Inside the Children&#8217;s Hospital

Website

Click on this link to view the books Shani talked about in today's episode!

[6:50] Shani talks about working with a local hospice agency to provide support

[8:44] Interventions in the hospice setting

[10:07] Importance of following the child's lead.

[11:05] How children digest information

[13:35] Explaining differences in medication, for illness versus comfort

[15:22] Explaining to children the care team that will be helping

[16:10] Processing hospice care

[16:30] Using play to help children to understand terminal illness

[18:00] How to explain illness not seen by the eye

[19:17] Importance of validation, security, emotional safety and being seen

[19:35] Creating fingerprint charms, handprint molds, handprint tree and bracelets to commemorate

[21:25] Importance of giving parents space to share and how witnessing, validating and listening is key

[22:54] Communication with social worker and hospice agency

[24:40] Additional ways to support the family

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Child Life On Call is a community of parents and professionals that share ideas, stories and resources to help YOU navigate your child's unique experiences. We give you strategies to support yourself and your family through life's challenges. We are so glad you are here.

Website: childlifeoncall.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 125 | Katie on Child Life Wild Life Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

This week's episode is a throwback from Katie's June 2021 interview with Child Life Wild Life host, Jessica Lewin, who was also recently a guest on Child Life On Call. In this episode, you will learn about how Katie's experiences as a child life specialist and a new mother influenced each other in the most positive ways. From sharing her 'why' about podcasting, to preparing her own children for medical procedures and balancing her career and motherhood, you will get to know the heart of our host, Katie Taylor.

[5:20] Intro about Katie and her family

[9:30] Going back to work after having her baby

[11:10] How motherhood transformed her career

[12:00] Podcast inspiration

[14:32] Supporting parents in the NICU

[18:08] Challenges while working pregnant in the field

[19:50] Best part of being a mom and child life specialist

[21:02] Dental appointment preparation

[22:30] Torticollis diagnosis

[24:36] Importance of relationship building with parents

[28:05] Postpartum anxiety struggles

[30:45] Tips for CCLS Students

[32:07] Starting her own business

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Website: childlifeoncall.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 124 | Laura's Story Part 2: A son with Congenital Leukemia Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we will hear from Laura about navigating hospital life and finding the balance between caring for her family and taking care of herself. She focuses on the importance of self care and how it has made her be the best version of herself. Laura shares how life after the hospital doesn't have this glamorous feeling but is another marathon in itself. In this episode, she speaks on the positive takeaways from this journey. This episode is full of nuggets of wisdom that you will not want to miss! If you are in the middle of a long hospital stay, this episode will speak to your heart.

[3:54] Leaving Trey for the night

[5:56]- Daily Routines

[7:40]- making time special with the big kids

[12:07]-Touching interaction with CT Tech

[17:47]- How our children heal us and we re-strengthen bonds

[18:50]- Dividing and Conquering responsibilities

[19:57]- Trey's homecoming

[22:00]- Feeling of being alone

[24:49] Trey's strong emotional intelligence

[28:29] Laura shares how motherhood is a privilege

[33:00] Taking care of you!

[35:40] The daily high 5

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Website: childlifepodcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 123 | Laura's Story Part 1: A son with Congenital Leukemia Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Friends, you are not going to want to miss this episode! On today's episode of the podcast,we hear about Laura's Birth story and the beginning of her son Trey's journey with congenital Leukemia. Laura shares the raw emotion and grief when she and her husband learn of Trey's diagnosis. She goes intimately into detail about her first time seeing her newborn son, how it broke her to her core and how she began to pick up the pieces. Laura shares how her friends rallied behind her during this extremely challenging time and how we can support others going through a crisis. There is a part 2 to Laura's story, sharing all about life during and after an extended stay in the hospital.

[4:10] How they chose Trey's name

[5:20] Unexpected diagnosis

[9:25] Emergency C-Section

[10:48] Pep Talk with Mom

[15:59] Neonatologist gives them difficult news

[19:40] Laura describes that 'tsunami' feeling of their world crashing down around them

[22:24] Meeting the transport nurse who helped transport her son

[27:12] Meeting Trey at CHOP for the first time

[31:10] Processing the events

[33:58]Reality of the diagnosis sinking in

[35:15] the Importance of taking care of yourself

[39:00] How to help in times of need

[42:19] How Laura's friends and family supported her every step of the way

CONNECT:

If you would like to connect with Laura, please reach out to Child Life On Call

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Website: childlifepodcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 122 | Meditation for Kids with a Music Therapist Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

On today's episode of the podcast, we will hear from Ryan Judd, Music Therapist and creator of Cool Koala. In this episode, Ryan places an emphasis on helping our children develop gratitude, compassion and learning how to cope with our worries. He shares how music helps children feel relaxed and how having the practice of guided meditation can carry into creating healthy habits for children as they move through the different stages of life and into adulthood. Ryan shares vital information on how to teach these practices to children in the hospital and in our everyday routines at home.

