Two Sisters with Cystic Fibrosis - Laura's Story (252)
Release Date: 04/30/2025
When Your Baby is Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes: Marlee's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
“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...
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Surgery for Pediatric Drug-Resistant Epilepsy and Infantile Spasms (278) - Audrey's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Join us for an incredibly candid and informative conversation with Audrey Vernick, a passionate advocate and the Director of Patient and Family Advocacy for the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. Audrey shares the powerful 21-year journey of her son, Bennett, who suffered a stroke in utero and was later diagnosed with the catastrophic epilepsy known as Infantile Spasms. Audrey recounts the emotional process from the difficult labor and early concerns dismissed as normal reflexes, to the terrifying moment she saw his MRI and realized half of his brain was black due to a massive stroke. This...
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A Speech Language Pathologist's Tips to Helping Your Child Thrive (277)-Luba's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
"The excitement that the kids feel when they are seeing you... and they know today's session with Ms. Luba and they can't wait to see you." - Luba Kaplan When a child enters the medical system, parents often meet many specialists beyond doctors and nurses, including Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP). These professionals are vital members of the healthcare team, doing more than just helping with speech. SLPs, as Luba Kaplan explains, also explains how they look at every area of the child's development to ensure children are being fully supported. In this episode, we introduce Luba Kaplan, a...
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From Early Diagnosis to the Power of Community and Humor in Type 1 Diabetes (276)- Stacey's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
When Stacey’s toddler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, her family’s world turned upside down. In this episode, she shares the early warning signs, the struggle of those first two weeks of injections, and how humor and community turned fear into resilience. Parents will gain hope, advocacy tips, and coping strategies for managing a chronic illness diagnosis. What You’ll Hear How Stacey recognized the 4 Ts of diabetes: Thirsty, Tired, Thinner, Toilet The reality of hospitalization, finger sticks, and injections with a toddler Coping strategies: medical play, humor, and...
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NICU, Down syndrome and Infant Loss: A Grief Story and Children's Book( 275) - Teejay + Jon's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
In this incredibly personal and moving episode, we sit down with Teejay and Jon, the authors of the gentle children's book , to share the full, raw story of their daughter, Nadiya. Their journey began with an unexpected connection—a transatlantic online romance between Teejay in Australia and Jon in Canada—that quickly turned into a marriage grounded in a shared life and purpose. With Teejay's extensive background in early childhood development and their experience fostering a young man with Down syndrome, they felt prepared when Nadiya was diagnosed with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) early...
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US News Children's Hospital Rankings 2025: Why the BEST Outcomes Demand the Human Touch (with Ben Harder)
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Is the "best" hospital just about technology and surgical success? Ben Harder, the journalist who oversees the methodology and data for the U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals Rankings (2025), joins Katie to break down what truly defines quality in pediatric care. Ben shares his deeply personal family story—a tragedy 50 years in the past that drives his commitment to making data-driven information accessible today. This episode is a crucial guide for parents, explaining the three core pillars of the rankings: structure/resources, processes of care, and patient outcomes. We dive into why...
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A Heart Transplant Survivor Helps Her Son Face His Own: Danon’s Disease (273) – Brittany's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Psychologist and heart-transplant recipient Dr. Brittany Clayborne shares how her own medical journey prepared her to guide her son Micah through sudden heart failure, an LVAD, and a life-saving transplant. She unpacks the family’s rare Danon’s disease diagnosis, post-transplant cancer (PTLD), and the everyday realities after transplant—meds, setbacks, and hope. You’ll learn Dr. Brittany’s BRAVE framework for hard moments, how rituals sustain connection during long hospital stays, and how Micah turned his experience into action with Transplant Teens and My Brave Journal. This...
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How a Bone Marrow Transplant Cured her daugther’s Sickle Cell Anemia (272)-Maite's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
In this episode of Child Life On Call, guest Maite Rodriguez shares her daughter Alessia’s inspiring journey with sickle cell disease (SCD)—from diagnosis at birth and painful crises to finding a cure through a pediatric bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Maite discusses the challenges of long-term treatments like hydroxyurea, the emotional toll of hospitalizations, and her family’s decision to pursue IVF to create a genetic match. She also introduces her bilingual children’s book, , which helps families explain sickle cell to children, siblings, and communities....
