Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support

By: Katie Taylor Certified Child Life Specialist
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  • Summary

  • 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.
    2024 Child Life On Call LLC
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Children's Audiobooks Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting & Families Physical Illness & Disease Relationships
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Episodes
  • 241: How a Kidney Transplant started a mission to help Transplant Families-Cheryl + Kimmy's Story

    241: How a Kidney Transplant started a mission to help Transplant Families-Cheryl + Kimmy's Story
    Jan 22 2025
    “Our goal wasn’t to build something huge overnight – it was to listen to families, fill the gaps, and take that first step.” – Cheryl Whitty We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their website. In this heartfelt episode, Katie sits down with mother-daughter duo, Cheryl Witty and Kimmy Witty to hear the inspiring story of how their family journeyed through chronic kidney disease and how a kidney transplant led to the creation of the Children's Transplant Initiative (CTI). Kimmy shares her personal experience of being diagnosed at age 12, receiving a life-saving kidney transplant, and how that experience fueled her passion for helping other families. Kimmy is now a certified Child Life Specialist and shares how her experiences inspired her to choose this as her career. Cheryl reflects on her journey of being a mother and caregiver and how CTI has grown to provide housing, financial assistance, and mentorship for transplant families across Texas. Cheryl and Kimmy shares her experience transitioning from pediatric to adult care and how the role of parents can shift as their children grow into adulthood. 🔑 Key Points: Kimmy’s Transplant Journey: Diagnosed at 12 with a rare kidney disease, Kimmy received a life-saving transplant from her father, inspiring her passion for helping others. Founding Children’s Transplant Initiative (CTI): Kimmy, Cheryl and Ross created CTI to support transplant families through mentorship, financial aid, and housing programs. Programs and Growth: CTI began by mentoring one family at a time and has grown to provide housing for families in Houston and Austin, with plans to expand to Dallas. Kimmy’s Career Path: Inspired by her experiences, Kimmy is starting as a Child Life Specialist to support children facing medical challenges. Family Strength and Advocacy: Cheryl and Kimmy reflect on resilience, emphasizing how personal experiences can drive advocacy and create lasting impact for others. ✨ Takeaways for Listeners: The importance of starting small—CTI began with just one family in need.Pediatric transplant patients often face lifelong medical journeys, highlighting the need for continued advocacy and resources.Personal experiences can lead to powerful career paths—Kimmy’s journey inspired her to become a Child Life Specialist. 🌐 Links and Resources from today's Episdoe Visit the Children's Transplant Initative's Website to learn more about the incredible resources they offer to families in Texas 📲 Follow CTI on Social Media: InstagramFacebook ❤️ Ready to make hospital visits and medical journeys easier for your family? With SupportSpot, you get instant access to expert child life tips, emotional support, and resources right at your fingertips. For the next 7 days, try it FREE and discover how this app can reduce stress, ease your child’s anxiety, and help you feel more prepared every step of the way. Subscribers have the opportunity to sign up for a free visit with a Child Life Specialist at CLOC to help you get the support you need from SupportSpot. Try it free by clicking this link. 🎙️Meet the host: Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside. Instagram.com/childlifeoncall Facebook.com/childlifeoncall linkedin.com/in/kfdonovan
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    32 mins
  • 240: How to Stay Calm During Medical Procedures

