MediHelpz Live w/Sandra L Washington

What does it truly mean to be present as a father? How can male role models shape a child's future when biological fathers aren't consistently available? These questions form the heart of our powerful conversation with Sir Royce Briales from Welcome to Fatherhood.

Founded to support fathers across all stages of life, Welcome to Fatherhood has expanded from its Chicago roots to connect with dads nationwide through symposiums, podcasts, and community building. Sir Royce Briales shares the organization's mission of creating stronger father-child bonds while also building bridges between parents to create healthier environments for children.
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The intersection of health challenges and entrepreneurship creates a unique battleground for women business owners. While we excel at multitasking and presenting a polished exterior, many of us suffer silently under the weight of competing demands on our time, energy, and resources. This candid conversation explores how health issues—from chronic conditions to mental health struggles—directly impact our ability to build and sustain successful businesses.

When perfectionism meets health limitations, we often delay launching or scaling our ventures, waiting for ideal conditions that rarely materialize. Financial constraints force impossible choices between healthcare access and business investment, with...

What happens when the caregiver becomes the patient? In this powerful conversation with Carolyn, a nurse with over 40 years of experience, we pull back the curtain on what it's like when healthcare professionals find themselves on the other side of the stethoscope.

Carolyn shares her raw, unfiltered experience dealing with debilitating hand pain that woke her up at 2 AM with what she describes as "a 20 on a scale of 1-10." Despite her extensive medical knowledge, she found herself navigating the same frustrating maze of specialists, contradictory diagnoses, and months-long wait times that many patients face. Her conscious...

Dr. Samika Cosey joins Sandra L to unpack the often-overlooked healthcare experiences of neurodivergent patients – those whose brains process information differently due to conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Drawing from both personal and professional expertise, Dr. Cosey explains how healthcare systems frequently fail to accommodate these differences, leading to misdiagnosis, delayed care, and unnecessary suffering.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when Dr. Cosey reveals her own journey: as a child, she lost the ability to speak following a seizure. This transformative experience shaped her mission to ensure others receive the support she once needed, eventually le...

What happens when domestic violence shatters a family? The trauma ripples outward, creating countless secondary "patients" who must navigate their own healing journeys alongside the primary victim.

Elena Maria takes us through the devastating moment she received news that her sister Yolanda had been murdered by her husband—a shocking act witnessed by her 14-year-old nephew. With raw honesty, Elena describes driving three hours on autopilot to reach her family and the surreal reality of gathering not for their usual celebration, but in shared grief.

"I felt everything and nothing all at the same time," El...

The journey of patient advocacy begins with a single, powerful truth: your health story matters. In this debut episode of the CHLMS  MEDI HELPZ Foundation podcast, we meet Jacquiline Cox - lupus warrior, author, and living testimony that medical predictions don't define your destiny.

Three years ago, a doctor told Jacquiline she had just three months to live. Today, she stands as an ambassador for Walk for Lupus Now, a 15-time bestselling author, and a beacon of hope for those navigating the complicated reality of invisible illness. With raw emotion and unflinching honesty, Jacquiline shares the daily c...

Patricia "Mamu" Rangel brings 40+ years of wisdom from the frontlines of maternal healthcare to this powerful conversation about the past, present, and future of Black maternal health. A nurse who has worked across multiple hospital units including labor and delivery, postpartum, and now an OBGYN clinic, Mamu also serves as a doula, childbirth educator, and lactation consultant—bringing a uniquely comprehensive perspective to maternal care.

The conversation explores a striking paradox: how traditional "granny midwives" with minimal formal education could deliver hundreds or even thousands of babies without losses, while our modern medical system continues to struggle wi...