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How One Mom Navigated her daughter’s Severe Food Allergies (271)- Susanna's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
From “colic” that never eased to four pages of confirmed allergens, Susanna Peace Lovell recounts the first years of parenting her daughter, Arizona—years marked by nonstop crying, full-body eczema, and relentless advocacy. When a hypoallergenic formula finally brought relief around 18–19 months, Susanna could breathe—and begin reframing motherhood with compassion for her child and herself. She shares practical allergy survival tips (from table toppers to EpiPens), how autism diagnosis informed self-advocacy, and why community through We Are Brave Together mattered. This conversation...
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Empowering Parents Through Play-Based Physical Therapy (270)- Allison's Story
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
In this episode, Dr. Allison Mell—pediatric PT and founder of Tots on Target—breaks down how therapy for kids doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. She shares real talk about what progress actually looks like, why play is so powerful, and how parents can weave therapy into everyday life without adding stress. From NICU graduates to toddlers finding their stride, Allison reminds us that tiny wins build up to big milestones. Her approachable, down-to-earth advice helps parents feel supported, capable, and ready to advocate for their child’s needs. Resources mentioned: Tots on Target...
info_outlineWhat would you do if both of your children were diagnosed with a life-threatening genetic disease—and there was no support system in place for parents like you?
In this inspiring episode, Katie interviews Laura Bonnell, a former Detroit news reporter turned full-time advocate and nonprofit founder. After both of her daughters were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), Laura transformed her grief and determination into the Bonnell Foundation, providing real-time support to families across the U.S. who are navigating life with CF.
In this powerful episode, we explore:
✅ How Laura pushed for her daughter’s diagnosis when doctors dismissed her instincts
✅ Why child life services were “among the best things” during hospitalizations
✅ What it’s like raising two daughters with cystic fibrosis in the same home
✅ The emotional toll of pretending “everything’s fine” as a medical parent
✅ How her foundation is providing financial relief, mentorship, and inspiration
✅ Why advocacy can take many forms—and how small actions can create significant change
Whether you're a CF parent, a caregiver of a chronically ill child, or someone passionate about parent-led advocacy, this episode will move and motivate you.
Timestamps & Key Topics
⏱️ [00:00] – The Power of Child Life Services
How art, distraction, and support brought relief during hospital stays
⏱️ [03:00] – Meet Laura Bonnell
From Detroit news reporter to cystic fibrosis advocate and nonprofit founder
⏱️ [06:00] – A Life-Altering Diagnosis
How Laura’s instincts—and persistence—led to a CF diagnosis after months of dismissal
⏱️ [09:00] – Fighting for Answers & Processing the News
Pulling over mid-assignment to receive the call—and deciding, that same day, to keep moving forward
⏱️ [12:00] – Advocacy from the Start
Speaking publicly just weeks after diagnosis and discovering the emotional weight of her new reality
⏱️ [14:00] – Life with Two Children with CF
Navigating work, marriage, and hospitalization rotations while trying to maintain “normalcy”
⏱️ [16:00] – School Accommodations & Advocacy Wins
How brochures, IV poles, and enzymes in every classroom made private school possible
⏱️ [18:00] – The Hidden Truths of “Being Fine”
Why Laura never told friends how hard it really was—and what she wishes she could’ve said
⏱️ [21:00] – Building Community & Finding Strength in Other Moms
How hospital garden meetups and phone calls with CF parents created safe spaces
⏱️ [23:00] – Founding the Bonnell Foundation
How a calendar and a vision turned into a national nonprofit serving families with CF
⏱️ [26:00] – What the Bonnell Foundation Offers
From financial assistance and college scholarships to CF masterclasses and bilingual resources
⏱️ [28:00] – “Don’t F With Me”: Laura’s Strength as an Advocate
Why she’ll knock on every door, from Capitol Hill to the hospital billing department
⏱️ [29:00] – Celebrating Her Daughters
Emily’s resilience through hospitalizations and marathon training
Molly’s fearless leap to study in London and become a sustainability changemaker
Resources & Links
📌 Learn More About The Bonnell Foundation: www.thebonnellfoundation.org
📲 Follow Laura Bonnell: @thebonnellfoundation
📘 Apply for Scholarships & Financial Support: CF Support Programs
🎧 More Episodes: Child Life On Call Podcast
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The Child Life On Call Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared in each episode, including stories, discussions, and interviews, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Child Life On Call Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Child Life On Call. Child Life On Call does not endorse any specific medical treatments, procedures, or opinions shared in the podcast. If you or your child are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that Child Life On Call and its affiliates are not responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided.