230: Navigating Childhood Cancer: Supporting families through her own experience - Heather's Story

"We've joined a club that nobody wants to be a part of, but the good part is we have the best members."

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In this episode, Katie Taylor interviews Heather, host of the Navigating Childhood Cancer podcast and mother of a teenager diagnosed with leukemia, in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. They discuss the challenges of receiving a cancer diagnosis for your child, managing cancer treatments, including pill swallowing, and navigating parent guilt. Heather shares her family's journey and how she balanced protecting her son while also being open about her experience to support other families. Through her podcast, Heather provides a space for families to share their stories, giving listeners the strength to cope with childhood cancer.

Key Insights & Lessons Learned:

Pill Swallowing is a Process: Sometimes the goal isn't mastering a technique but simply finding what works, even if it means grinding pills for an extended period.
The Importance of Listening to the Child: Empowering the child to make decisions about their care, like how they take their medicine, can alleviate unnecessary stress.
Parent Guilt is Real, but Not Always True: Parents often struggle with feeling responsible for their child's illness, but as Heather was reminded, it's not your fault.
Sharing Helps, But Boundaries Matter: Heather highlights the balance of sharing personal experiences while respecting her son's privacy, which is crucial when sharing such a sensitive journey.

Resources and Tips:

Navigating Childhood Cancer Podcast: Hosted by Heather, this podcast shares stories and lessons from families going through childhood cancer. Listen here
Book Recommendation: What's an IV? by Melissa Fadel and Rosemary Pang – a child-friendly guide of the IV process. Get the book here

Begin Health

To learn more about the sponsor of today's episode, Begin Health, click the link here to get a 25% off coupon!

When parents feel empowered, everyone wins – kids thrive and the care team excels!

Links and Resources:

SupportSpot Website
Download SupportSpot iOS or Android

85% of users report high satisfaction, appreciating the Child Life On Call App's comprehensive resources and user-friendly interface.
92% of parent users say the Child Life On Call App helped them understand medical procedures and treatment better.
80% of parents believe the Child Life On Call App has contributed to better health outcomes for their child.
73% of parent users believe the Child Life On Call App 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

Pediatric Oncology