Shows
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 1: What Resilience MeansWhat does resilience mean when a child is sick? Clay Culp, Janet Sellers, and parent Sara Lohse talk about resilience, or the ability to bounce back, when a child has a serious illness. Sara says “resilient” is the last thing she felt as her family navigated her daughter Madi’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. She shares one of the hardest moments their family experienced. The group talks about how resilience can mean acceptance and taking the next step.A special thank you to our host Clay Culp, senior social worker at St. Jude; Janet Sellers, manager of the St. Jude...2025-07-1741 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastSeason 3 TrailerWe're happy to present season 3 of Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast. Hear from families and health care providers as they share personal stories and offer support to those caring for a child with a serious illness.At St. Jude, we understand the challenges that families face during this difficult time, and we are committed to providing resources to help. Each episode of the podcast focuses on S.H.A.R.E—Supporting, Honoring, Advising, Reflecting, and Encouraging caregivers.The first episode of Season 3 will drop on July 17, 2025.2025-07-1000 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastLiving with Grief During a Time of CelebrationIn this episode, Brenda Stephens and Erica Sirrine talk about loss and keeping memories alive. Brenda’s daughter Emily died of cancer at age 23. Brenda discusses navigating the first year after Emily died, the ways her family keeps Emily’s light alive, and being mentored by other parents through the journey. Brenda and Erica emphasize the importance of allowing oneself to feel, creating new traditions, and continuing to tell Emily’s story and celebrate her life. Brenda encourages other grieving parents to turn grief into love and give to others.A special thank you to our moderator, Erica Sirrin...2024-11-2022 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastNavigating Serious Illness with Teens and Young AdultsIn this episode, Carol Bailey and her daughter Katie talk with child life specialist Heather Haluska about going through cancer during the teen years. Katie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia when she was a senior in high school. She continues to deal with chronic health conditions related to her diagnosis. Katie shares how she handled missing out on teenage experiences, used creativity as an outlet, and learned to advocate for herself in medical settings. Carol discusses learning to take time for herself. Both mother and daughter highlight the importance of communication and listening, even when they could only communicate...2024-11-0613 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastNavigating Serious Illness with School-age ChildrenElnora Lee describes her 17-year journey with 3 school-age daughters navigating cancer. She talks with Randy Thompson of the St. Jude Imagine Academy about learning challenges, relationship challenges, and the importance of having compassion and empathy. She offers tips for helping a school-age child retain multiplication facts and turning trips to the store into learning experiences. Elnora emphasizes the importance of setting the tone, being firm, and focusing on the future.A special thank you to our moderator, Randy Thompson, STEMM coordinator, Imagine Academy by Chili’s at St. Jude, and our parent caregiver, Elnora Lee.Learn mo...2024-10-2310 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastNavigating Serious Illness with Early Childhood ChildrenIn this episode, Ela Molina talks with Jen Harman about Ela’s daughter’s experience with cancer. Isa Molina was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 22 months old. Jen was Ela and Isa’s psychologist at St. Jude while Isa went through treatment. Ela and Jen reflect on that time. They offer tips for using play, setting limits, keeping a routine, and using positive reinforcement with young children. Ela highlights how helpful child life and music therapy were for Isa in the hospital. For parents and caregivers, Jen and Ela emphasize the importance of helping others through finding their own callin...2024-10-0922 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastHow to Support a Sick Child’s SiblingsShaQuitta McGhee and Jessica Watts reflect on how they supported their other children while their child was sick. ShaQuitta discusses how she relied on family and a counselor. She admits she didn’t always get it right when parenting her daughter, Reign Bella, and her sons at the same time. Jessica sheds light on how she found ways to include her younger son in family activities when he couldn’t be involved in her older son Charlie’s treatment. Both women share the importance of relishing moments together and celebrating the ones we love.A special thank you to our...2024-09-2526 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastHow to Keep Your Relationship StrongIn this episode, Wes and Kady Shell talk about how they kept their marriage