Episodes

For today's 12 minute talk, I'm speaking with Kat Harrison. At the end of 2021, I shared Kat's episode (episode 99) in which she talked about what it was like being a teenager with chronic illness. During that episode, we touched on what helped her the most when she was a teenager in the hospital and how to support adolescents coping with different medical or mental challenges. I'm so excited to share this talk with you today so you can be more prepared when you're talking to your own teenager o...

Today's guest is Betsy, from an organization called Hope for HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy). HIE refers to brain injury in an infant, and Betsy will share more specifics about the condition and her family's experience with it in our discussion. I originally learned about this organization through working in the NICU here in Texas, and it is a wonderful source of support for parents struggling in completely unknown territory with their babies.In this episode, we talk about…[1:19] HIE: Hy...

As we kick off the new year, my guest Christiana is sharing the story of her son's osteosarcoma. Nathaniel has passed away, but his family created Nathaniel's Childhood Cancer Foundation in his name and legacy. Christiana walks us through his experience with osteosarcoma from the beginning, and she shares details about his battles with childhood cancer.In this episode, we talk about…[1:27] Introducing Christiana and her family[3:09] The beginning of Nathaniel's story with osteosarcoma[11:49]...

It's the 100th episode!Today I'm opening up a bit and letting you get to know more about me as well as more about what a child life specialist does. I will be sharing my thoughts about the holiday season, and then I will answer some questions about child life.In this episode, I talk about…[2:57] The child life perspective on dealing with holiday feelings[7:21] A commonly held belief about my role that I passionately disagree with[8:41] What I wish my younger self knew about being a child li...

My guest today, Kat, is sharing her story as a child and now as an adult with chronic illness. I think it's important for us to change our perspective a bit and hear what the patient has to say. Kat is the community manager at The Mighty, and she has also written two children's books: Migraine and Mia and Surgery on Sunday. She is such a creative spirit, and she gets really honest with us about what it was like being a teenager in the hospital. She shares what her parents did that worked well, w...

Happy December! I'm changing things up a big this week, and sharing my discussion with Meg and Jess from Friends with Fros. I first interviewed them in June 2020, so please feel free to go back and listen to their anti-racism and diversity episode before enjoying this conversation. Meg and Jess host a podcast called Don't Worry 'Bout My Hair, and they also hold dual certifications as child life specialists along with rec therapy and nursing.In this episode, we talk about…[1:47] Life updates al...

My guest today, Samarrah, is sharing her story about her son being diagnosed with a brain tumor. I encourage you to be present as you listen to her story and take the wisdom she is offering.In this episode, we talk about…[1:49] Introducing Samarrah and her family[2:53] Getting the diagnosis of an ependymoma brain tumor[6:19] Processing the brain tumor diagnosis[8:44} Treatment for ependymoma[12:43] The role of parents in a child's cancer treatment[15:32] Finding support and community[19:...

My guest today is Carrie Holt. Carrie is one of those people who, when you talk to her, you feel like you've known her your whole life AND it feels like you're there in the room with her. She has such a great perspective on having a child with a diagnosis and special needs, and she also hosts a podcast called Take Heart Special Mom. I'll be sharing a bit about what I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving week, and then we will jump into Carrie's story.In this episode, we talk about…[1:24] What I a...

Meet the author, Priscilla Morgan. She gives us exactly what we need to know to start a gratitude journal with kids, without making it a chore. She teaches us how to find the emotional connection with gratitude to make it meaningful, as well as the power of what gratitude can do now and in the future.Gratitude Journal for Kids by Priscilla Morgan is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.In this episode, we talk about…[1:00] Priscilla's background[2:45] Helping children navigate the journe...

Today I get to introduce you to Moira, the host of Surviving the Waiting Room - a podcast based on her experiences from learning how to be an advocate for her teenage children as they started to figure out their health issues. Although they have diagnoses now, there are no exact tests for Celiac Disease or migraines, so Moira has gotten really good at finding people to help give her information. She has a lot of value to share about getting answers for your kids as well as about relating to teen...

For today's 12 minute talk, I'm interviewing Ashley McGaughy. Ashley is a pediatric occupational therapist from Chicago, and she primarily works as an independent contractor with kids in intervention programs, ages zero to three. She works on everything from play to daily life skills, and she gets to see kids both in their homes and in private community settings. She has a lot of expertise to offer, and I'm so excited to share it with you.In this episode, we talk about…[1:09] How Ashley got i...

The Dad's Perspective: A Son with a Rare Genetic DiseaseSo there is this rock star in the podcast world, and her name is Effie Parks. She hosts a podcast called Once Upon a Gene, inspired by her son who has a rare genetic disease. Effie really focuses on the idea that disability is diversity, and that is an idea I try to put into practice professionally as well as personally. Today, we are going to hear from Effie's husband. If you haven't yet, check out Effie's story. Then head back here to l...

