Child Life On Call: Parents Of Children With An Illness Or Medical Condition Share Their Stories With A Child Life Specialist

In this episode, Katie interviews Delanie, an American and child life student currently living in Beijing. She has been in quarantine since January 27. She shares what quarantine life has been like  in China ... the center of the Covid19 pandemic. She shares advice from Chinese families who want Americans to know what the number one thing to have on hand at home is... and she talks about what they say life has been like in quarantine with children. She shares how government and culture have played a role in the way the Chinese have handled their quarantine and what life is like now that conditions are improving. The resources Delanie recommends: Austin-based company providing "quarantine kits" for kids. Booklet on explaining Coronavirus to kids Virus song for kids Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

When it comes to the Coronavirus, how we inform our children is incredibly important. If you’re wondering though, how can we talk to our kids when we as adults still don’t know exactly what’s happening, you’re not alone. This episode covers suggestions for age-appropriate language to use as well as general considerations to keep in mind as you talk to your children. Children are looking to adults for honest, easy-to-digest information. Break it down into a way that they can understand.

Katie sits down (across the airwaves) with Jamie Gentille, Certified Child Life Specialist, Director of Child Life Services at Inova Children's Hospital, author and self-proclaimed animal themed yoga enthusiast to talk all things cardiac-life in honor of Heart Month.  Jamie is living proof that "cardiac babies" can not only survive, but THRIVE in spite of challenges, surgeries and so much more. Today she talks about the Top 10 things she knows now as a Cardiac Baby turned Bad Ass adult. We cover everything from the perks of messing with people while wearing holter monitors, to passing out at celebrity parties and tips and tricks for dealing with the T word... Tape. Want to hear more about Jamie? Listen to her CLOC episode here or buy her book, Surviving HIV, on Amazon. Don't forget to subscribe to the Child Life On Call podcast to keep up with the families and parents who share their story and all things Child Life. Interested in sharing your story? Do that at the bottom of the page on this link. Child Life

This episode is not a cancer story. This is a story about a loving family, a precious child, and how to find miracles during the darkest parts of life. In this episode, Katie interviews Scott Kramer, father to Maddie. Maddie was diagnosed with atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) at just two and a half years old and sadly passed away after 8 months of treatment. However, Maddie's story is far from over. Scott and his wife are founders of Dancing While Cancering, a nonprofit that shares joy by delivering SmilePacks to children facing cancer. This episode is not a cancer story. This is a story of a loving family, a miracle child, and how to find miracles during the darkest parts of life. Maddie's life was full of miracles that continue to make a positive impact on anyone who hears her story.  Follow Maddie's story and Dancing While Cancering on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter  

In this episode Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist interviews Tara Geraghty, President and Founder of Making Cancer Fun. Tara is momma to Emily who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at just three years old. Tara used positivity and FUN to help herself and her daughter cope with their cancer journey. Tara is an author, webinar host, TedX Talk speaker, and just an all around inspiring person.  Follow Making Cancer Fun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and follow Tara on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter  

This isn't your typical Child Life On Call episode! Katie sits down with two other child life specialists and each talks about their journey into child life, some "child life wins," and the hilarious things that kids have said to them over the years. About twenty minutes in, you'll hear Jamie second guess whether or not she should actually continue with the story she's begun... there are lots of laughs! This is a quick, fun episode that we hope bring you some smiles! Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

This episode of the Child Life On Call podcast is different that what you're used to hearing, but I fell in LOVE with a book called Tiger Livy and I knew I had to interview the authors. Tiger Livy is the story of a brave six-year-old who inspires empathy, patience, and grit in young readers. It was created for children living with chronic illness but is a great read for any child, even if they're not sick.  Co-Authors, Betsy Miller, who experienced her own limitations as a child and Erin Garcia, who grew up with a brother who required multiple hospitalizations, authored the book and in our conversation they give great insight into how friends and family members can support families facing challenges. You can find the book here and see Betsy Miller's other published books here. Follow along with the Tiger Livy Project on Instagram and Facebook.  Information on Juvenile Myositis can be found at www.curejm.org Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

This is Lauren’s Story - A daughter with congenital heart defects on the Child Life On Call Podcast, hosted by Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist. Little Everly is just over two years and has more fight and life inside of her than most of us could ever dream of. And she’s not the only one… prepare to be amazed by big brother too. Their mom, Lauren, shares with us her optimistic perspective even when they've had had their share of complications and setbacks. Lauren mentions resources that include: Ronald McDonald House Charities Starlight Children’s Foundation Books that Heal Happily Everly After If you’d like to follow along in real time with Lauren, you can find them on Instagram, @happilyeverlyafter8417 or on Facebook you can check out their page titled Jack and Everly.  Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

