Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Child Life On Call | Medical, Parenting, Healthcare, Grief, Trauma, Pediatrics, Coping Skills, Community & Support
Podcast Description
Stories, Hope, Healing and Help for Parents Navigating Illness and Healthcare with Their Children
*Top 15% Globally Ranked Podcast*
Katie Taylor has been a child life specialist for almost 15 years and has one mission: to ensure that any parent who has a child with medical needs has access to other parents who have walked through the path before.
With over 200+ diagnoses covered in this podcast, Katie interviews parents of children with an illness or medical condition share their stories in safe, supportive discussions with a child life specialist.
Navigating life with a child who is sick can feel isolating, and this podcast offers parents a sense of connection.
Hosted by Katie Taylor, a Certified Child Life Specialist who provides evidence-based, developmentally appropriate interventions to help promote positive coping with hospitalization and illness.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various aspects of navigating pediatric healthcare, covering themes such as personal stories of resilience, advocacy, and emotional support. Episodes highlight topics like childhood cancers, rare diseases, NICU experiences, and specific conditions like juvenile arthritis and cystic fibrosis, offering insights into coping strategies and community connection.
Inside the Children’s Hospital shares real stories from parents, caregivers, and pediatric healthcare professionals navigating the emotional realities of caring for a hospitalized child with honesty, compassion, and hope.
What does it look like when life changes in an instant—and a family learns to navigate the unimaginable?
In this episode of Inside the Children’s Hospital, Katie Taylor sits down with Marah, a mom of four, who shares her daughter Abigail’s journey after a cardiac arrest at just nine days old. What began as a healthy twin pregnancy quickly shifted into a complex medical path involving a NICU stay, life support, and long-term care needs.
As Marah and her husband entered the world of medical parenting, they faced fear, uncertainty, and overwhelming decisions. Through it all, they leaned on their care team, family support, and each other—learning how to advocate, adapt, and ultimately find moments of joy within the journey.
This conversation highlights the realities of raising a medically complex child, the power of community, and how resilience is built over time.
You’ll hear:
What it was like navigating a sudden cardiac arrest in a newborn
The early days in the NICU and learning to care for a medically complex child
How Marah advocated for family presence and support during hospitalization
The transition from crisis to confidence in managing trach and G-tube care
How community, connection, and shared experiences shaped their journey
The emotional realities of ongoing medical challenges, including epilepsy
This is a story of advocacy, growth, and finding strength in the most unexpected places.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why learning CPR and emergency preparedness can be life-saving for families
How to advocate for your child and communicate your needs with care teams
The role of multidisciplinary care in managing complex medical conditions
What life at home can look like with medical equipment and home nursing support
How community and peer support impact long-term coping and resilience
The importance of asking for help and building a sustainable support system
How perspectives can shift from grief to gratitude over time
Key Takeaways
Even in the most overwhelming moments, support, advocacy, and connection can carry families forward—and help transform crisis into a new kind of strength.
Connect with Marah
Instagram: In Good Complexity
Resources Mentioned
Emergency Preparedness for Families Infant & Child CPR (American Red Cross) https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/child-baby-cpr
Trach & G-Tube Care Resources Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation https://www.feedingtubeawareness.org
Building Community & Support Parent to Parent USA https://www.p2pusa.org
Trach Support
Mom’s of Trach Babies
https://www.facebook.com/groups/momsoftrachbabies/
Connect with Us
Subscribe: Never miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Visit insidethechildrenshospital.com to search stories and episodes easily
Follow us on Instagram for updates and opportunities to connect with other parents
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Medical information provided is not a substitute for professional advice—please consult your care team.
Pediatric Health, Medical Parenting, NICU Journey, Infant Cardiac Arrest, Medically Complex Child, Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Critical Care, Family-Centered Care, Patient Advocacy, Tracheostomy, G-Tube Feeding, Epilepsy in Children, Special Needs Parenting, Caregiver Support, Resilience
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.