For today's 12 minute talk, I'm talking about the COVID-19 vaccine and how to discuss it with kids. I'm going to give you some ideas, with the caveat that you don't have to use the exact words I use. You know your child best.This is also not meant to be an episode that tells you to get your child vaccinated. That is not my area of expertise. You can discuss that with your child's doctor and your family. If you are deciding to get the vaccine, I think it's important to have a conversation with y...

Today I'm introducing you to Jenny Hull, a single mom to Josie who just turned 20 years old. Jenny is also the CEO and founder of a nonprofit organization called Once Upon a Room. They are changing the game for kids in hospitals, and we'll get into all the amazing things they do toward the end of our conversation. Jenny is one of the most comforting and compassionate people I've ever had the pleasure of talking with, and her family story is unlike any other - from head-conjoined twins given less...

For today's 12 minute talk, I'm interviewing Dr. Brittany Ferri. She is an occupational therapist, and she has a passion for talking with kids about disabilities. Brittany talks about her program, Social Fly, a social and motor skills curriculum that educates kids ages 5-12 about disabilities. This program is great for parents, teachers, child life specialists, and anyone else who is interested in learning how to talk to children about these topics.In this episode, we talk about…[1:10] Branchi...

It's an incredibly rare experience to sit next to someone else who "gets" what you're going through… exactly. That's what support groups are for, right? Well, today you're getting an inside look into what young adults who have experienced childhood cancer are saying in their support group. These amazing individuals were treated at Hershey Medical Center and now share their support group on a live forum through their Life On Pause podcast. Go listen and share ALL of their episodes. We can learn s...

I connected with one of today's guests, Brady, through our shared alma mater, Penn State University. He has dealt with cancer not once, but twice, and he agreed to come on the podcast with his mother, Lisa. I'm so honored to have both of them on the show to share their experiences, and to continue to spread awareness about this terrible disease during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.In this episode, we talk about…[2:35] Lisa's and Brady's family[3:30] Brady's cancer diagnosis[9:05] Feeling ...

I'm so excited to have my friend Starlyn on the show today! She and her husband have struggled with infertility for years, and she is here to share the miraculous story about having one embryo and ending up with four babies. Today we will hear all about what it's like to be pregnant with quadruplets, to be separated from them (and her older daughter) in antepartum, and to be unable to visit them in the NICU due to a natural disaster (the Texas snowstorm in March 2021, plus the COVID-19 pandemic)...

It's another day in September, which means we are going to be recognizing National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder in which blood cells may become sickle shaped and harden, causing a lot of pain. On this episode, I am bringing back Lisa's Story: A Daughter with Sickle Cell Disease. I want to bring to light sicklecelldisease.org's theme for 2021, which is Sickle Cell Matters. This impactful disease can permeate every part of a person's life, from de...

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Over the last four-and-a-half years, I have had the opportunity and honor to interview many parents who are a part of a club that they didn't ask to be in. There is a common bond when you can look at another parent and say you have been through exactly what they are going through.I wanted to go through some of the amazing stories we have been able to share, and give you some of the clips and audio tips that we have gotten from so many families on t...

When it comes to talking about cancer with kids, there is no one that compares to Holly Senn (Certified Child Life Specialist at Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital). We're going to share some tips for parents, teachers, and anyone else who works with children, so that you can approach this serious topic in a really open, kind, and educational way.In this episode, we talk about…[1:16] Holly's experience in the Child Life field[3:19] Working with hematology-oncology families[4:30] Engaging ...

My guest this week is Taraneh, sharing her story about having a son with cleft palate.In this episode, we talk about…[2:24] Taraneh's background and her family[3:54] Taraneh's pregnancy and birth experience with her son[5:23] Cleft palate and Pierre Robin Sequence diagnoses[12:35] Flexibility with feeding a baby with a cleft palate[15:40] Leaving the hospital and transferring care to a clinic[20:44] Taraneh's son's surgery[29:28] Surprising or unexpected moments from going through this e...

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL20 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more!This episode is also sponsored by Magic Mind, the World's First Productivity Drink Go here and enter code childlifeoncall20 for 20% off your orderThis is a quick 12-minute talk addressing how to prepare children for back-to-school. My son is going into first grade, and during last school year I was able to apply a lot of my Child Life skills to him. I wa...

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers. Use code ONCALL20 for 20% off your order of smile making stickers, toys, patient supplies, and more!Meet Bonnie, her husband and her three adult children. Bonnie calls herself "the replacement kid" after her parents lost their son to Type 1 Diabetes. Because of their history, Bonnie was hyper aware of the signs and symptoms and ended up diagnosing her own son at 5 years old with a urine test strip on the bathroom floor of their own home.Have you heard...