Medical Insights Episodes

In another version of "Katie and Jamie's Top 5" these two friends and child life specialists try to lighten the mood by talking about our favorite things of 2020. We can all admit the year was...meh... so why not chat about some of the good parts. Jamie and Katie talk about fun things like their favorite lounge wear, shows to binge, holiday traditions and more game-changing revelations like favorite recipes (spoiler: wine). From Jamie's favorite flavor of NyQuil to "sympathy chores" she had as...

In this episode, Annie, Certified Child Life Specialist, talks to Eilieen. She is the amazing mom of a determined, fun loving, 4-year-old hero named Brady. Brady was diagnosed with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB). While he inspires all who meets him, his favorite thing is just being a typical boy and being treated as such. After a move from Texas to Colorado to find the best care and environment for him, life shifted and their family became advocates in the RDEB community. Ei...

Katie talks to two Certified Child Life Specialists and military spouses, Savannah Self and Lisa McWhorter about ways to support military families. From long waits in military hospitals to helping children navigate the deployment of parents, child life specialists have an important role in helping families cope. A lack of consistency in providers due to moves across the country, and the world, is one of the biggest healthcare challenges military families face. Savannah and Lisa share tips and ...

Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist, talks with Jamie Gentille, Director of Child Life Services at Inova Children's Hospital and Dr. Jody Thomas, from the Meg Foundation for Pain, in this episode. Dr. Jody Thomas is a licensed clinical psychologist, and specialist in pediatric medical illness and trauma and the founder of the Meg Foundation for Pain. She discusses the mission of their organization which addresses pain in children head-on. Listeners today will walk away with a better understa...

Spit up, and even reflux, can be a common problem for infants, but what happens when it's more than that? In this episode, Amrita shares with Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist, about what happens when a child's reflux became severe and leads to a three-week hospitalization, a feeding tube, and ongoing support from developmental therapists. This is the reality of severe gastroesophogeal reflux disease. Listen to Amrita's story to hear how she has coped with this experience and how her son ...

Meet Ashlyn, momma to her sweet and smiley boy, Myles. Myles was born with a rare disease that effects his limbs and other parts of his body. These symptoms are known as VACTERL association. As a self-proclaimed "planner," Ashlyn talks about the difficulties of having so many unknowns during her pregnancy and how she coped... and is coping... with their journey. She attributes her strong partnership with her husband and prayer as key components to getting through difficult times. If you'd like...

Katie talks to Dominique, mom to Mila, who shares her birth story and NICU experience. Born at just 1lb 11ounces at 26 weeks old, Mila has made tremendous progress thanks to proactive parents, therapies and her momma's un conditional love. Dominique talks about the fear that comes with being an African American pregnant woman in the healthcare setting as well as the impact that sharing her story and community has had on her ability to cope with their journey. You can follow Dominique Pompey th...

Katie interviews Meg and Jess, two certified child life specialists who also have dual certifications in rec therapy and nursing! These two ladies host a podcast called Don't Worry Bout My Hair and they are your @friendswithfros! We tackle tough questions that are way overdue in the field of child life: Have you received any feedback or comments from black families regarding challenges due to limited diversity of the hospital staff? What's been the most challenging thing about being a black wom...

Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist, talks with Meg Casano, mother to Ella who has Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and also created the nonprofit Medi Teddy which is a stuffed animal cover for intravenous medications. Meg talks about the journey to discover her daughter's diagnosis and how an initial prediction that Ella's ITP would only last six months but has turned out to be a life-long chronic illness. She discusses the financial and emotional challenges that exist when you hav...

In this episode, Katie interviews Delanie, an American and child life student currently living in Beijing. She has been in quarantine since January 27. She shares what quarantine life has been like in China ... the center of the Covid19 pandemic. She shares advice from Chinese families who want Americans to know what the number one thing to have on hand at home is... and she talks about what they say life has been like in quarantine with children. She shares how government and culture have play...

When it comes to the Coronavirus, how we inform our children is incredibly important. If you're wondering though, how can we talk to our kids when we as adults still don't know exactly what's happening, you're not alone. This episode covers suggestions for age-appropriate language to use as well as general considerations to keep in mind as you talk to your children. Children are looking to adults for honest, easy-to-digest information. Break it down into a way that they can understand.

Katie sits down (across the airwaves) with Jamie Gentille, Certified Child Life Specialist, Director of Child Life Services at Inova Children's Hospital, author and self-proclaimed animal themed yoga enthusiast to talk all things cardiac-life in honor of Heart Month. Jamie is living proof that "cardiac babies" can not only survive, but THRIVE in spite of challenges, surgeries and so much more. Today she talks about the Top 10 things she knows now as a Cardiac Baby turned Bad Ass adult. We cover...

