New Episodes Every Wednesday

Grief And Healing Episodes

Delve into conversations around loss and grief while exploring the paths to healing as families process their experiences with pediatric illnesses.
Feb. 14, 2020

Rare Childhood Cancer (atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor): A Father's Perspective on His Daughter's Journey

This episode is not a cancer story. This is a story about a loving family, a precious child, and how to find miracles during the darkest parts of life. In this episode, Katie interviews Scott Kramer, father to Maddie. Maddie was diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) at just two and a half years old and sadly passed away after 8 months of treatment. However, Maddie's story is far from over. Scott and his wife are founders of Dancing While Cancering, a nonprofit that shares joy ...
May 8, 2019

Birth Trauma and Prematurity: One Mother's Journey with Two Sons

This episode features Alexandra Ortega, mom of three. She shares the stories of her two son's Theo and Noah. First, we talk about her second-born, Noah, who suffered a traumatic brain injury during his birth at 35 weeks. Next, we talk about her third-born, Noah, who was born at 28 weeks. Alex talks about their NICU experiences, the ups and downs of having children with special needs, and how she copes herself. Alex's words in this episode will resonate with anyone who has a child or loved one wh...
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April 23, 2019

Episode 26 | Gillian's Story - A daughter with Infant Leukemia

In this episode you will hear from Gillian, cohost of the For Grits and Giggles podcast. Gillian describe her personal journey that includes a cancer diagnosis for her infant daughter and life altering accident that happened a year after she finished chemotherapy. She shares her own personal struggles in coping and how she sought medical help, and she'll describe how meeting another mom whose life paralleled hers turned into a lifelong friendship and a special bond that will stay with her foreve...
July 3, 2017

Meningoencephalitis Leads to a Coma in the PICU

Michelle's story is one that took place over 15 years ago, and this is the first time she has spoken about it publicly. At the age of two, Brynn started developing inexplicable fevers which concerned her mother, an Emergency Room nurse. After trusting her gut that "something was wrong," Michelle brought her daughter in the middle of the night to the ER and shortly after was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis and in a coma for over a week. Michelle brings a unique perspective on relationships wi...
June 26, 2017

Goldenhar Syndrome and Caudal Regression: Living with Multiple Diagnoses

After a long pregnancy on hospitalized bedrest, Kelli describes the birth and first year of her twin girls, one of which was born with two genetic conditions, Caudal Regression Syndrome and Goldenhar Syndrome. The journey to diagnose these conditions was a long one, and Kelli talks about what that process was like, and what is like to have a child with these two syndromes. Kelli recommends a several resources, www.isacra.com and the Goldenhar Syndrome Facebook group. Kelli also recommends raredi...