Support Resources Episodes

For this week's episode, Katie is talking with fellow child-life specialist, Annie "Sunshine" Gunning. For 25 years, Annie has helped adapt typical playtime into something that everyone with different needs, such as children who are nonverbal or wheelchair bound, can enjoy. Annie gives us insight into how playing through medical experiences like going to a therapy appointment is important for children to understand the world around them. Similarly, Annie leads us into the hospital setting, deta...

Has your child been burned? Whether it was hot water, ramen noodles, a stove, fireworks, or another accident, this episode guides parents through what to do next. In this episode, Katie sits down with Christella Almonacy, Certified Child Life Specialist at Wellstar's Burn Program, to discuss what families can expect after a child experiences a burn injury. Together, they explore the physical and emotional recovery process, how Child Life Specialists help children cope with painful procedures, a...

When a child needs emergency transport to a children's hospital, families are often facing one of the hardest moments of their lives. Behind every ambulance ride, helicopter flight, or plane transfer is a highly trained team working together to keep children safe, while also supporting parents through the unknown. In this episode of Inside the Children's Hospital, Katie Taylor sits down with Kami Stone, Assistant Clinical Director at Texas Children's Hospital Austin, and Jacob, a transport EMT ...

For many families, going home from the hospital feels like the finish line. But what happens when the emotional impact of a medical experience lingers long after discharge? On this episode of Inside the Children's Hospital, Katie Taylor sits down with Jen Aspengren, founder of Alongside Network, to discuss pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS), a common yet often overlooked experience that affects children, parents, siblings, and caregivers following serious medical events. Jen shares her ...

How do you prepare a child for surgery and build trust with their medical team? This episode explores how families and healthcare providers can work together to support children through procedures like tonsillectomy and other medical challenges. This week's guest, Dr. Tali Lando, shares her perspective as a pediatric ENT surgeon, author, and mom of three teenage daughters. She and Katie discuss what it's really like for families navigating medical care with complex kids and how parents can advo...

What does life really look like after a child receives a kidney transplant? Many people think transplant is the end of the journey—but for families, it's often just the beginning. This week's guest, Lyndsey Fedorko, returns to the podcast to share the next chapter of her son James's medical journey—life after a kidney transplant. After years of dialysis, hospitalizations, and uncertainty, James received a life-saving kidney transplant from his aunt, marking the beginning of a new season for the...

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,...

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 for...

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 ...

"The excitement that the kids feel when they are seeing you... and they know today's session with Ms. Luba and they can't wait to see you." - Luba Kaplan When a child enters the medical system, parents often meet many specialists beyond doctors and nurses, including Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP). These professionals are vital members of the healthcare team, doing more than just helping with speech. SLPs, as Luba Kaplan explains, also explains how they look at every area of the child's devel...

When Stacey's toddler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, her family's world turned upside down. In this episode, she shares the early warning signs, the struggle of those first two weeks of injections, and how humor and community turned fear into resilience. Parents will gain hope, advocacy tips, and coping strategies for managing a chronic illness diagnosis. What You'll Hear How Stacey recognized the 4 Ts of diabetes: Thirsty, Tired, Thinner, Toilet The reality of hospitalization, finger st...

From "colic" that never eased to four pages of confirmed allergens, Susanna Peace Lovell recounts the first years of parenting her daughter, Arizona—years marked by nonstop crying, full-body eczema, and relentless advocacy. When a hypoallergenic formula finally brought relief around 18–19 months, Susanna could breathe—and begin reframing motherhood with compassion for her child and herself. She shares practical allergy survival tips (from table toppers to EpiPens), how autism diagnosis informed ...

"The tears legitimately just turned to curiosity—and she wanted to play." – Mary Jenner, BSN and Founder of the Butterfly Pig Meet Mary, a former pediatric oncology nurse turned full-time entrepreneur and founder of The Butterfly Pig. In this heartfelt episode, Mary opens up about how play transformed her bedside care, her daughter's unexpected NICU stay due to HIE, and how she's now helping families and clinicians reduce pediatric medical trauma through imaginative medical play tools. Listen i...

