Episodes

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers! On today's episode, Annie Jones, CCLS is our guest host! We will hear from Sarah about her daughter Adalee having an ischemic stroke with no pre-existing conditions. With strokes, the...

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers Abbie Pabon and Emily Enstad share their motherhood journeys through the pandemic, how it shaped their careers and how they created a company that gives hands on tools to help children...

Today we have a guest co-host AND a guest! Our guest co-host is Sehreen Noorali, and you may remember her from Episode 112 of the podcast. Her younger daughter has some medical needs and has been through neurosurgery. Like Se...

I'm bringing you a quick episode about a commonly asked question. This topic also happens to be one of our most downloaded resources on the website (in case you didn't know, you can get free downloadable resources here !) We'...

This is a very worthy repost episode, as April is Limb Difference Awareness Month. We first shared Ashlyn's story over a year ago, but I wanted to bring it back. The two things that I continue to take away from this story is ...

Today's guest expert is Jessica Lewin, a child life specialist in the school setting. We talk about some of the key concepts that she wants parents to know are affecting their middle and high schoolers. Jessica and I discuss ...

When parents feel empowered, everyone wins – kids thrive and the care team excels! Links and Resources: SupportSpot Website Download SupportSpot iOS or Android 85 % of users report high satisfaction, appreciating the SupportS...

Today's guest expert is my mother, Jane Donovan, who is a child abuse advocate. She is here to provide tangible ways to make this concept less scary and to empower kids and parents. We want to leave you feeling confident abou...

Today I'm talking with Amy, who discovered her son had a brain tumor after noticing something different about his eye one morning. The brain has a lot of jobs, and it has affected his everyday life in many ways. Amy is an inc...

March is Child Life month, and I wanted to feature some amazing organizations that are doing so much to support children and families in crisis. A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to interview an expert in the field of C...

March is Child Life month, and I wanted to feature some amazing organizations that are doing so much to support children and families in crisis. A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to interview an expert in the field of C...

Today I am introducing you to Dr. Jin Lee, a licensed clinical psychologist with experience working in hospitals. She now has her own private practice, and she specializes with teens who have functional neurological or post-c...

Today we have another story from a heart mama. I wanted to fit them all into February, but I couldn't quite make it. So we are just creeping into March here with Dimitra and her story. Her son also had transposition of the gr...

Here we are in the last week of February, which is heart month, and I am so honored to bring you Melissa's story. We have discussed other heart defects before, such as tetralogy of fallot and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. ...

Julie May has been a child life specialist for almost 20 years. She is here today to talk with us about how to talk to and support kids who have an adult in their lives who has an illness. Julie talks about what Wonders and ...

Today's guest, Elizabeth, had never heard of PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infection) when her son was diagnosed with it. PANDAS is a tough diagnosis, because some docto...

Today's 12 minute talk became a 20+ minute talk, and Cara Smith and I discussed how parents can connect with their children after a disaster. Cara is an amazing pioneer in the child life field, and she has valuable tips both ...

Today's guest is Maureen, and she found out at her 20 week ultrasound that her daughter had clubfoot. She shares what families have to endure when confronted with a child with clubfoot. You'll hear about B and B (boots and ba...

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 to...

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 ...

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 wal...

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 an...

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 a...

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-raci...