Born For This Stories

Born for This Stories is a healing-centered podcast for parents navigating the unthinkable — from rare birth diagnoses and NICU trauma to holistic recovery and emotional resilience. Rooted in our own family's journey through our son's birth defect, we created this space to tell the stories we couldn't find when we were searching for hope. Each episode offers raw conversations, gentle truths, and holistic insights for families walking medically complex paths — because you deserve to feel seen, supported, and held. This isn't just about trauma. It's about transformation. Welcome to the place where healing begins — and where you'll always remember: You were born for this.

Marcia’s Story: Advocacy, Identity, and Raising a Child With Complex Needs 01/26/2026

Marcia’s Story: Advocacy, Identity, and Raising a Child With Complex Needs Some parenting journeys reshape not only how you care for your child, but how you see the world. In this episode of Born For This Stories, Johanna and Peter sit down with Marcia, a mother whose journey into medical parenting required her to navigate complex diagnoses, cultural expectations, and the ongoing work of advocacy. Marcia shares how becoming a parent to a child with unique needs challenged her assumptions, strengthened her voice, and ultimately transformed her sense of identity. This conversation explores the emotional and practical realities of raising a child with complex needs — from navigating medical systems and therapies to balancing family dynamics, self-trust, and resilience. Marcia’s story highlights the quiet strength required to keep showing up, even when the path forward isn’t clearly defined. This episode is for parents learning how to advocate, adapt, and hold space for both their child’s needs and their own humanity. In this episode Entering the world of medical parenting and complex care Learning to advocate within healthcare and educational systems Navigating uncertainty, overwhelm, and long-term planning How identity shifts when parenting doesn’t look the way you expected Balancing hope, realism, and daily responsibility The emotional labor of being a primary advocate for your child Finding strength through experience rather than certainty Why community and shared stories matter Redefining success, progress, and resilience What Marcia wishes more people understood about families like hers Share your story & find Born For This Stories If today’s episode resonated with you, we invite you to share your story and connect with our growing community of families navigating diagnoses, differences, and healing. 🌿 Share your story: bornforthiststories.com 💛 Follow along on Instagram: @bornforthiststories 🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share Born For This Stories to help more parents feel less alone You were born for this — and you don’t have to carry it by yourself. /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39858785

Mariangel’s Story: Clubfoot, Community, and Creating What Was Missing 01/19/2026

Mariangel’s Story: Clubfoot, Community, and Creating What Was Missing Some diagnoses arrive quietly, but they change everything. In this episode of Born For This Stories, Johanna and Peter sit down with Mariangel, a Venezuelan-Canadian mother of two whose daughter was born with clubfoot. What began as shock and uncertainty after birth became a journey shaped by resilience, family support, and a deep commitment to making sure her daughter and other children like her were never left out. Mariangel shares what it was like discovering her daughter’s clubfoot after a C-section, navigating early treatment, learning to advocate within the medical system, and opening herself up to the community when she needed it most. Her story highlights how vulnerability creates connection — and how lived experience can inspire meaningful change. This conversation also explores how Mariangel transformed daily challenges, like diaper changes and adaptive footwear, into a purpose-driven brand designed to support clubfoot families around the world. In this episode Discovering a clubfoot diagnosis at birth and processing early emotions The experience of navigating treatment, casting, bracing, and long-term correction How family history and community conversations shaped confidence and perspective The importance of asking questions and feeling truly supported by providers Why opening up created a village of unexpected support The day-to-day realities of caring for a baby in braces How frustration turned into creativity and purpose Creating adaptive clothing to meet a need that didn’t exist Ensuring children with clubfoot feel included, comfortable, and celebrated Advice for parents learning to balance advocacy with presence and joy Learn more about Little Clubbers Apparel Little Clubbers Apparel was created to support children with clubfoot and other orthopedic needs through thoughtful, inclusive design that makes everyday moments easier for families. 🌿 Website: 📸 Instagram: @Littleclubbers_apparel 📘 Facebook: @LittleClubbers Apparel 🎵 TikTok: @Littleclubbers_apparel Share your story & find Born For This Stories If today’s episode resonated with you, we invite you to share your story and connect with our growing community of families navigating diagnoses, differences, and healing. 🌿 Share your story: bornforthiststories.com 💛 Follow along on Instagram: @bornforthiststories 🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share Born For This Stories to help more parents feel less alone You were born for this — and you don’t have to carry it by yourself. /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39783595

