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

In this episode host Katie Taylor sits down with Ashley O’Neil, a family nurse practitioner and a NICU mom. Ashley shares her journey when her son, Colin, was born at 25 weeks gestation and the following 183 day NICU stay.  Listen to hear how she balanced work, advocating for her son’s needs, coping with personal loss, as well as providing invaluable support and resources to other families in similar situations.   "The hardest part isn't being in the NICU; it's the real advocating that starts after discharge." - Ashley O'Neil   Key Insights: Early Challenges: Ashley shares the difficulties of having a baby born at 25 weeks and the emotional turmoil of seeing healthy babies at work while her own child struggled in the NICU.   Advocacy: Emphasizing the importance of advocating for her child, Ashley highlights how she meticulously kept records, attended rounds, and communicated her son's needs to the medical staff.   Support Systems: The significance of community support and online groups played a crucial role i