Child Life On Call: Parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories with a child life specialist

10 Episodes
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By: Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist

Parents share their journeys and experiences related to having a child with an illness or medical condition. These powerful, and sometimes emotional, stories offer connection in what can typically feel like an isolating world. Visit www.childlifepodcast.com or email info@childlifepodcast.com to share your story.

212: CCLS Story: 18 Years of Supporting Kidney Families -Julie's Story
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"As a child life specialist, watching my tiniest patients grow and accomplish so many things is my favorite part of the job." - Julie, Certified Child Life Specialist

Episode Summary:

In this heartfelt episode of Child Life On Call, we celebrate Child Life Month by diving deep into the dedicated world of child life specialists and the resilient families they support. Host Katie Taylor talks to Julie, a remarkable child life specialist with 18 years of experience in the renal service at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. Julie shares her profound journey of supporting children with end-stage...


211: A Son Born with End-Stage Kidney Disease (Part 1): Lyndsey's Story
03/20/2024

"Having a medically complex child, it's like everything's fine. And then, you know, we have a morning where we've thrown up a lot or our blood pressure is too low, and it just doesn't look good. You just never know what you're going to get." - Lyndsey, Episode 211

In this deeply moving episode, we are joined by Lyndsey, who shares the compelling journey of her son James's battle with post-urethral valves before birth, leading to kidney issues and eventually a kidney transplant. Through her narrative, we learn about the rollercoaster of emotions, the challenges of navigating the...


210: Connection, Healing, and Love: Insights from Patrice Karst, Author of The Invisible String
03/13/2024

"Love is the most powerful force in the universe, and the invisible string is a testament to the connections that bind us all." - Patrice Karst

In this special Child Life Month episode, Katie Taylor sits down with Patrice Karst, the beloved author of "The Invisible String" and several other impactful books. They explore Patrice's journey from personal challenges to becoming a source of comfort and connection for families worldwide. This conversation delves into the power of storytelling in addressing themes of separation, loss, and the enduring strength of love. Patrice shares her inspiration behind "The Invisible...


209: Research on Parent Caregivers of Children with Medical Complexities - Elise's Story
03/06/2024

Advocacy, Compassion, Innovation: Elise's Child Life Journey "Working with children with medical complexity and developmental differences isn't just a job; it's rooted in who I am." - Elise Cofer, CCLS Research Article: Fitting the Pieces Together 

Lead Researcher: Elise Cofer

In this captivating episode of Child Life On Call, Katie Taylor sits down with Elise, a Nashville-born child life specialist who brings her passion and dedication to the hematology oncology unit at Vanderbilt. Elise's journey into child life, driven by a background deeply embedded in caring for children with special needs, showcases her commitment to enhancing pediatric h...


208: Military Life, Pediatric Complex Care Abroad & Resiliency: Kat's Story
02/28/2024

In this profound episode, we join Katie Taylor as she delves into the inspiring journey of a military family navigating pediatric healthcare for their two medically complex children. Through the voice of the remarkable mother, Kat, we explore the unique challenges and triumphs of securing continuous, specialized care amidst the frequent relocations and complexities inherent to military life. Kat shares her experiences with advocacy, the importance of resilience, and the deep bonds forged through their family's journey, offering invaluable insights into the realities faced by military families dealing with medical complexities.

"Every challenge we've faced has only...


Healing Without Surgery: Umbilical Hernia Solutions from a Physical Therapist
02/21/2024

What if we could prevent more kids from having to have invasive surgery? During this episode, we are joined by Katie Corrado, who invented a product that works as an alternative to surgery for babies and children. Tune in to hear how her first-hand experience of watching her child struggle with an umbilical hernia led her to an innovative solution that she now offers to other families facing the same challenge. You’ll also learn why Katie is an advocate for proactive rather than reactive medical solutions and how her passion for connecting with kids led her to work as...


206: Founder's Vision: Katie's Journey, Child Life Tech, Future Insights
02/14/2024

In this special episode of Child Life On Call, we flip the script as Emily Martinec interviews our very own founder, Katie Taylor. Dive into Katie's journey from child life specialist to tech entrepreneur, exploring the roots of Child Life On Call, the challenges and triumphs of building a company, and how her upbringing shaped her mission to support families and healthcare professionals alike.

"Child Life On Call is not a technology replacement for child life specialists... It's a tool to enhance and expand what Child Life Services is." — Katie Taylor

Episode Highlights:

Katie's pe...


205: How to Support Kids who are Grieving, Bittersweet Relationships & Personal Loss
02/07/2024

In this episode, we're honored to have Jessica Correnti, a certified child life specialist and a bereaved mother, share her profound insights on grief. Jessica's dual perspective offers a rich understanding of the multifaceted nature of grief beyond the loss of a loved one. She discusses her personal journey, the importance of recognizing and naming grief in children, and how this awareness can empower kids to navigate their emotions.

Key Highlights:

Jessica's background as a child life specialist and how her personal loss has shaped her professional and personal life.

The concept of "...


204: Caregiver Isolation, Transitioning to Adult Special Needs, and Becoming CapeAble - Marna's Story
#204
01/31/2024

“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 havi...


203: 12 Years to Diagnosis, Understanding Four Key Emotional Reactions, and Channeling Her Story into Positive Action - Jessica's Story
01/24/2024

“If you have a question, ask it. You are the parent, you need to know” -  Jessica Siddi-Sewart 

How can medical parents use their experiences to promote action and advocacy?

As a child life specialist, I know that there is not one "normal" or "best" reaction for a parent when their child receives a medical diagnosis.

Today's guest, Jessica Siddi-Sewart and she helps us reflect on the different stages parents go through when facing a medical diagnosis for their child. She is also a mother of three, a paralegal, and a business owner.