Caregiver Stories Episodes

We wanted to repost this epsidoe to highlight that October is Learning Disabilities / Dyslexia / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Awareness Month. In a world of unexpected twists, sometimes the greatest surprises lie within our own children. Child Life Specialist, Shani Thornton's journey with her son's learning differences took an unforeseen turn, unraveling a mystery that went beyond what anyone could have imagined. But what if this unexpected twist held the key to unlocking their hidd...

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month we wanted to repost this episode to provide awareness to our community. Breast cancer survivor, Sara Olsher, battles the disease as a single parent, using her experience to empower others and create resources for families facing cancer, in a moving and inspiring episode of the Child Life On Call podcast. In this episode, you will be able to: Explore Sara's firsthand experiences from her breast cancer diagnosis to treatments, offering an i...

My special guest is Ryan Sheedy Meet Ryan Sheedy, an incredible father who, much to his own surprise, found himself immersed in the delightful chaos of caring for twin boys. His world drastically transformed ten years ago, when he moved from Pennsylvania to Bentonville, Arkansas. Not only has Ryan navigated the unexpected challenges of parenting twins, but he has also bravely navigated his son's Costello Syndrome diagnosis. Through it all, he's embraced being a stay-at-home dad, constantly lear...

My special guest is Rhandyl Vinyard, Deonna Wade Rhandyl Vinyard and Deonna Wade are two phenomenal mothers from Texas, each raising disabled children. Drawn together by shared circumstances, their friendship continues to strengthen others walking a similar path. Rhandyl, a physical therapist assistant, is the mother to Remy, who has required intensive medical care from an early age. Her background in healthcare provides a unique perspective into the challenges of raising a disabled child. Deon...

Do you want to become a confident advocate for your child's medical needs? Are you searching for a solution to navigate the complex world of medical care for children with conditions? Join us as we welcome Kayleigh Koehler, a Child Life Specialist who has transformed into a medical parent. She will be sharing valuable insights and strategies on how you can achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a knowledgeable and effective advocate for your child's medical journey. Get ready to embark on a trans...

Welcome to the ChildLife On Call podcast, where I, Katie Taylor, sit down with Kayleigh Koehler, a certified child life specialist, to discuss her journey as a medical mom and a child life specialist in a cardiac ICU. Join us as we dive into Kayleigh's personal story, from her gut intuition during pregnancy to her son's diagnosis, and the emotional challenges she faced along the way. We explore the importance of trusting gut intuition, the complexities of navigating the healthcare system as a pa...

Meet J.R., a parent on a challenging journey. From aggressive behaviors to sensory challenges, she shares her struggles of raising a child with severe special needs. But just when things start to improve, an event occurs which leaves her questioning everything. You will not want to miss this story of resilience and uncertainty. In this episode, you will be able to: Gain insights into the journey of raising a child with significant special needs, and learn how to turn these experiences into gro...

In the world of healthcare, where hope often intertwines with despair, one woman's accidental encounter sparked a revolution of compassion. Casey Baynes, driven by a single twist of fate, unlocked the power of providing support and joy to critically ill children and their families. The story unravels in unexpected ways, leading us down a path where ordinary logistics transformed into extraordinary healing. Brace yourself for a tale that will leave your heart racing and your soul yearning for mor...

Have you ever heard these myths about preparing children for ambulance rides and hospital transfers? Myth 1: Children don't need any special preparation for medical transportation. Myth 2: It's best to keep children in the dark about what to expect during the ride. Myth 3: Distractions like toys or electronics can prevent children from feeling anxious. In this episode, our guest Josh Itano will debunk these myths and share the truth about how to prepare children for a smooth and anxiety-free med...

A mother fights against time and navigates the emotional rollercoaster of her daughter's lung transplant, as she strives to fulfill her promise while facing the heart-wrenching challenges of the organ transplant process in a race for survival. In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover the intricate realities of pediatric lung transplants and management of exceptional medical conditions. Relate to the heart-rending emotional challenges families wrestle with during the organ transplant proc...

If you're feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and powerless as you try to address your child's unresolved behavioral issues, only to see them persist and worsen, then you are not alone! Despite your best efforts, the actions you may already be taking, such as discipline strategies, counseling, or seeking help from professionals, may not be producing the desired results. Instead, you may be witnessing strained relationships within your family, academic struggles, social isolation, and a constant sen...

Attention, parents! Have you ever come across these myths while seeking ways to support your child's emotional well-being during healthcare experiences? Myth #1: Children are too young to understand and process their emotions. Myth #2: Therapeutic play is just a form of entertainment, not a valuable tool for emotional support. Myth #3: Children will naturally bounce back emotionally after healthcare experiences. Well, today we have an expert guest, Laura Sufka, who will debunk these myths and sh...