"I was pumping in the NICU, feeling completely disconnected—and my husband looked at me and said, 'Can you invite her in?' That moment changed everything. A nurse handed me a swab, I gave my baby colostrum for the first time, and I thought, 'I'm a mommy.'" – Tanisha NICU mom and advocate Tanisha shares her deeply moving journey through an unexpected fetal diagnosis, a 157-day NICU stay, and the powerful moments that helped her reconnect with motherhood. Diagnosed at 20 weeks with Lower Urinary ...

A huge thank you to our sponsor of today's podcast, Begin Health. - Use code CHILDLIFEONCALL for 25% off 30% of children struggle with constipation and it can feel impossible trying to find a solution for your child. Especially if your child has food allergies or has a condition or illness, you want to feel good about the products you are selecting for your child. To me, finding a company whose products have the highest quality and natural ingredients is really important. Begin Health®'s flagsh...

Child Life Specialist Secrets: Flu Shot Prep Strategies Every Parent Should Know Thank you to the sponsor of today's podcast: Begin Health In this episode of the Child Life On Call Podcast, hosts Katie Taylor and Emily Martinec, both certified child life specialists, discuss strategies for preparing, supporting, and responding to children during flu shots. The conversation extends to other medical experiences, offering developmentally appropriate ways to engage children. They emphasize collabo...

"Combining my personal experiences as a mom with my professional role has given me a unique perspective on the challenges families face and the solutions they need." - Jaclyn Pederson In this insightful episode, host Katie Taylor speaks with Jaclyn Pederson, CEO of Feeding Matters and mother, and Athena Flicek, a dedicated mother of a child with feeding difficulties, about the complexities of pediatric feeding disorders. Jaclyn and Athena share their personal and professional experiences, empha...

Episode Description: In this special impromptu episode, Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist and CEO of Child Life On Call, shares some exciting news! We're rebranding our beloved Child Life On Call app to SupportSpot. Tune in to hear why we made this change and what it means for you and your family. Plus, get a sneak peek into the new features and benefits you can expect from SupportSpot. This is an announcement you won't want to miss! Show Notes: [00:00] Introduction Welcome from Ka...

"As a child life specialist, watching my tiniest patients grow and accomplish so many things is my favorite part of the job." - Julie, Certified Child Life Specialist Episode Summary: In this heartfelt episode of Child Life On Call, we celebrate Child Life Month by diving deep into the dedicated world of child life specialists and the resilient families they support. Host Katie Taylor talks to Julie, a remarkable child life specialist with 18 years of experience in the renal service at Texas Ch...

In this profound episode, we join Katie Taylor as she delves into the inspiring journey of a military family navigating pediatric healthcare for their two medically complex children. Through the voice of the remarkable mother, Kat, we explore the unique challenges and triumphs of securing continuous, specialized care amidst the frequent relocations and complexities inherent to military life. Kat shares her experiences with advocacy, the importance of resilience, and the deep bonds forged through...

What if we could prevent more kids from having to have invasive surgery? During this episode, we are joined by Katie Corrado, who invented a product that works as an alternative to surgery for babies and children. Tune in to hear how her first-hand experience of watching her child struggle with an umbilical hernia led her to an innovative solution that she now offers to other families facing the same challenge. You'll also learn why Katie is an advocate for proactive rather than reactive medical...

"Millie's journey has taken me to the end of myself, but it's been the most beautiful beginning of understanding humanness and how to be compassionate and how to really be kind to other people and take notice that the story that is their life may not be what you see." How does trauma affect the whole family, and how can we show compassion to adults with special needs? One thing I have learned about throughout my career as a child life specialist and have heard from many families on this podcast...

"If you have a question, ask it. You are the parent, you need to know" - Jessica Siddi-Sewart How can medical parents use their experiences to promote action and advocacy? As a child life specialist, I know that there is not one "normal" or "best" reaction for a parent when their child receives a medical diagnosis. Today's guest, Jessica Siddi-Sewart and she helps us reflect on the different stages parents go through when facing a medical diagnosis for their child. She is also a mother of three...

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...