Rebecca’s Story (Part 3): Healing Juvenile Arthritis Through Gut Health, Diet, and Community Support 01/12/2026

Rebecca’s Story (Part 3): Healing Juvenile Arthritis Through Gut Health, Diet, and Community Support Healing doesn’t always look the way we expect, and it rarely happens all at once. In the final part of Rebecca’s three-part story, we explore what long-term healing looked like after stepping fully into a gut-centered, holistic approach for her daughter’s severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This episode focuses on the slow, steady work of rebuilding the immune system, restoring gut health, and creating an environment where healing could actually take root. Rebecca shares how food, sourcing, detoxification, nervous system regulation, and community support became the foundation for her daughter’s recovery, and how this journey reshaped the health of their entire family. This conversation is about patience, trust, and learning to measure progress differently when you’re healing from chronic illness. This episode brings Rebecca’s story full circle and offers hope to parents who are deep in the day-to-day work of supporting a child with autoimmune disease. In this episode How gut health became the cornerstone of healing juvenile idiopathic arthritis The role of the GAPS diet in immune regulation and inflammation reduction Why healing from autoimmune disease is non-linear and deeply individual Food sourcing, nutrient density, and reducing environmental stressors Supporting detox pathways through daily habits and lifestyle choices Navigating school, social situations, and food boundaries during healing How emotional regulation and nervous system support affect physical healing The importance of consistency, patience, and parental leadership How community support sustained their family through a long healing journey What life looks like now and how this experience changed everything 👣 Share your story or connect with our community at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help other parents feel less alone /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39568265

Rebecca’s Story (Part 2): Choosing a Different Path After Juvenile Arthritis 01/05/2026

Rebecca’s Story (Part 2): Choosing a Different Path After Juvenile Arthritis When the standard treatment plan doesn’t feel right, what happens next? In Part 2 of Rebecca’s three-part story, we continue her family’s journey after her daughter’s devastating diagnosis of severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This episode explores what happened when Rebecca chose to step outside conventional care and pursue a radically different approach. An approach rooted in nutrition, detoxification, gut health, and environmental changes. Rebecca shares the emotional weight of making high-stakes decisions for her child, the isolation that can come with choosing a nontraditional path, and the slow, often invisible work of supporting healing from the inside out. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what holistic healing actually looks like day-to-day, and why resilience, patience, and trust are essential when answers aren’t immediate. This episode is for parents navigating chronic illness, autoimmune disease, and the space between medical guidance and parental intuition. This is Part 2 of a three-part story. In this episode What happened after Rebecca decided not to follow the initial medication plan The role of food, sourcing, and dietary changes in autoimmune healing Why gut health became a central focus in her daughter's recovery plan The emotional and financial toll of choosing an alternative path Navigating doubt, criticism, and fear while advocating for your child How detoxification and environmental awareness fit into their healing journey What holistic healing actually looks like behind the scenes Why progress isn’t always linear and why that doesn’t mean it isn’t working 👣 Share your story or connect with our community at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help other parents feel less alone /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39568075

Rebecca’s Story (Part 1): When Juvenile Arthritis Hides in Plain Sight 12/29/2025

Rebecca’s Story (Part 1): When Juvenile Arthritis Hides in Plain Sight What if your child looks healthy, happy, and pain-free, but their body is quietly fighting a war you can’t see? In Part 1 of this three-part series, Johanna and Peter sit down with Rebecca Hunter, mom of three and holistic medical mama, to share the beginning of her youngest daughter’s journey with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), one of the most severe cases her doctors had ever seen. What started as a ballet teacher noticing limited ankle movement slowly unraveled into a diagnosis that would change everything. Rebecca walks us through years of subtle signs, dismissed concerns, long waits for answers, and the moment doctors finally told her that her daughter had arthritis in 17 joints, including her jaw and neck, despite never complaining of pain. This episode is a powerful reminder that children adapt, compensate, and even suffer silently, and that trusting your gut can be lifesaving. In this episode: The ballet class comment that first raised concern Being told, “Some kids just have less range of motion than other kids," and why that didn’t sit right The moment Shriners Hospital pointed her family to a rheumatologist instead of an orthopedist Why children with chronic illness often don’t complain Learning her daughter had arthritis in seventeen of her joints The shock of being told to inject a five-year-old with chemotherapy medication Doctors insisting that her daughter's body would deteriorate without medication The emotional weight of being told her child could end up wheelchair bound 💬 “I always assumed arthritis is a painful condition… but come to find out it can present differently, especially in children.” ✨ This is Part 1 of a three-part story In Part 2, Rebecca shares the alternative paths they explored, the financial and emotional toll of searching for answers, and the turning point that forced them to reconsider everything. 👣 Share your story or connect with our community at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help other parents feel less alone /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39567985

