Episodes

When your child survives one medical emergency only to face another, parenting becomes a constant act of advocacy and courage. Today's guest joins us to share her daughter's journey with rare and complex medical conditions, from early respiratory failure and unexplained hospitalizations to epilepsy, lung disease, and life with medical uncertainty. As a military spouse navigating deployments, Brittany shares what it means to walk this path largely alone, trust her instincts as a mother, and fight...

When your newborn is healthy one moment and rushed to the PICU the next, life can change in an instant. Today's guest joins us to share her son's journey with severe hemophilia—from unexpected bleeding after a routine circumcision to a spontaneous brain bleed, emergency surgery, and a months-long PICU stay. This episode explores being thrust into medical motherhood, learning to advocate under unimaginable stress, and how community, child life, and modern medicine help families navigate life with...

When your child receives a new medical diagnosis, it can feel like the world shifts beneath your feet. Today's guest joins Katie Taylor to share her daughter's Type 1 Diabetes journey—from dismissing "textbook" symptoms to navigating the financial challenges of families when it comes to chronic illness. This episode explores how one Mom moved from denial to "work mode" and how the HealthWell Foundation helps families afford life-saving medications.Sponsored in part by HealthWell Foundation—lea...

When your child receives a new medical diagnosis, it can feel like the world shifts beneath your feet. Here's how to move forward with clarity, support and connection, hosted by Katie Taylor and the Inside the Children's Hospital podcast.Listen to more stories at insidethechildrenshospital.com.Medical information provided is not a substitute for professional advice—please consult your care team.Sponsored in part by HealthWell Foundation—learn how you can help families afford life-saving med...

If your child is facing a diagnosis, procedure, or hospitalization — you're not alone.Inside the Children's Hospital brings you real stories from parents who've walked this path. Not medical advice, but the kind of honest conversation you need when you're scared, exhausted, and looking for someone who gets it.I'm Katie Taylor, a Certified Child Life Specialist with 15 years supporting families through hard moments in pediatric healthcare.On this podcast, I interview caregivers who share wh...

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 ...

In this profoundly moving and honest conversation, we sit down with Jeff Loving, a NICU dad, husband, and now an author, who shares the intimate and often unspoken grief experienced by fathers after pregnancy loss. Jeff walks us through the heartbreaking loss of his two sons, Davian and Jadon, the struggle to find empathy and appropriate medical care, and how these experiences ultimately led him and his wife, Cassie, to become fierce advocates for their future family. This episode is a raw look ...

Melanie, mom to 12-year-old Masen, shares the unexpected path to her son's diagnosis with Homocystinuria (HCU) after a routine eye exam revealed something "off." What followed was months of uncertainty, a rare diagnosis few providers had even heard of, a crash course in low-protein diets and metabolic formulas, and two back-to-back eye surgeries to prevent further damage. With gentleness, honesty, and deep advocacy, Melanie describes how they adjusted as a family, how Masen built resilience, and...

Tara Cohen opens up about her son Will's autism diagnosis and how it transformed her family and career. From navigating meltdowns to discovering AAC as a communication lifeline, Tara shares her honest reflections on parenting, resilience, and hope. What began as a search for a medical ID bracelet led to a career at Lauren's Hope—where she now helps other families feel safe and supported. This heartfelt episode reminds caregivers that advocacy grows from love and that even small acts of compassio...

"My baby went from fussy to lifeless in hours—by the time we reached the PICU, they said he might have had six hours to live."In this episode, TikTok Influencer and Medical Mom Marlee Brandon, a pediatric speech-language pathologist turned full-time mom, shares the whirlwind diagnosis of her 12-month-old son Bain with Type 1 diabetes and severe DKA, the traumatic hospital stay, and the everyday advocacy that followed. Raw, practical, and deeply hopeful.Why this episode mattersEmotional cla...

Join us for an incredibly candid and informative conversation with Audrey Vernick, a passionate advocate and the Director of Patient and Family Advocacy for the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. Audrey shares the powerful 21-year journey of her son, Bennett, who suffered a stroke in utero and was later diagnosed with the catastrophic epilepsy known as Infantile Spasms.Audrey recounts the emotional process from the difficult labor and early concerns dismissed as normal reflexes, to the terri...

