From Peds Nurse to Cancer Mom: What Helped her Child Cope

Pediatric nurse and mom Brigid Bowland shares how her family navigated her son's neuroblastoma diagnosis—with practical guidance on preparing kids for care, accepting support, and finding hope.

Key Topics:

• The symptoms that led to Brigid's son's neuroblastoma diagnosis

• Going from pediatric nurse to parent receiving life-changing medical news

• Using medical play to prepare young children for procedures

• Giving children choices and control during repeated medical care

• Why slowing down can sometimes make procedures easier

• Supporting siblings through a cancer diagnosis

• Caring for yourself while caring for a seriously ill child

• Asking for and accepting practical support from others

• Resources including Beads of Courage, Connecting Champions, and neuroblastoma-specific preparation tools

Timestamps

00:00 - Finding support through childhood cancer stories
01:11 - Brigid introduces her family
01:38 - Penn State THON and supporting families facing cancer
03:21 - The first sign: a persistent limp
04:55 - Night sweats, an ER visit, and the diagnosis
05:18 - Understanding neuroblastoma and treatment
06:31 - Receiving serious news in the hospital where Brigid works
10:28 - Being both mom and medical translator
11:32 - Why preparing children for procedures matters
12:52 - Medical play and repeated procedures
14:08 - Choices, breaks, and helping kids feel more in control
15:09 - Practicing dressing changes through play
16:49 - Why faster isn't always easier for kids
18:34 - The hard days and emotional toll of treatment
20:36 - Stem cell transplant and the hardest phase of treatment
21:34 - Prayer, gratitude, and staying grounded
25:31 - Simple medical play using things you already have
27:58 - Explaining cancer to siblings
28:28 - Bringing support into a sibling's school
31:12 - Child life tools that can help with procedures
34:09 - Taking cancer treatment one hurdle at a time
35:22 - What asking for help looked like for Brigid's family
39:36 - Connecting Champions and identity beyond cancer
41:00 - Beads of Courage
42:01 - Neuroblastoma resources and medical play tools
43:32 - What Brigid learned about control, patience, and time

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This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care.

The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.