Dr. Kim Tran’s Story (Part 2): Healing Eczema From the Inside Out 12/22/2025

Dr. Kim Tran’s Story (Part 2): Healing Eczema From the Inside Out What if healing your child doesn’t mean doing more, but understanding why their body is responding the way it is? In the second part of Dr. Kim Tran’s story, Johanna and Peter continue the conversation about severe childhood eczema, gut health, and the long road from desperation to empowerment. This episode goes deeper into the science and the emotional reality of parenting a child whose symptoms don’t respond to conventional care, and the guilt parents carry when they’re told they “did everything right.” Dr. Tran explains why eczema is not a skin problem, how gut health and the immune system are inseparably linked, and what it looks like to stop chasing short-term relief and start healing for the long term. This episode is for parents who are exhausted, confused, and quietly wondering if there is another way. In this episode: “Eczema is an immune system reaction” and why steroids only suppress symptoms How healing is possible without steroids The relief and grief of realizing this is not your fault How infant gut health is shaped by birth, antibiotics, environment, and family history Why parents shouldn’t feel guilty for choosing a different path The trauma of medical parenting Empowering children to listen to their bodies and participate in their own healing Why Dr. Tran now teaches parents everything she wishes someone had told her sooner ✨ This is the final part of Dr. Kim Tran’s family story Her journey doesn’t end here. It expands into the work she now does, helping parents heal their children from the inside out. You can connect with Dr. Tran here: 👉 Instagram: @dr_kimtran 👣 Share your story or find support at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode so more parents know they are not alone /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39490520

Dr. Kim Tran’s Story (Part 1): When Baby Eczema Is More Than Skin Deep 12/15/2025

Dr. Kim Tran’s Story (Part 1): When Baby Eczema Is More Than Skin Deep What if the thing you’re told is “just skin” is actually your child’s immune system crying out for help? In this powerful episode of Born For This Stories, Johanna and Peter sit down with Dr. Kim Tran, a pregnancy and pediatric chiropractor and functional medicine provider, to share her family’s journey through severe infant eczema. What began after a “beautiful, picture perfect home birth” quickly spiraled into sleepless nights, bleeding skin, and a medical system offering only temporary fixes. Dr. Tran walks us through what it’s like to be a holistic provider who suddenly finds herself desperate for answers as a mom. Navigating topical steroids, virtual dermatology visits during COVID, and finally uncovering the deeper gut-immune connection no one explained... or even knew in the first place. This episode is a lifeline for parents who’ve been told to “wait it out” while watching their child suffer. In this episode: The reality of waking up to bloody sheets every single day What it was like dealing with oozing skin, bleeding skin Why topical steroids weren’t the solution The breaking point: “Who else can we call for help here?” Learning that eczema is an immune system reaction Functional medicine testing that changed everything, including GI mapping and genetic panels How nervous system regulation became a daily healing tool The moment Dr. Tran realized: “What if I wasn’t a provider?” ✨ This story continues next week “We’re going to take a pause on this episode at this point and circle back to Dr. Tran’s story next week for part two.” Part 2 dives deeper into environmental triggers, mattress toxicity, food sensitivities, and the moment everything finally clicked. 👣 Share your story or find support at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode so more parents know they’re not alone /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39404835