Empowering NICU Parents: Kimberly Reyes Shares Her Advocacy Journey If you're feeling helpless and overwhelmed in your NICU journey, despite trying to be involved and advocate for your baby, then you are not alone! It can be frustrating when your requests and concerns are not heard or acted upon by healthcare providers, and you may feel like you have no control over your baby's care. You may be spending countless hours researching and asking questions, but still feel like you're not making prog...

"What we can do as parents and professionals is look past the behavior." Helping Hands: Resources for Parents Supporting Siblings in Healthcare Situations I remember the first time I saw the impact of a sibling's illness on a family. It was heart-wrenching to watch as the older sibling hesitantly chose a toy to play with in the hospital playroom. As a Child Life On Call specialist, I've learned valuable strategies to support siblings in healthcare situations. But what surprised me was the posi...

Dr. Maureen Michele brings such a valuable perspective to the podcast with her experience being a pediatrician and mother to a medically complex child. Maureen shares with us how to become an advocate and what inspired her to write a book called, 'Reclaiming your Life.' Her book is meant to guide parents who have a child with a medical diagnosis. Maureen shares a snapshot of her book through a thoughtful conversation with Katie. [4:00] Introductions [6;00] Motherhood and Medical School [7:02]...

On today's episode of the podcast, Katie interviews Rylee Neal who decided to become a Child Life Specialist from her past experiences being hospitalized with a heart condition called tetralogy of fallot. An experience with a Child Life Specialist during one of her hospital stays lead her to pursue the field of Child Life. Katie and Rylee have some great conversation about scars, our feelings and how as Child Life Specialists or parents we constantly are looking to better ourselves. You will lea...

Katie along with co-host Mijha from Jambo books interview Dr. Kate Lund, TedEx speaker, clinical psychologist and hydrocephalus warrior. She brings an incredibly important perspective as provider, patient and parent. Dr. Lund shares with us how the support she received throughout her childhood had a positive impact on her life and journey with hydrocephalus. From her wise words and experiences, you will leave this episode feeling empowered with actionable things you can do today. This message is...

On today's episode of the podcast, Katie interviews Courtney Morey, Mother to Annie who was diagnosed with Trisomy 21, AVSD and Pulmonary Hypertension. Katie and Courtney have such great dialogue and raw conversation in this episode. Courtney shares the positive impacts on her marriage and the questions that arise when receiving a life altering diagnosis. Sharing about her journey of self discovery along the way and how it has changed her view on life, this episode will leave you feeling validat...

Today we have another Dad on the podcast. Katie interviews Oliver Bernier, father of Emilio and filmmaker, about his son's unexpected diagnosis of down syndrome. You will learn what inspired Oliver to create a film to educate and empower parents of children with Down syndrome how to navigate the school system and be the best advocate for their child. Oliver's passion to educate parents about the importance of inclusivity will shine through as he shares an inspiring message. [3:45] Introductions...

Katie and Cortney Given, host of the Mindset for Medical Moms Podcast, interview Leah Ward about her son Jackson and his journey with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS.) Leah shares the ups and downs of being a heart mom. Jackson received the gift of life through a Heart Transplant after he went into heart failure and was placed on the Berlin Heart for several months. Leah and Cortney's conversation (Cortney is a heart Mom too!) with Katie will leave you feeling inspired to live in each mome...

On today's episode of the podcast, Katie interviews Lo Nigorish, certified IBCLC Lactation Consultant and Host of The Milk Making Minutes Podcast. Whether your journey consisted of breastfeeding or not she shares how lactation consultants can assist with feeding the NICU and beyond. Lo shares her heart and mission behind supporting families. Whether you are a parent of a baby in the NICU or a clinician, you will not want to miss this episode. [4:21] Introductions [6:05] Parents are experts [7...

Katie, along with co-host Serheen Noor-Ali from Hello Sleuth interview Kelsey Ward, mom to Scarlett who was diagnosed with gastroparesis and hereditary spherocytosis as an infant. Kelsey shares the ups and downs of what it means to be a medical mom and how Scarlett's diagnosis strengthened her marriage. Body confidence is something near to Kelsey's heart. She shares about how she empowers Scarlett to be proud of her g-tube and scars. This episode is packed with great dialogue and you will get at...

Katie interviews Emma Springer, mother to Sage who was born with Trisomy 18. Emma shares her journey to parenthood and how they learned of Sage's diagnosis. Prior to Sage being born, Emma was a pediatric nurse. Emma shares the struggles she went through in Sage's first few months to find care options. She opens up about how being on social media can be so empowering but also shares some of the challenges go along with it. Through Emma, you will get to know the joy that Sage carries with her each...

On todays episode of the podcast, Katie along with co-host Mijha Godfrey from Jambo Books, interview Kayla Gunderson, who's daughter was diagnosed with Ollier's disease. You will get to hear how Kayla navigated her daughter's diagnosis just weeks after giving birth to her son and her valuable perspective as a nurse and former Child Life Specialist. We talk about navigating grief, the support of her spouse and loved ones and what Claire has taught Kayla along this journey. [4:47] Mijha shares ab...