Get to know me and this podcast!
Welcome to the Here's Hope Project podcast where your story creates hope! Listen in as we delve into the affects that having a child with chronic illness has on a person's mental health. I will bring on guests to share their stories and experiences with topics such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, child loss, grief, self care and more. We will also be discussing various topics that go hand in hand with having a sick child and how to best go about navigating these challenges. These topics include things such as transitioning back to life after treatment, losing and finding a new identity through illness, navigating school and work, and finding purpose in the journey.
This podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube. New episodes will be released on the first of every month. If you would like to hear about a specific topic, or if you would like to share your own journey please reach out to me by filling out the contact form
Episodes
In this episode I speak with Shari Ann Almeida who is a cancer mom, advocate and author. Shari Ann's daughter, Dakota, was diagnosed with Leukemia in April 2019, and she is now 2 years cancer free. I talk with her mom about what life is like after treatment, how it has affected her relationship with her husband, and then we also talk about her new book titled, "I See You," which is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
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In this episode I talk with Bella who is a 2x cancer warrior. She fought and beat cancer when she was 12yrs old and then again after relapsing at 16yrs. Diagnosed with brain and spinal tumors, Bella talks about what her experience was like when she was first diagnosed. She talks about how she dealt with her emotions, how cancer has affected her siblings and more.
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In this episode I talk with Bree Ward who is the mom of a heart warrior named Kyleigh. Kyleigh is 8yrs old, has had 3 open heart surgeries and is diagnosed with heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and restrictive cardiomyopathy which requires a heart transplant. We talk about some difficult decisions Bree has had to make throughout her journey and how she went about preparing to make those decisions. We also discuss the importance of self-care and what Bree does to recharge.
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In this episode I talk with Krissie Martinez who lost her son, Zyler after complications from open heart surgery. Krissie and I talk about what life is like after child loss, how it affects the siblings, how she and her family are getting through it all, and we also talk about what others should or maybe shouldn’t say to someone who is experiencing the loss of a child.
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In this episode I talk with Erin Booth who is the mom to a Leukemia warrior named Landon. Landon finished treatment in May, but we’ll be looking back at the support and resources she used to help Landon keep up with school. We’ll also be talking about how she managed to work throughout his treatment.
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In this episode I will be talking with Francesca who has been battling chronic illness half her life. While she was a healthy and vibrant child, her life changed drastically at 13 when she became ill. We’ll be talking about how her identity transformed and evolved through this time in her life, the things she’s learned, and the person she has become because of her chronic illness.
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In this episode I talk with Rachel who is the mom of Emi who is very medically complex. Emi has had over 30 surgeries and is constantly in and out of the hospital. It’s probably no surprise that Rachel and her family deal with PTSD so I’m bringing her on today to talk about what PTSD looks like for each member of the family and how they cope with it together and individually. We’ll talk about things to lookout for, some coping strategies and what to do if you think you may be struggling as well.
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In this episode I talk with Demi who has two kids with special needs. She has a son named Ollie who has Caudal Regression Syndrome and then another son, George, who has Cerebral Palsy. Life is hard with one child so imagine how hard it is with two special needs kids! We'll spend this episode talking about what day to day life is like and the stresses that come with living this kind of life.
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In this episode I talk with Rachel who is an author and cancer mom. Her daughter Bella was just diagnosed with cancer for a 3rd time so she’s learned a lot over the years about how to cope and enjoy live despite the challenges her and Bella face. This episode is great for anyone looking to connect with peace in a challenging situation. We discuss her book, how we can go about grounding ourselves, how to process and work through emotions, as well as the power vulnerability can play in our healing.
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In this episode I talk with Kelly who is a health navigator with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. She also has a daughter named Riley who was diagnosed with infantile glioblastoma and is currently NED. We talk about how Riley’s diagnosis affected her mental health, how she copes and then how she can help you if you are new to your cancer journey.
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In this episode I talk with Amanda and Zack about how having a sick child has strengthened their relationship and brought them closer together. Regardless of what illness or disability your child has, couples are challenged in ways that can really make or break a relationship. This episode should give you insight into your own relationships and how you can come out the other side stronger than ever!
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In this episode I talk with Steph about what life was like with her daughter Bri who had Alexander’s disease, a rare neurological disease that effects the nervous system. We talk about her journey to receiving a diagnosis, the adversity she faced and how faith helped her through the tough times.
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In this episode I talk with Tiffany about what grief looks like for a child and how to support them through the grieving process. Tiffany is the founder of the Princess Nora’s Warriors foundation https://noraswarriors.com and she also hosts the Unexpected Fight podcast.
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