Susie & Zayn (Part 2): Advocacy, Survival, and the Fight No One Sees 12/08/2025

Susie & Zayn (Part 2): Advocacy, Survival, and the Fight No One Sees Some stories don’t resolve quickly. Some live in the space between crisis and hope. Day after day. Month after month. In the emotional conclusion to this two-part series, Johanna and Peter continue their conversation with Suzie, whose son Zayn continues to battle hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and a complex web of GI complications, strokes, feeding struggles, and life-altering medical decisions. Part 2 is a raw look at what happens after the first surgeries, after discharge, after everyone assumes you’re “in the clear.” Suzie shares the moments no parent forgets—the bloody diapers no one took seriously, the medications given without consent, the constant hospitalizations, and the day she finally said, “Find out what is going on with my baby.” She describes the Christmas Eve emergency that changed everything and the interventional radiologist who became, in her words, “an angel of a man.” This is a story of finding your voice, trusting your instincts, and refusing to be dismissed. It’s also a story of love — the kind that learns central-line care, sleeps upright for months, and keeps showing up even when the future feels unbearably uncertain. In this episode: The moment Suzie learned her breastmilk had been fortified without her consent The spiral of bloody stools, endless formulas, and being repeatedly told, “He’s fine.” Christmas Eve in the ICU, when doctors discovered a huge pocket of chylous fluid in Zayn’s chest The interventional radiologist who saved her son Two months of clogged chest tubes, repeated intubations, and fighting to be heard The terrifying diagnosis of pneumatosis and nearly losing Zayn’s intestines The impossible choice: bringing Zayn home on a central line and TPN The heartbreaking losses of hospital friends, and the emotional cost of being a long-term medical parent The breakthrough GI doctor who finally gave them answers after years of not knowing How a single treatment brought Zayn “back to life,” transforming his days from lethargy to joy 💬 “Just fight for them. You’re their voice.” ✨ This is the end of their story on the podcast, but not the end of their journey. Suzie and Zayn continue to fight every day with joy, humor, and extraordinary courage. You can follow them at @susie_zayn_HLHS 👣 Share your story at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share to help us reach more heart families and medical parents who need this space /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39313565

Susie & Zayn (Part 1): A Mother’s Fight Through Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome 12/01/2025

Susie & Zayn (Part 1): A Mother’s Fight Through Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Some parents walk into a diagnosis. Others are thrown into it without warning. In this powerful two-part story, Johanna and Peter sit down with Susie, mom of three and mother to Zayn — her brave “heart warrior” born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Part 1 walks listeners through the moment everything changed: an unsettling 18-week ultrasound, a devastating phone call during their gender reveal, and the first terrifying weeks inside the walls of Boston Children’s Hospital. Susie shares what it was like to navigate pregnancy in the height of the pandemic, advocate alone for her son, and fight through the fear of hearing, “he has the worst heart defect a child can have… and he’s probably not going to make it.” Her voice brings forward a truth so many heart families hold: you can’t see all disabilities, and you can’t see the strength it takes to keep showing up. This is Part 1 of an extraordinary journey that continues next week. In this episode: The blended family that became the foundation of Zayn’s fight The ultrasound that “didn’t look right” and the 45-minute wait that changed everything The moment a doctor said Zayn had “the worst defect… and he’s probably not going to make it.” Navigating pregnancy alone because of COVID restrictions Choosing hope when others pushed for termination The first time hearing the words “hypoplastic left heart syndrome.” Emergency cath procedures, intubation, and a 14-hour open-heart surgery at two days old The trauma of watching a newborn re-intubated repeatedly The moment a nurse said, “I’m pretty sure Zayn’s having a seizure,” leading to the discovery of his stroke ✨ Part 2 Releases Next Week The story continues as Susie walks through multiple surgeries, months-long hospital stays, feeding challenges, advocacy battles, and the unexpected miracles that shaped Zayn’s life. 👣 Share your story at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to support more families /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39215620

Dr. Susan’s Story: Adoption, Down Syndrome, and the Power of Connection 11/24/2025

Dr. Susan’s Story: Adoption, Down Syndrome, and the Power of Connection Some stories take your breath away, not because they’re tragic, but because they are so full of life that you can feel every heartbeat of them. In this episode, Johanna and Peter sit down with Dr. Susan, a chiropractor and mom whose family story unfolded in the most unexpected way. After years of infertility and finally adopting their daughter Emme, Susan found out she was pregnant just 13 days later. When her son Benny was born, he was diagnosed with Down syndrome - a moment delivered in silence, confusion, and overwhelming emotion. Through vulnerability and honesty, Susan describes the NICU days, the dark thoughts that no parent talks about, the friend who said, “You tell me when and where and I’ll be there,” and the long, winding road toward acceptance, advocacy, and joy. Her story is a reminder that every child arrives with purpose, and every parent deserves support, softness, and community In this episode: The shock of discovering pregnancy just days after adopting The silent delivery room and the moment a doctor said they “suspected he could have Down Syndrome” Navigating the NICU, feeding challenges, and early medical confusion The dark thoughts of early motherhood: “The guy walked us out and said 'well, congratulations,' and I remember thinking… for what?” How one friend dropped everything to say, “You tell me when and where and I’ll be there.” Benny’s journey: hearing loss scares, respiratory issues, therapies, and the joy of who he is today The importance of community, early intervention, and finding families who “just get it” Connect with today’s guest: 👉 @BarrettFamilyCairo 👉 @BennysBuddies2015 👣 Share your story or connect with our community at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help support more families walking this path /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39148665