This episode features Alexandra Ortega, mom of three. She shares the stories of her two son's Theo and Noah. First, we talk about her second-born, Noah, who suffered a traumatic brain injury during his birth at 35 weeks. Next, we talk about her third-born, Noah, who was born at 28 weeks. Alex talks about their NICU experiences, the ups and downs of having children with special needs, and how she copes herself. Alex's words in this episode will resonate with anyone who has a child or loved one who needs medical care. She is inspiring and it's an honor to share her story with you. Follow along with Alex and her family on Instagram or Facebook. This podcast is a place for parents and loved ones to find connection in one another’s stories.  Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

In this episode you will hear from Gillian, cohost of the For Grits and Giggles podcast. Gillian describe her personal journey that includes a cancer diagnosis for her infant daughter and life altering accident that happened a year after she finished chemotherapy. She shares her own personal struggles in coping and how she sought medical help, and she’ll describe how meeting another mom whose life paralleled hers turned into a lifelong friendship and a special bond that will stay with her forever.  To follow along with Gillian's story, you can find them on Instagram.  Child Life On Call | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Meredith, mom to now 8-year-old Lola, shares her experience with her daughter who was diagnosed with Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS) shortly after she was three-years-old. However, their story didn't begin there.   As an adventure, Meredith talks about how she and her husband moved to Costa Rica from Indiana after they were married. Lola was born there and shortly after birth, her mom began having questions about her health and development. From infantile spasms to possible lissencephaly (smoothing of the brain), they searched for answers and were eventually led to the NR2F1 gene mutation which explained many of Lola's symptoms. Meredith gets real in our conversation about the ups and downs associated with having a child who is legally blind and has developmental delays. She talks about her own struggles and how she finds balance being a working mom.  If you would like to connect with Meredith, you can send her an email or find her on Instagram and Facebook at Say Hola Lola.  Please rate

It’s a moment that many parents on this podcast have talked about. Your at your ultrasound, pregnant with your child, and all of a sudden the mood of the room changes. Either the technician leaves, or a doctor walks in to “take a closer look” … a million questions and thoughts and fears run through your mind. In today’s episode, you will get to hear from Jade Marie from Portsmouth England. At 16 years old and after being told she could never have children, Jade Marie was shocked to learn that she was 16 weeks pregnant. At at an emergency ultrasound less than 24 hours later, she learned that the baby inside of her had one of the most severe heart defects - she was missing the entire left side of heart.  In this epsidoe, we will hear Jade Marie describe what the journey with her daughter, Dawn Louise, has been like and what it is like to have a child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Instagram: @DawnLouise_HLHS Facebook: Dawn-Louise HLHS Blog YouTube: Archer Adventures UK HLHS Support: Little Heart Familie

After a long fertility journey and a high risk, stressful, and very sick pregnancy, Stephanie gave birth at 26 weeks due to severe preeclampsia.  Stephanie, mom to Adeline, shares her experiences in the NICU and describes Addie’s difficulty with digestion. A long road of unknowns eventually led to a diagnosis of functional short bowel syndrome.  Stephanie shares her perspective about important topics like how having a child with an "invisible disease" can be a blessing and a curse, how she actually felt relief when they received Addie’s diagnosis, and how she handles tough to answer questions from well-meaning friends and families.  Stephanie talks about how she has been an advocate for her daughter and fought for a diagnosis, and how she continues to fight to give her daughter the best care possible and her family travels every 4 to six weeks to Boston from Baltimore to get Addie around and in front of experts in the field. Listen to Stephanie's story on the Child Life On Call Podcast. Follow Stephanie and A

Belinda, a mom, certified child life specialist, teacher and creator of ChildLifeConnection.com shares her story with us today on the final episode of season two of the Child Life On Call Podcast.  As a cancer survivor herself, Belinda knew that she wanted her life's work to positively impact hospitalized children and thus she became a Child Life Specialist. After getting married and having her first child, she applied her knowledge of child development and expertise with children to her own son when she began to notice that he wasn't developing typically. You will get to hear how Belinda has used goal-setting and other self-motivating tools to help her son accomplish things doctor's said he never would.  Belinda will also talk about her son's autism diagnosis at the age of five as well as an epilepsy diagnosis a few years later. Belinda has helped her son in so many ways and has great advice and suggestions for parents facing similar challenges. If you would like to connect with Belinda, you can email her, o

