Forest

When receiving a diagnosis for your child—or dealing with medical complications—it can feel like you’re suddenly thrust into a separate world than your family and friends.

For many parents, the NICU is an initiation into the medically complex world. Medical terminology is thrown around with assumed understanding, and tubes and cords protrude their precious infant.

Finding out I’m a genetic carrier for my son’s syndrome of CDPX1 was a very tough pill to swallow; and it has a whole slew of implications for my life.

The pain we’ve experienced alongside our disabled children is often gaslit by others. Responses like “Oh, it’s not that bad…” and “At least….” Or “You should be grateful that….” are all forms of toxic positivity. Just like that, our pain and struggle are minimized.

Numbing out is a go-to coping mechanism for so many of us experiencing painful and stressful situations and emotions. And it’s not a bad thing! There are situations when we absolutely need to.

With more than 20 therapists and doctors for her two daughters, Karley spends almost every day at appointments with her two daughters.

Grief is something that most parents of disabled/medically complex children experience. And as Carrie shares in this episode, it never goes away. Instead, it shifts and evolves.

Kim grew up in a very religious household. Her faith was relatively straightforward until she was thrown a major curveball—her daughter was born with a rare bone disorder.

When Ammon was born, Wendy immediately knew something was different about him. He was baby no. 6, and her internal alarms were sounding. As he grew, more and more medical issues arose.

I am definitely one of them. Hearing other parents of children with disabilities say adages like this one has always made me squirm inside because it’s simply untrue to me