On today's episode of the podcast, Katie interviews Rylee Neal who decided to become a Child Life Specialist from her past experiences being hospitalized with a heart condition called tetralogy of fallot.  An experience with a Child Life Specialist during one of her hospital stays lead her to pursue the field of Child Life. Katie and Rylee have some great conversation about scars, our feelings and how as Child Life Specialists or parents we constantly are looking to better ourselves. You will leave this episode with a heartfelt perspective from Rylee as she shares pieces of her journey as patient and clinician. [3:23] Rylee introduces herself [4:41] First memory of her diagnosis [5:45] Realizing her diagnosis was serious at age 13 [6:45] Aversion to medical care [8:01] Reading consent forms at a young age [10:00] How preparing ahead would have helped Rylee [12:07] Wanting to know more the Child Life Specialist who helped her [14:30] How she fell in love with the Child Life field [16:50] How her parents get sappy hearing about her work [19:00] Rylee shares about her scars [21:18] Kids say what they feel [22:26] Being able to relate with the children [24:07] Not letting worse case scenarios creep into personal thoughts [26:33] Feeling your feelings and decompressing [28:42] Continual betterment [30:35] Creating a virtual diversion wall [33:01] Getting patients out of bed Connect with Rylee by sending her a message here! Whether you are a parent or professional, we want you to join our community. Sign up for our newsletter here. Parents, download our free parent starter kit. When you download our starter kit, you’ll learn how to: Give medicine to your child without it becoming a wrestling match Prepare your child (and yourself) for a shot so they can feel less anxious Create and use a coping plan for any medical appointment or procedure The first sign of sniffles, or worse, shouldn’t send you into a tailspin. Feel confident in your role as a parent and advocate, no matter what medical situation you’re facing. Child life specialists, get affordable PDUs on-demand here. Shop for your CLOC gear here.

Katie along with co-host Mijha from Jambo books interview Dr. Kate Lund, TedEx speaker, clinical psychologist and hydrocephalus warrior. She brings an incredibly important perspective as provider, patient and parent. Dr. Lund shares with us how the support she received throughout her childhood had a positive impact on her life and journey with hydrocephalus. From her wise words and experiences, you will leave this episode feeling empowered with actionable things you can do today. This message is so inspiring. [4:00] Mihja shares about her daughter [5:44] Dr. Kate introduces her self [8:05] Wally, the Facility Dog [9:36] Discussing support she received as a child [11:24] Working hard put her ahead of the game [13:00] Focusing on what you can do [14:19] Diagnosed with hydrocephalus when she was 4 [15:53] Finding out she had 2 different kinds of tumors [17:15] A Child Life Specialist became her friend during a hospitalization [20:50] Katie shares how it is a choice who is in your room [23:12] Modeling interactions for our children [25:54] Understanding and appreciating differences [27:46] The stakes are high with parenting [29:19] Be open to connecting with your child's experiences [31:25] Watching your child's passions emerge [34:30] Helping your children find their happy place [35:50] Communicating your child's needs [38:24] Finding her voice [40:00] Sitting with you reality Connect with Dr. Lund Website Whether you are a parent or professional, we want you to join our community. Sign up for our newsletter here. Parents, download our free parent starter kit. When you download our starter kit, you’ll learn how to: Give medicine to your child without it becoming a wrestling match Prepare your child (and yourself) for a shot so they can feel less anxious Create and use a coping plan for any medical appointment or procedure The first sign of sniffles, or worse, shouldn’t send you into a tailspin. Feel confident in your role as a parent and advocate, no matter what medical situation you’re facing. Child life specialists, get affordable PDUs on-demand here. Shop for your CLOC gear here.  

