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

“Millie's journey has taken me to the end of myself, but it's been the most beautiful beginning of understanding humanness and how to be compassionate and how to really be kind to other people and take notice that the story that is their life may not be what you see.” How does trauma affect the whole family, and how can we show compassion to adults with special needs? One thing I have learned about throughout my career as a child life specialist and have heard from many families on this podcast is the impact that having a child with disabilities and the societal stigma can have on a family. Today we get to chat with Marna Pacheco, a mother and inventor who understands this impact all too well. She and her husband have two children, one of whom, Millie, has special needs.  Marna shares with us the challenges of adopting a child with trauma and special needs, such as the way trauma affects a family, finding therapies, and navigating the medical system.  She shares how parenting a special needs child has both ch