Red Light, Real Healing: A Conversation with Dr. Alison Evans of Fringe 11/17/2025

Red Light, Real Healing: A Conversation with Dr. Alison Evans of Fringe What if one of the most powerful healing tools for your medically complex child has been around for 50 years, and no one ever told you about it? In this illuminating episode, Johanna and Peter sit down with Dr. Alison Evans, chiropractor, educator, and founder of Fringe, a company reshaping how families understand and use red light therapy. With 25 years in natural healthcare, Alison breaks down the science, safety, and everyday practicality of red and near-infrared light, especially for parents navigating chronic conditions, inflammation, slow healing, and post-surgical recovery. Dr. Alison shares how she went from a young chiropractic patient to a leader in natural medicine, why she built Fringe to bridge science and nature, and why she believes “if you can be outside in the sun for 20 minutes, you certainly can do a 20-minute red light therapy session.” Whether you're brand new to red light therapy or already curious about adding it to your child’s healing plan, this episode offers clarity, confidence, and compassion. In this episode: How a childhood chiropractic experience shaped Dr. Alison’s path into natural healthcare What red light therapy actually is and how it works in the body Why red light therapy is safe for most children and adults Stories of families using red light for eczema, Crohn’s, autism, ADHD, inflammation, and recovery How to choose safe, high-quality devices in an oversaturated market The emotional and nervous system benefits for caregivers, not just kids Why connection to nature—and grace for yourself—matters more than perfection 💬 “Trust your intuition… your intuition about what is helping or not helping your child is really, really, really valuable.” ✨ Learn more about Fringe: 👉 👉 Use code JOHANNA10 for 10% off Fringe Red Light 👣 Share your story or connect with our community at bornforthestories.com 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 If this episode helped you, please subscribe, rate, and share it—your support helps more parents find the hope they deserve. /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/39054555

Broghan’s Story: Clubfoot, NICU Days, and Finding Grace in the Unknown 11/10/2025

Dylan’s Story: A Mother’s Journey Through Limb Difference and Self-Compassion 11/03/2025

The End of the Beginning: Season One Finale 10/30/2025

Dr. Tarek’s Story: Thriving Beyond Hypospadias 10/27/2025

A Letter to My Past Self - and to You, Mama 10/20/2025

Caroline's Story: "Simple Fix" Turned Multi-Stage Repair 10/13/2025

Kylie’s Story: Prematurity, Hypospadias, and the Power of Second Opinions 10/06/2025

Kylie’s Story: Prematurity, Hypospadias, and the Power of Second Opinions Have you ever gotten a second opinion that was the complete opposite of what you were initially told? Imagine that, plus you've just given birth, and your baby’s future is hanging in the balance. That was the reality of today's guest. In this powerful episode, Johanna and Peter sit down with Kylie, a mom from South Carolina whose son Aiden was born at just 31 weeks and weighing under three pounds. Diagnosed with hypospadias and chordee shortly after birth, Kylie and her husband were thrust into a whirlwind of mixed messages, surgical complications, and hard decisions that no parent feels prepared to make. From the NICU’s conflicting neonatologists — one raising alarms about “ambiguous genitalia” and another saying “he’s peeing, so things are working” — to navigating multiple failed surgeries and finally advocating for a world-renowned specialist, Kylie shares her journey with honesty, grit, and hope. This is an unfiltered look at what it means to trust your gut, demand better for your child, and keep fighting until you find the right care. In this episode: What it’s like to give birth at 31 weeks with preeclampsia and a 2 lb 15 oz preemie How a hypospadias diagnosis unfolded in the NICU with confusing, conflicting provider opinions The challenges of hypospadias repair and surgical complications Why Kylie says “who’s the top penis surgeon?” became her nightly research project The emotional toll of seeing your toddler face multiple operations and preparing for more The importance of second (and third) opinions when local surgeons dismiss parent concerns 💬 “We made the decision that we had to make with the information that we had. Now we’re making a different decision because we have it.” 👣 Share your story at 💛 Follow us on Instagram @bornforthestories 🙏 Please subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help us reach more families /episode/index/show/ba29e691-80cb-4325-bb25-92b80354f995/id/38459180