[3:30]-Ryan shares how he started working with kids

[4:20] Discovering Music Therapy as a profession

[5:56] Ryan shares about his family

[6:36]Ryan's music on the App

[7:24] Ryan shares about Cool Koala and when to do meditation

[9:00 ]Alexa Skill integration and Cool Koala Collab

[10:05] How music calms the nervous system

[11:05] Letting go of worries

[12:18] Sleep is the foundation of health

[15:00]Worry Box and Gratitude Garden

CONNECT WITH RYAN:

Facebook

You Tube

Cool Koala Facebook Page

Website: childlifeoncall.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 121 | Sarah's Story: A daughter with an ischemic stroke May 25, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers!

On today's episode, Annie Jones, CCLS is our guest host! We will hear from Sarah about her daughter Adalee having an ischemic stroke with no pre-existing conditions. With strokes, the recovery process is different for every individual and doctors initially thought she may not have a full recovery. Sarah shares how her faith got her through this period of time, her daughter's remarkable recovery and self care tips for parents who have children with medical needs. This episode is packed full of wisdom on how to listen to our intuition when we navigate difficult situations as parents. Sarah will also share the inspiration behind her devotional book, The Perfect Storm.

Listen to:

Events Leading up to Adalee's Stroke [4:03]

How Sarah followed her mothers intuition [9:00]

Diagnosis at a hospital away from home [11:24]

Processing an open ended diagnosis [17:42]

How Adalee's siblings were impacted during her hospital stay [22:20]

Adalee running in rehab [26:24]

Sarah shares about her faith and support from her community [28:54]

Adalee Today [31:02]

How Sarah practices self care [40:25]

The inspiration behind Sarah's devotional book, The Perfect Storm [45:25]

CONNECT WITH SARAH

Website

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Website: childlifepodcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 120 | How to Stay Present... Not Perfect May 18, 2022

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by SmileMakers

Abbie Pabon and Emily Enstad share their motherhood journeys through the pandemic, how it shaped their careers and how they created a company that gives hands on tools to help children regulate and express their emotions. In this episode, you will learn more about:

+Learn how to empower children with tools and strategies they can access in moments of dysregulation.

+How to be self-compassionate as a parent

+Learn about current barriers for parents, and how connection, coregulation, and creativity are pillars to supporting social emotional learning with kids.

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Website: childlifepodcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 119 | Michelle's Story: A Son's Pediatric Rehab Experience May 11, 2022

Show notes

Today we have a guest co-host AND a guest! Our guest co-host is Sehreen Noorali, and you may remember her from Episode 112 of the podcast. Her younger daughter has some medical needs and has been through neurosurgery. Like Sehreen, our guest Michelle has also spent her fair share of time in the rehab setting. Her son, Gideon, was born with heart defects that required hospitalization.

In this episode, we talk about…

[6:25] Michelle's family

[8:08] Discovering low oxygen levels in a newborn

[11:24] Receiving diagnoses: Tetralogy of Fallot, Pulmonary Atresia and MAPCAs

[15:34] Advocating for your child in the medical system

[18:31] Collaborating with your child's care team

[26:12] Handling stress as a parent of a child with medical needs

[29:38] Creating community in the inpatient pediatric rehab setting

[35:44] How Michelle's son has changed her

[38:45] An update on Gideon

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:

Facebook

CONNECT WITH SEHREEN:

Website

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Website: childlifepodcast.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh95T1MOYtbpBxJaZqg7rg

Episode 118 | How to Give Your Child Medicine May 04, 2022

Show notes

I'm bringing you a quick episode about a commonly asked question. This topic also happens to be one of our most downloaded resources on the website (in case you didn't know, you can get free downloadable resources here!) We're talking about how to get your kids to take medicine - liquid, pills, eye drops, and more.

In this episode, I talk about…

[1:37] Helping ourselves to help our children

[2:12] Helping children to understand the need for medicine

[3:02] Step 1: Setting expectations

[3:34] Step 2: Recognize that medicine is non-negotiable

[4:29] Step 3: Consider the child's developmental level

[7:16] Step 4: Offer choices about how to take the medicine

[8:20] Step 5: Practice and getting the child comfortable with taking medicine

[9:00] Giving eye drops to children

[10:38] Helping children to swallow pills

Have you heard? The Child Life On Call mobile app for parents, kids and their care team will be available in 2022. Sign up to stay informed here.

Website: childlifepodcast.com