In this episode Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist interviews Tara Geraghty, President and Founder of Making Cancer Fun. Tara is momma to Emily who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at just three years old. Tara used positivity and FUN to help herself and her daughter cope with their cancer journey. Tara is an author, webinar host, TedX Talk speaker, and just an all around inspiring person. Follow Making Cancer Fun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and follow Tara on Facebook...

This isn't your typical Child Life On Call episode! Katie sits down with two other child life specialists and each talks about their journey into child life, some "child life wins," and the hilarious things that kids have said to them over the years. About twenty minutes in, you'll hear Jamie second guess whether or not she should actually continue with the story she's begun... there are lots of laughs! This is a quick, fun episode that we hope bring you some smiles! Child Life On Call | Inst...

This episode of the Child Life On Call podcast is different that what you're used to hearing, but I fell in LOVE with a book called Tiger Livy and I knew I had to interview the authors. Tiger Livy is the story of a brave six-year-old who inspires empathy, patience, and grit in young readers. It was created for children living with chronic illness but is a great read for any child, even if they're not sick. Co-Authors, Betsy Miller, who experienced her own limitations as a child and Erin Garcia...

This is Lauren's Story - A daughter with congenital heart defects on the Child Life On Call Podcast, hosted by Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist. Little Everly is just over two years and has more fight and life inside of her than most of us could ever dream of. And she's not the only one… prepare to be amazed by big brother too. Their mom, Lauren, shares with us her optimistic perspective even when they've had had their share of complications and setbacks. Lauren mentions resources...

Meredith, mom to now 8-year-old Lola, shares her experience with her daughter who was diagnosed with Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS) shortly after she was three-years-old. However, their story didn't begin there. As an adventure, Meredith talks about how she and her husband moved to Costa Rica from Indiana after they were married. Lola was born there and shortly after birth, her mom began having questions about her health and development. From infantile spasms to possible ...

It's a moment that many parents on this podcast have talked about. Your at your ultrasound, pregnant with your child, and all of a sudden the mood of the room changes. Either the technician leaves, or a doctor walks in to "take a closer look" … a million questions and thoughts and fears run through your mind. In today's episode, you will get to hear from Jade Marie from Portsmouth England. At 16 years old and after being told she could never have children, Jade Marie was shocked to learn that s...

After a long fertility journey and a high risk, stressful, and very sick pregnancy, Stephanie gave birth at 26 weeks due to severe preeclampsia. Stephanie, mom to Adeline, shares her experiences in the NICU and describes Addie's difficulty with digestion. A long road of unknowns eventually led to a diagnosis of functional short bowel syndrome. Stephanie shares her perspective about important topics like how having a child with an "invisible disease" can be a blessing and a curse, how she actuall...

Belinda, a mom, certified child life specialist, teacher and creator of ChildLifeConnection.com shares her story with us today on the final episode of season two of the Child Life On Call Podcast. As a cancer survivor herself, Belinda knew that she wanted her life's work to positively impact hospitalized children and thus she became a Child Life Specialist. After getting married and having her first child, she applied her knowledge of child development and expertise with children to her own son...

At Alex's 20-week ultrasound appointment, she and her husband learned that their daughter, Lucy, had heterotaxy and congenital heart defects. From that moment, their lives changed and they became advocates and fighters for their spunky daughter who is now one year old. In this episode, Alex talks about Lucy's birth, surgeries, hospitalizations and ER visits. She talks about how their cardiologist became one of their biggest champions and what a difference the congenital heart defect online comm...

Sarah shares her experience with a son who acquired a common called RSV and how it eventually led to pneumonia and being hospitalized for a week. We talk about some of the hardest parts of being in the hospital like waiting for a diagnosis, not being able to cuddle your child who is hooked up to oxygen and IVs, and trying to find ways to cope cope as a mother during the experience. Sarah discusses about how this entire experience has changed the way she looks at health, being aware of spreading...

At just 25 weeks pregnant, Courtney was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and was hospitalized. Just 5 days later and after a terrifying emergent c-section, she would meet her daughter, McKenzie. In this episode Courtney talks about her entire experience from her own hospitalization and her daughter's 5-month stay in the NICU, and eventually going home. She talks about the balance of being a single, working mom and the struggles that come along with having a child with medical needs. Courtney will le...

Meredith, a nurse and mother of two, describes her experience as a new mom and what happened when her five-week-old had a fever. After several tests in the ER, she and her family learned that their new son had meningitis. Meredith talks about what their ER and hospital was like with a newborn. Two years later and after suffering from several sinus infections and sleep apnea, her son underwent a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Meredith talks about how they came to the decision to move forward w...