235: A Mother’s Journey of Love, Loss, and Resilience (crohn's and ulcerative colitis) - Kathy's Story
Release Date: 11/20/2024
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The NICU Dad Experience: A father’s view from the NICU [REPOST] (257)-Alex’s Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
What happens when your world changes with a single phone call? In this powerful reposted episode, NICU dad and advocate Alex Zavala shares his emotional journey of fatherhood after his daughter was born at just 27 weeks. From the emergency C-section and NICU stay to the emotional toll of the "NICU dad shuffle," Alex opens up about the lesser-heard experience of dads navigating medical trauma, guilt, and resilience. As the host of the NICU Dad Podcast, Alex continues to amplify the voices of fathers facing similar experiences. This conversation is an essential listen for NICU families and...
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
📢 This is a special repost of one of our most heartfelt and insightful episodes. Whether this is your first time hearing Jessica’s story or a revisit, her perspective as a mom of a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome will stick with you. This month is also Prader- Willi Syndrome awareness month. What happens when a diagnosis changes everything you expected about motherhood? For Jessica Patay, it sparked a journey through fear, resilience, advocacy, and ultimately, the founding of an incredible nonprofit called We Are Brave Together. In this deeply moving episode, Jessica opens up about:...
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
📢 This is a special repost of one of our most impactful and heartfelt episodes. Whether you’re hearing Ashley O’Neill’s story for the first time or revisiting it, her journey continues to resonate deeply with NICU families, pediatric providers, and anyone who has faced unimaginable loss and found strength in the aftermath. What happens when your personal and professional worlds collide in the NICU? For family nurse practitioner Ashley O’Neill, the journey into motherhood brought profound loss, relentless medical advocacy, and ultimately, a passion for helping others. Ashley’s...
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
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Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
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info_outline“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 stays, becoming a caregiver to a child with complex medical needs, and balancing self-care amid unimaginable circumstances. Her insights on resilience, self-advocacy, and the deep bond with her daughter provide comfort and inspiration. Kathy’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to navigate pediatric healthcare, turning pain into purpose, and the lasting impact of a parent's love.
"I was there when that beautiful creature wandered into my life, and I was there when she drifted out." – Kathy
Key Insights:
The Importance of Self-Care: Kathy emphasizes the need to care for oneself to better support a sick child and encourages parents to take breaks from the hospital without guilt.
Parent as Advocate: Transitioning into the role of a medical advocate for her daughter, Kathy highlights how training, learning, and persistence made a difference in Lauren’s care.
Finding Strength in Connection: Kathy discusses the vital role of family, friends, and small acts of kindness in sustaining her during Lauren’s long hospital stays.
Maintaining Normalcy: From packing business-casual clothes to involving Lauren in picking outfits, Kathy underscores the importance of preserving a sense of normalcy amid medical chaos.
Legacy of Resilience: Kathy’s advocacy didn’t end with Lauren’s passing; she continues to support others by sharing her story and working on resources for long hospital stays.
A HUGE thank you to our sponsors:
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Resources and Tips:
Support Spot App: Tailored guidance for families navigating medical experiences. Learn more
When parents feel empowered, everyone wins – kids thrive and the care team excels!
Learn more here.
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.