Tube Feeding Awareness: Lived Experience, Real Talk, and Hope for the Future
Inside the Children's Hospital
Release Date: 02/11/2026
Tube Feeding Awareness: Lived Experience, Real Talk, and Hope for the Future
Inside the Children's Hospital
When tube feeding enters your life—whether at birth, in childhood, or adulthood—it can feel overwhelming, isolating, and misunderstood. In this special live episode of Inside the Children’s Hospital, we center the voices of those with lived experience to explore what tube feeding really looks like beyond the diagnosis and discharge instructions. Host Katie Taylor is joined by parent advocates, a young adult patient, and a pediatric dietitian to share honest, unfiltered perspectives on NG tubes, G-tubes, GJ tubes, and blended feeds. Together, they discuss early fears and misconceptions,...
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How Camp Supports Healing, Play, and Belonging for Medically Complex Kids
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your child’s life is shaped by medical complexity, childhood can quickly become defined by hospital stays, procedures, and limitations. In today’s episode, we explore how medically supported camps transform that narrative—creating space for joy, belonging, and healing for children, families, and even healthcare providers themselves. Katie Taylor is joined by Dr. Laura Blaisdell, Chief Medical Officer of SeriousFun Children’s Network, and Jamie Gentille, Child Life Specialist Leader and former camper, to share the life-changing impact of camp for children with serious illnesses....
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Rare Lung Disease, Epilepsy and the Diagnostic Journey
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your child survives one medical emergency only to face another, parenting becomes a constant act of advocacy and courage. Today’s guest joins us to share her daughter's journey with rare and complex medical conditions, from early respiratory failure and unexplained hospitalizations to epilepsy, lung disease, and life with medical uncertainty. As a military spouse navigating deployments, Brittany shares what it means to walk this path largely alone, trust her instincts as a mother, and fight to be believed by medical professionals. This episode explores navigating rare disease without...
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Severe Hemophilia: A Newborn, A Brain Bleed, and PICU Experience
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your newborn is healthy one moment and rushed to the PICU the next, life can change in an instant. Today’s guest joins us to share her son’s journey with severe hemophilia—from unexpected bleeding after a routine circumcision to a spontaneous brain bleed, emergency surgery, and a months-long PICU stay. This episode explores being thrust into medical motherhood, learning to advocate under unimaginable stress, and how community, child life, and modern medicine help families navigate life with a complex diagnosis. Download our free to help empower your child and family during hospital...
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When Insurance Isn’t Enough: A Parent’s Type 1 Diabetes Story
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your child receives a new medical diagnosis, it can feel like the world shifts beneath your feet. Today’s guest joins Katie Taylor to share her daughter’s Type 1 Diabetes journey—from dismissing "textbook" symptoms to navigating the financial challenges of families when it comes to chronic illness. This episode explores how one Mom moved from denial to "work mode" and how the HealthWell Foundation helps families afford life-saving medications. Sponsored in part by —learn how you can help families afford life-saving medications at healthwellfoundation.org. Download our...
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New Diagnosis: What to Do When Your Child Gets Diagnosed
Inside the Children's Hospital
When your child receives a new medical diagnosis, it can feel like the world shifts beneath your feet. Here’s how to move forward with clarity, support and connection, hosted by Katie Taylor and the Inside the Children's Hospital podcast. Listen to more stories at insidethechildrenshospital.com. Medical information provided is not a substitute for professional advice—please consult your care team. Sponsored in part by HealthWell Foundation—learn how you can help families afford life-saving medications at healthwellfoundation.org. Keywords: children’s hospital, NICU, child life...
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Launching Inside the Children's Hospital: What Listeners Can Expect
Inside the Children's Hospital
Hear the story behind Child Life on Call's transformation into Inside the Children’s Hospital. Discover what’s next for families seeking support and real hospital stories. Listen to more stories at insidethechildrenshospital.com. Medical Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for guidance about your child’s health.