[Child Life 101] How to Support Kids in Pain As a child life specialist, I know that pain can significantly impact children. It can affect them physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Research has shown that uncontrolled pain can lead to long-term effects such as stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as changes in brain function and delayed recovery. Helping children cope with pain can be particularly challenging as they may not be able to articulate what they're feeling or understand what's happening to them. That's where child life specialists come in. What we cover in this episode: Pain can have a significant impact on children, both physically and emotionally. Child life specialists play an essential role in assessing kids in pain and determining what they need to feel better. Child life specialists use a combination of observation, conversation, and other techniques to understand a child's pain experience. Child life specialists work closely with healthcare providers and other professionals to ensure that children's pain is being managed effectively. By providing a supportive and compassionate presence, child life specialists help children and families navigate the often-challenging world of healthcare with greater ease and confidence. By the way, my favorite resources for anything pain related are over at Meg Foundation for Pain. Whether you're a parent, healthcare professional, or simply interested in learning more about child life, this podcast is for you. Learn 6 Positions to Help Kids Feel Comfortable and Safe Here are some of our favorite affiliates that help promote positive coping for kids: 10% off Coping Kits and other select merchandise at Present Over Perfect 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    

On today's episode of the podcast, Katie interviews Courtney Morey, Mother to Annie who was diagnosed with Trisomy 21, AVSD and Pulmonary Hypertension. Katie and Courtney have such great dialogue and raw conversation in this episode. Courtney shares the positive impacts on her marriage and the questions that arise when receiving a life altering diagnosis. Sharing about her journey of self discovery along the way and how it has changed her view on life, this episode will leave you feeling validated and inspired by Courtney's strength. [4:00] Introducing her family [6:00] Receiving a life changing phone call [8:24] Misconceptions about Trisomy 21 [8:59] Spencer having experience working with children who had Trisomy 21 [10:20] Learning Annie had AVSD [12:00] Being asked if you are a medical professional [12:50] Coping by learning about Annie's diagnosis's [15:25] Learning how to ask the right questions [16:55] Annie's birth [18:40] Annie's first heart surgery at 4 months old [20:40] Refusing to google and reaching out to other parents [22:04] Friendships carried her through difficult times [23:03] Annie coded post surgery [23:35] Starting ECMO [26:20] Caring for Annie while on ECMO [28:42] Pulling them closer together [30:30] Sharing updates about Annie's health helped her have a better grasp on the situation [30:04] How Annie's story impacted other people's lives through social media [32:49] Self care in the hard moments [35:34] Speaking up about the language we use [37:41] Giving feedback that is humbling and gracious [40:08] Receiving feedback from parents [42:00] Wrestling with the why [45:40] Meaning in being Annie's Mother [47:12] Starting a foundation Annie's honor [48:20] Resource hub to help families [50:10] Singing more alike than different [52:31] Annie's perspective keeps things real Connect with Courtney Instagram Shop for Spoonie Threads here! Whether you are a parent or professional, we want you to join our community. Sign up for our newsletter here. Parents, download our free parent starter kit. When you download our starter kit, you’ll learn how to: Give medicine to your child without it becoming a wrestling match Prepare your child (and yourself) for a shot so they can feel less anxious Create and use a coping plan for any medical appointment or procedure The first sign of sniffles, or worse, shouldn’t send you into a tailspin. Feel confident in your role as a parent and advocate, no matter what medical situation you’re facing. Child life specialists, get affordable PDUs on-demand here. Shop for your CLOC gear here  

Today in [Child Life 101] we are answering the question we get ALL THE TIME: WHAT IS CHILD LIFE?! You've asked and now we're answering. Did you know that SO many of the parents on our podcast haven't ever even met a child life specialist before our interview?! Our goal during this series is to help people understand what child life is all about by getting rid of any misunderstandings or roadblocks. What do child life specialists do? Why is play an essential component of child life services? Family Centered Care and Child Life Services How do you become a Child Life Specialist? Where do child life specialists work? Why Should Hospitals invest in Child Life Services? Challenges and Barriers in the Field Wrapping it Up Whether you're a parent, healthcare professional, or simply interested in learning more about child life, this podcast is for you. Learn 6 Positions to Help Kids Feel Comfortable and Safe Here are some of our favorite affiliates that help promote positive coping for kids: 10% off Coping Kits and other select merchandise at Present Over Perfect 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