    240: How to Stay Calm During Medical Procedures
    Jan 13 2025
    In this episode of Child Life On Call, host Katie Taylor, a certified child life specialist, shares personal experiences and practical advice on maintaining calm during your child's medical procedures. Katie recounts a traumatic incident with her daughter, emphasizing the natural parental panic response and how to manage it. She offers three key strategies: getting informed about medical procedures, finding a supportive role during the process, and taking care of your own physical and emotional needs. Katie introduces the Support Spot app as a valuable resource, providing step-by-step guides for over 50 medical procedures. This episode aims to equip parents with the tools and confidence needed to support their children effectively during medical challenges. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Story 02:30 Understanding Parental Panic 03:11 Managing Emotions During Medical Procedures 03:28 Empowering Yourself with Information 04:24 Finding a Role to Play 05:27 Taking Care of Your Needs 06:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 07:53 Support Spot App and Resources 09:24 Closing Remarks When parents feel empowered, everyone wins – kids thrive and the care team excels! Links and Resources: SupportSpot WebsiteDownload SupportSpot iOS or Android 85% of users report high satisfaction, appreciating the SupportSpot app's comprehensive resources and user-friendly interface.92% of parent users say the SupportSpot app's helped them understand medical procedures and treatment better.80% of parents believe the SupportSpot app's has contributed to better health outcomes for their child.73% of parent users believe the SupportSpot app's has made them feel more empowered to advocate for their child in healthcare Learn more here. Meet the host: Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside. Instagram.com/childlifeoncall Facebook.com/childlifeoncall linkedin.com/in/kfdonovan
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    10 mins
  • 239: Finding Grants Brought Hope - Abby's Story: A son's near drowning accident

    239: Finding Grants Brought Hope - Abby's Story: A son's near drowning accident
    Jan 8 2025
    “Hope doesn’t take away the darkness, but it shines some light in it.”- Abby Zachritz We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor for this episode, Gebauer PainEase®. We are pleased to provide more information about this product, and we invite you to learn more by visiting their website. In this powerful first episode of the year, Katie sits down with Abby Zachritz—better known as Advocacy Abby—who shares her journey from personal tragedy to becoming a beacon of hope for families in need. Abby recounts the near-drowning accident that changed her son Wyatt’s life and how her unwavering hope and faith led her to discover vital resources. Now, through her platform, Abby connects families with grants and support they may not even know exists. This conversation is filled with practical advice, emotional insights, and inspiration for any parent navigating complex medical journeys. Katie and Abby dive into deep conversations about what it means to have hope during difficult seasons. 🔑 Key Points: Abby’s Story: Learn how Wyatt’s near-drowning accident, the initial prognosis, and how faith and hope played a role in his recovery.The Role of Hope: Why hope is essential for families facing medical uncertainty, and how it impacts not just parents but the entire care team.Community Support: How Abby’s community rallied around her family with meals, transportation, and childcare during hospital stays.Discovering Grants and Resources: Abby explains how she found grants to fund life-changing therapies and equipment for Wyatt.The Birth of Advocacy Abby: How Abby’s personal experiences led her to create a platform that connects families with essential grants and resources.The Connect Platform: Abby’s resource for families to search for grants by location, diagnosis, and need—streamlining a once overwhelming process. ✨ Takeaways for Listeners: Hope is a Lifeline: Even in the darkest moments, holding onto hope can make a difference in your child’s recovery journey.Ask for Help: Don’t be afraid to lean on your community and accept support—it’s vital for your well-being and your child’s care.Grants Exist for a Reason: There are countless grants available for equipment, therapy, and even family vacations—many families just need to know where to look.Preparation is Key: Keep diagnosis letters, IEPs, and insurance denials in one file to simplify grant applications.Advocacy Matters: What you learn from your experience can help another family; advocacy can start with sharing one resource or grant. 🌐 Links and Resources from today's Episdoe Connect PlatformFollow Abby on Instagram ❤️ Ready to make hospital visits and medical journeys easier for your family? With SupportSpot, you get instant access to expert child life tips, emotional support, and resources right at your fingertips. For the next 7 days, try it FREE and discover how this app can reduce stress, ease your child’s anxiety, and help you feel more prepared every step of the way. Subscribers have the opportunity to sign up for a free visit with a Child Life Specialist at CLOC to help you get the support you need from SupportSpot. Try it free by clicking this link. 🎙️Meet the host: Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside. Instagram.com/childlifeoncall Facebook.com/childlifeoncall linkedin.com/in/kfdonovan
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    34 mins

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