Shows
Empowered by HopeThe Language of Support with Amy Bradford: How to Support Parent Caregivers in Meaningful Ways that Make a DifferenceSend us a text, we want to hear from you!The journey of caring for a child with rare disease or complex medical needs often leaves parents and caregivers isolated in their experience. While friends and family genuinely want to help, many struggle with knowing how to truly support without overstepping or saying the wrong thing.Amy (Board) Bradford brings her decades of experience working with rare disease communities to share powerful, actionable strategies for supporting caregivers effectively. This conversation goes beyond the typical "let me know if you need anything" platitudes to provide specific...2025-07-1439 min
Empowered by HopeEmpowered Parenting in Hard Moments with Child Life Specialist Brittany LutherSend us a text, we want to hear from you!Child Life Specialist, Brittany Luther, brings over twenty years of expertise to answer these questions in this emotionally powerful conversation. She explains how children naturally communicate their fears and process trauma through play—whether that's with specialized medical toys from organizations like The Butterfly Pig or simply through creative exploration with everyday items.Brittany introduces two transformative concepts parents can immediately implement: "wonder" and "pause." By creating unhurried space to wonder with your child about their experiences and feelings, you open pathways for them to ex...2025-07-011h 02
Empowered by HopeBuilding Brave Kids Through Medical Play: Tackling Medical Trauma & Normalizing Care with The Butterfly PigSend us a text, we want to hear from you!MaryJenner, a nurse with a creative heart, founded The Butterfly Pig after writing a children's book about embracing differences—a theme that would become central to her mission of transforming pediatric medical experiences through play. Her company creates realistic medical simulation tools that children can use with their favorite stuffed animals, helping them process everything from IV placements to ostomy care in a safe, empowering environment.The power of these medical toys extends far beyond simple distraction. When children experience procedures as something happening to th...2025-06-2452 min
Empowered by Hope"Keep Your Head Up": Dr. Tasha Faruqui on Anticipatory Grief, Joy, and a Mother’s Fierce HopeSend us a text, we want to hear from you!How do you hold on to hope when you know your child is dying—and there’s no diagnosis, no cure, and no roadmap forward? Co-hosts, Ashlyn Thompson & Ashley Milbourne are joined by Dr. Tasha Faruqui—award-winning pediatrician, rare disease parent, and now debut author—who invites us into the heart of her story, which inspired her forthcoming memoir: Keep Your Head Up: A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief, releasing September 16, 2025.Dr. Faruqui's second daughter, Soraya, was born w...2025-06-1658 min
Empowered by HopeThe Silver Lining for Siblings: How Siblings of Medically Complex Kids Grow in Strength & CompassionSend us a text, we want to hear from you!As parents of children with complex medical needs, our hearts often ache with worry about our other children. Are they getting enough attention? Will they feel less important? Do they resent their sibling's conditions? These questions haunt us during late-night hospital stays and therapy appointments.What we rarely discuss, though, is the remarkable beauty that emerges in these siblings' lives. Through heartwarming stories like seven-year-old Nora proudly telling her class about her sister's rare condition on Rare Disease Day, or Cole developing an extraordinary voice...2025-03-1135 min
Empowered by HopeWhat Matters Most: A Medically Complex Adult Reflects on Childhood & Parental LoveSend us a text, we want to hear from you!Every parent of a medically complex child wonders: Will my child grow up knowing how deeply they are loved? Will they appreciate how hard I fought for them? In this episode, we bring you a powerful answer straight from someone who’s been there.Annelise Frazier, born with a rare and complex medical condition, shares her story of growing up with surgeries, complications, and hospital stays—but more importantly, growing up surrounded by love. She reflects on the biggest gift her parents gave her: they love...2025-03-0448 min
Empowered by HopeICU/NICU Survival: Mindset Tools from Coach & Medical Mom Leah DarrowSend us a text, we want to hear from you!Leah Darrow, renowned public speaker and mindset coach, joins Emily Whiting on the Empowered by Hope podcast to share her inspiring journey from faith-based public speaking to impactful mindset coaching. As mothers with children facing complex medical challenges, Leah and I connect deeply over our shared experiences in balancing personal passions with the demands of family life. Through her programs like Power Made Perfect and Motivated Mompreneur, Leah sheds light on how a Christ-centered approach can empower individuals to thrive and overcome life's obstacles.Leah...2025-02-1839 min
Empowered by HopeFeeding Matters: Jaclyn Pederson's Journey to Recognition and Support for Pediatric Feeding DisordersSend us a text, we want to hear from you!Join us for an exploration of pediatric feeding challenges as we sit down with Jaclyn Pederson, the dynamic CEO of Feeding Matters. Through Jaclyn's personal journey and professional insights, we uncover the critical, yet often sidelined, issue of pediatric feeding disorders. In a world where validation for these struggles was once elusive, Feeding Matters has championed the recognition of pediatric feeding disorder as a standalone diagnosis, bringing a sense of acknowledgment and relief to countless families.This episode is a treasure trove for parents and...2025-02-1132 min
Empowered by HopeCreating Compassionate and Accessible Healthcare Systems with Melissa PaigeSend us a text, we want to hear from you!Step into the empowering world of healthcare advocacy with us as we welcome the inspiring Melissa Paige, Co-CEO of the Healthcare Advocate Summit. A recognized expert in patient access programs and navigation, Melissa combines her extensive medical knowledge, diverse pharmaceutical expertise, and leadership skills to drive process improvement and redesign workflows that enhance efficiencies in healthcare. Her unwavering passion for the well-being of patients fuels her relentless pursuit of breaking down access barriers and advocating for the highest quality care.In this episode, Melissa shares...2025-02-0435 min