpacks how hope isn’t blind optimism but a source of strength that coexists with pain and uncertainty. With stories, reflections, and an invitation to carry hope into the new year,...
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236: The Mix of Joy & Grief through Medical Parenting (autism, lissencephaly and lennox gastaut syndrome) – Joanne's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"Life is always in the mix of joy and grief, and those things coexist. But this is how I’m going to deal with it." - Joanne De Simone In this episode of the Child Life On Call Podcast, Joanne De Simone shares her journey as a parent raising two sons with disabilities. From navigating her eldest son Benjamin’s rare brain malformation, lissencephaly and complex medical needs to supporting her younger son Sebastian, who is on the autism spectrum. Joanne discusses the challenges, victories, and personal growth she’s experienced. As a mother and special education teacher, and now an...
info_outlineEpisode 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
- Katie’s background and passion for child life services
- The origin of the Child Life On Call podcast and its impact
[01:00] The Big Announcement
- Introducing the rebrand: Child Life On Call app is now SupportSpot
- Reasons for the change:
- Enhanced Clarity: SupportSpot better reflects the app’s purpose and broadens its appeal
- Broader Appeal: Communicates the app as a comprehensive family support resource during medical experiences
[02:00] The Power of Prepared and Empowered Parents
- The importance of parents knowing what to expect and how to advocate for their children
- The impact of child life services beyond children’s hospitals
[03:00] The Evolution of Child Life On Call
- From podcast to app: How Child Life On Call grew to SupportSpot
- The incredible journey and feedback from parents and care teams
[04:00] Features and Benefits of SupportSpot
- Overview of new features and improvements
- Access to resources, child life tips, procedure guides, therapeutic activities, and more
[05:00] How to Get SupportSpot
- Available for download on iOS and Android
- Keeping the price low to ensure accessibility for all families
- Encouraging parents to spread the word
[06:00] Continuing Hospital Partnerships
- Ongoing collaboration with hospitals to ensure families have access to the app at no cost
- The vision for future growth and impact
[06:30] Conclusion
- Katie’s promise to parents: Empowerment and confidence in healthcare situations
- Closing remarks and gratitude for the support
Links and Resources:
- SupportSpot Website
- Download SupportSpot iOS or Android
- Follow us on Instagram
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Child Life On Call on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach more families and provide them with the tools they need for a positive healthcare experience.