Send us a text, we want to hear from you!
There’s a moment many medical parents know too well: the late-night scroll, the knot in your throat, the feeling that you need an answer and a hand to hold—right now. That’s where our story begins, with two moms, a Facebook group, a long hospital stay, and one honest message that turned fear into friendship.
Co-hosts and close friends, Ashlyn Thompson & Ashley Milbourne, talk about how relationships change when your child’s care gets complex, and why connecting with someone who has lived your kind of hard can be the difference between white-knuckling it and moving with steadier breath. You’ll hear how to use social groups without spiraling, how to spot the few voices you can trust, and when to mute notifications to protect your nervous system. We share the art of calibrated honesty—giving or asking for the right level of detail—and the relief that comes when someone gets your “memory anniversaries” without a long backstory.
This conversation goes beyond social media. We map practical paths to real connection through specialists’ nurses, child life teams, Parent to Parent networks, school resources, and quiet referrals that respect privacy and boundaries. We highlight why dads and male caregivers need their own lifelines, and offer simple scripts for reaching out when words are hard. Along the way we trade hard-won “cheat codes” for daily logistics, celebrate tiny wins with rituals that stick, and name the truth: support for you is support for your child, because a steadier parent advocates better.
If you’ve felt alone in the maze, we’re here to say you’re capable, you’re equipped, and you don’t have to do this by yourself. Listen for real talk, gentle structure, and the kind of friendship that holds both the fear and the fight. If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who needs a lifeline, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help other families find us. Your people are out there—let’s help you meet them.
Time Stamps:
We kindly ask that you share this podcast with other families who might benefit from our insights and support. Additionally, please take a brief moment to leave a review on your preferred podcast platform, which helps us to reach as many families as possible who are navigating this challenging journey, so they can find our support circle and access the assistance they rightfully deserve. No one should walk this journey alone.
To get more personal support, connect with us directly at:
https://parentempowermentnetwork.org
Facebook: Parent Empowerment Network
Instagram: ParentEmpowermentNetwork
Join the Parent Empowerment Network Community of Hope
Get your copy of She is Charlotte: A Mother’s Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Journey with Her Child with Medical Complexities by Emily K Whiting on Amazon