"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 KaplanWhen 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 HearHow Stacey recognized the 4 Ts of diabetes: Thirsty, Tired, Thinner, ToiletThe reality of hospitalization, finger st...

In this incredibly personal and moving episode, we sit down with Teejay and Jon, the authors of the gentle children's book Clemence, to share the full, raw story of their daughter, Nadiya. Their journey began with an unexpected connection—a transatlantic online romance between Teejay in Australia and Jon in Canada—that quickly turned into a marriage grounded in a shared life and purpose.With Teejay's extensive background in early childhood development and their experience fostering a young man...

Is the "best" hospital just about technology and surgical success? Ben Harder, the journalist who oversees the methodology and data for the U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals Rankings (2025), joins Katie to break down what truly defines quality in pediatric care.Ben shares his deeply personal family story—a tragedy 50 years in the past that drives his commitment to making data-driven information accessible today. This episode is a crucial guide for parents, explaining the three core pillars o...

Psychologist and heart-transplant recipient Dr. Brittany Clayborne shares how her own medical journey prepared her to guide her son Micah through sudden heart failure, an LVAD, and a life-saving transplant. She unpacks the family's rare Danon's disease diagnosis, post-transplant cancer (PTLD), and the everyday realities after transplant—meds, setbacks, and hope. You'll learn Dr. Brittany's BRAVE framework for hard moments, how rituals sustain connection during long hospital stays, and how Micah ...

In this episode of Child Life On Call, guest Maite Rodriguez shares her daughter Alessia's inspiring journey with sickle cell disease (SCD)—from diagnosis at birth and painful crises to finding a cure through a pediatric bone marrow transplant at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Maite discusses the challenges of long-term treatments like hydroxyurea, the emotional toll of hospitalizations, and her family's decision to pursue IVF to create a genetic match. She also introduces her bilingual children's bo...

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 ...

In this episode, Dr. Allison Mell—pediatric PT and founder of Tots on Target—breaks down how therapy for kids doesn't have to feel overwhelming. She shares real talk about what progress actually looks like, why play is so powerful, and how parents can weave therapy into everyday life without adding stress. From NICU graduates to toddlers finding their stride, Allison reminds us that tiny wins build up to big milestones. Her approachable, down-to-earth advice helps parents feel supported, capable...

When Camryn's fearless 4-year-old suddenly became anxious, her gut said something deeper was wrong. Multiple "all clear" evaluations followed—until a post-virus crash at age 6 that led to a diagnosis under the PANS/PANDAS umbrella (autoimmune encephalitis). Camryn shares how a steadfast pediatrician, early referrals, and balancing clinical guidance with peer support helped her daughter reclaim everyday life—right down to summer swim league. She also opens up about protecting her child's privacy,...

In this reposted episode, Courtney shares her journey of receiving her daughter Annie's Trisomy 21 diagnosis, navigating the NICU, and walking through open-heart surgery complicated by pulmonary hypertension. She talks about the power of community, the unexpected strength she discovered in herself, and how vulnerability and advocacy have shaped her motherhood. Courtney reminds us that love, connection, and collective wisdom can carry families through the hardest seasons while celebrating Annie's...

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, epilepsy in children, and autism parenting—in this powerful episode, women's health coach and mom of four, Erin Trier, shares her family's eight-year journey to finally receiving a TSC diagnosis for her son, Brendan.She talks about the early seizures, navigating a rare genetic disorder, and managing the added challenges of autism and uncontrolled epilepsy. Erin opens up about the emotional and mental toll, the power of vulnerability, and the practical organization s...

Victoria Garcia—lovingly known as "Nurse Vic"—shares her powerful journey as a nurse and mom of two, including her daughter Julia, who was diagnosed with achondroplasia during pregnancy. In this heartfelt episode, Victoria opens up about the emotional and logistical challenges of navigating a rare diagnosis while working at the very hospital where she received the news. She talks about the strength she found in community, the importance of informed advocacy, and what it truly means to be in alig...

In this moving and hope-filled episode, mother-daughter duo Quinn Wyatt and Kirby Larson share the deeply personal story behind their middle grade novel, Gut Reaction. Diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a teen after years of being dismissed, Quinn opens up about her experience living with a misunderstood chronic illness. Kirby, an acclaimed author, reveals what it took to revisit this painful chapter of their lives and co-write a book that helps kids feel seen. Together, they explore diagnosis de...