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3 Proven Strategies for Parents Navigating Pediatric Healthcare in 2025
Inside the Children's Hospital
Feeling alone after your child's diagnosis? Discover three powerful lessons that have changed how families find hope, support, and confidence while navigating pediatric healthcare. In this solo episode, child life specialist Katie Taylor distills eight years of conversations with hundreds of families into three essential takeaways every parent needs when thrust into the pediatric healthcare world. If you're overwhelmed by medical decisions, uncertain about switching providers, or searching for ways to support your child—and yourself—during hospital life, this episode offers tangible steps...
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A Father's Journey Through Loss, Healing, and the Birth of a Rainbow Baby: Jeff's Story
Inside the Children's Hospital
In this profoundly moving and honest conversation, we sit down with Jeff Loving, a NICU dad, husband, and now an author, who shares the intimate and often unspoken grief experienced by fathers after pregnancy loss. Jeff walks us through the heartbreaking loss of his two sons, Davian and Jadon, the struggle to find empathy and appropriate medical care, and how these experiences ultimately led him and his wife, Cassie, to become fierce advocates for their future family. This episode is a raw look at marriage under immense stress, the importance of empathetic medical staff, and the redemptive joy...
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Understanding Homocystinuria (HCU): How one Mother Uncovered her Son’s Diagnosis
Inside the Children's Hospital
Melanie, mom to 12-year-old Masen, shares the unexpected path to her son’s diagnosis with Homocystinuria (HCU) after a routine eye exam revealed something “off.” What followed was months of uncertainty, a rare diagnosis few providers had even heard of, a crash course in low-protein diets and metabolic formulas, and two back-to-back eye surgeries to prevent further damage. With gentleness, honesty, and deep advocacy, Melanie describes how they adjusted as a family, how Masen built resilience, and how finding community changed everything. A story of early detection, parent intuition, and...
info_outlineWhen tube feeding enters your life—whether at birth, in childhood, or adulthood—it can feel overwhelming, isolating, and misunderstood. In this special live episode of Inside the Children’s Hospital, we center the voices of those with lived experience to explore what tube feeding really looks like beyond the diagnosis and discharge instructions.
Host Katie Taylor is joined by parent advocates, a young adult patient, and a pediatric dietitian to share honest, unfiltered perspectives on NG tubes, G-tubes, GJ tubes, and blended feeds. Together, they discuss early fears and misconceptions, navigating medical systems and insurance, advocating for better options, and how tube feeding can ultimately bring relief, stability, and freedom. This conversation highlights the power of community, the importance of being believed, and what compassionate, family-centered support truly looks like—for patients, parents, and professionals alike.
Today’s Episode is sponsored by Moog Medical. Moog Medical is a trusted leader in infusion and enteral feeding technology, designing reliable, easy-to-use pumps that support safe, precise care for patients with complex medical needs—at home and in healthcare settings.
Resources from today’s episode:
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Join Oley for Community, Education, and so much more!
- Blended Tube Feeding
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A SXSW Short Film on the reality of tube-feeding, called ‘Unholy’
Connect with Guests from Today’s Episode:
- Kelsey Ward – Parent advocate and medical parent, Follow Kelsey on TikTok
- Brady Crandall – Parent advocate and founder of YouthCrews
- Alexa Quintero – Patient advocate and young adult with lived tube feeding experience
- Hilarie Geurink, RD – Pediatric dietitian specializing in flexible, real-food tube feeding, Founder of Blended Tube Feeding
Connect & Support from Child Life On Call:
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Subscribe: Never miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Visit insidethechildrenshospital.com to search stories and episodes easily
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Follow us on Instagram for updates and opportunities to connect with other parents
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Leave a Review: It helps other families find us and access our resources!
Keywords:
Tube feeding awareness, G-tube parenting, NG tube experience, GJ tube support, Medical parent advocacy, Pediatric nutrition support, Blended tube feeding, Real food tube feeding, Feeding tube myths, Medical trauma and advocacy, Young adult chronic illness, Child life support, Family-centered care, Hospital parent support, Living with feeding tubes
Medical information provided is not a substitute for professional advice—please consult your care team.