At Alex's 20-week ultrasound appointment, she and her husband learned that their daughter, Lucy, had heterotaxy and congenital heart defects. From that moment, their lives changed and they became advocates and fighters for their spunky daughter who is now one year old. In this episode, Alex talks about Lucy's birth, surgeries, hospitalizations and ER visits. She talks about how their cardiologist became one of their biggest champions and what a difference the congenital heart defect online community has made for them.  Alex recommends the poem Welcome to Holland and the Mended Hearts organization for parents going through similar situations. If you'd like to connect personally with Alex, you can do so on Instagram or Facebook.  Alex would like to share Lucy's diagnoses: Heterotaxy: right sided stomach, midline liver and gallbladder, mirror lungs, asplenia. Congenital heart defects: complex Single ventricle with: complete unbalanced AV canal defect, hypoplastic left heart, double outlet right ventricle, total

Sarah shares her experience with a son who acquired a common called RSV and how it eventually led to pneumonia and being hospitalized for a week. We talk about some of the hardest parts of being in the hospital like waiting for a diagnosis, not being able to cuddle your child who is hooked up to oxygen and IVs, and trying to find ways to cope cope as a mother during the experience. Sarah discusses about how this entire experience has changed the way she looks at health, being aware of spreading germs, not taking for granted the small moments in life like a cuddly or clingy toddler and being aware of what really matters in life.  Sarah shares tips from how to support a toddler for a week-long hospital in addition to the recovery period at home. She also talks about how one night nurse completely helped make their hospital experience so much better. If you would like to follow along with Sarah you can find her on Instagram and Twitter. Thank you to Janet Anderson Photography for the beautiful pictures of Sarah

At just 25 weeks pregnant, Courtney was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and was hospitalized. Just 5 days later and after a terrifying emergent c-section, she would meet her daughter, McKenzie. In this episode Courtney talks about her entire experience from her own hospitalization and her daughter's 5-month stay in the NICU, and eventually going home. She talks about the balance of being a single, working mom and the struggles that come along with having a child with medical needs. Courtney will leave you feeling inspired and in utter awe of how she loves and supports her daughter.  Courtney recommends Preemies - Second Edition: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature BabiesHelping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding . If you'd like to connect with Courtney you can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or on her blog. Thank you to Laura Morsman Photography for the beautiful pictures of Courtney and McKenzie.  Follow along

Meredith, a nurse and mother of two, describes her experience as a new mom and what happened when her five-week-old had a fever. After several tests in the ER, she and her family learned that their new son had meningitis. Meredith talks about what their ER and hospital was like with a newborn. Two years later and after suffering from several sinus infections and sleep apnea, her son underwent a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Meredith talks about how they came to the decision to move forward with surgery and how she helped Joshua through his experience.

Torie is a young adult with gastroperesis. Torie's journey has been a long one which includes a car accident, receiving total nutrition through an IV, NOT EATING FOOD FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR, and being told her illness was related to anxiety. These things, however, don't even touch the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Torie has been through. Eventually with the help of the device and taking control of her invisible illness through being diligent and sticking to a "Torie-Friendly Diet," Torie has been able to eat food and live her life in a way that brings her joy.  Torie is currently a child life intern living in New York, pursuing her dream of becoming a child life specialist. Torie attributes her positive coping to keeping a grateful attitude, the help of her family and friends, and the people she's met along the way that she refers to as "spoonies." Torie recommends G-PACT, the Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation, The Spoon Theory, and social media to helping connect her with others going through similar

Lyndsey's daughter failed her newborn hearing screening soon after birth, but it didn't alarm Lyndsey since her son had also failed his first test after he was born. After a second failed test, Lyndsey was asked to return soon after for another exam from an audiologist. They would soon learn that her daughter had severe hearing loss.  Lyndsey talks about her experience and feelings with the process of learning this news and then deciding to go through with getting cochlear implants. She talks about how they came to that decision, the five-hour surgery, what it was like when her daughter heard her voice for the first time and then how they've moved forward with auditory verbal therapy. Lyndsey talks about how thankful she was for the resources and support from Texas Hands and Voices.  If you’d like to get in touch with Lyndsey and have any questions for her about her experience or the resources she mentioned, get in touch with me at Info@childlifepodcast.com and I will connect you with her. Thank you so much t