strong and remained close while their daughter Hattie went through an extended ICU stay. Wes and Cady discuss how they learned to let go, meet their spouse where they were, and check in often. One is an early riser and one of them is a night owl. This fact that used to irritate them became key in taking shifts in the ICU. Their differences became their strengths.A special thank you to our moderator, Clay Culp, social worker at St. Jude, and our parent...2024-09-1121 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastSeason 2 TrailerWe are happy to present season 2 of Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast. Hear from families and health care providers as they share personal stories and offer support to those caring for a child with a serious illness.At St. Jude, we understand the challenges that families face during this difficult time, and we are committed to providing resources to help. Each episode of the podcast focuses on S.H.A.R.E—Supporting, Honoring, Advising, Reflecting, and Encouraging caregivers.The first episode of Season 2 will drop on September 12, 2024.https://www.stjude.org/care-treatment/pa...2024-09-0500 min
Unseen Upside: Investments Beyond Their ReturnsPrecision Oncology & Advancing Personalized Cancer CarePrecision oncology represents an exciting shift in cancer treatment from a one-size-fits-all approach to personalized care based on each patient's unique cancer and molecular makeup. In this episode, we'll explore how precision oncology is transforming the landscape of cancer care and improving outcomes at leading hospitals like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We'll discuss the latest precision diagnostic technologies enabling doctors to analyze a tumor's molecular profile and match targeted therapies to save lives. Join us as we investigate the promise of precision medicine to make cancer treatment more effective and more equitable. Guests include:
Rick Shadyac, Pr...2024-03-0539 min
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastHoliday Episode: Finding Joy in the Simple MomentsSt. Jude Director of Spiritual Care Services Mark Brown talks with caregiver Nikole Sullivan. Listeners will learn how her family managed the holidays with a child in the hospital, created new memories, and embraced simple joys together. Nikole shares how she let go of the pressure that comes with the holiday season and navigated being apart from family members.A special thank you to Mark Brown and our parent caregiver Nikole Sullivan.2023-12-0415 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 7: Friends, Relationships, and Mental HealthThe transition off therapy can be socially and psychosocially challenging. Caregivers can have feelings of release and relief, but they can also be confused and overwhelmed. How can you take care of your mental health while ensuring the health of your child? LaChaka and Darick explore returning to work, managing finances, asking for help, and navigating strained relationships. They emphasize the importance of giving back by helping others with children who have serious illnesses. A special thank you to Emily Browne, Transition Oncology Program Director at St. Jude, and our parent caregivers LaChaka Davis and Darick Hemphill.2023-10-1837 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 6: Going Back to SchoolWhen your child transitions off therapy, how do you know when to send them back to school? Emily, Darick, and LaChaka discuss how to confidently make that decision, as well as what accommodations might be needed, such as IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) or 504 plans. They speak about the importance of communicating openly with the care team, child life specialists, social workers, and school administrators. A special thank you to Emily Browne, Transition Oncology Program Director at St. Jude, and our parent caregivers LaChaka Davis and Darick Hemphill.2023-10-0427 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 5: Back to the Local Care TeamThe transition from a hospital care team to a local care team comes with its challenges. LaChaka and Darick map out the medical journey each of them took with their children’s treatment. LaChaka outlines how she kept her home pediatrician in the loop so that the transition went smoothly. Both caregivers offer tips on organizing medical records and teaching a child to take an active role in their own care. A special thank you to Emily Browne, Transition Oncology Program Director at St. Jude, and our parent caregivers LaChaka Davis and Darick Hemphill.2023-09-2026 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 4: The Emotions of Transitioning Off TherapyWhen it’s time to transition off therapy, what happens next? While it might seem like an exciting time, the transition off therapy can come with anxiety and fear. Parents LaChaka and Darick share how they handled the emotional aspect of leaving the safety net of the hospital. They talk about the time required to process the experience and how they’ve been humbled by it. LaChaka and Darick reflect on hard emotions like survivor’s guilt. They also explain how creating a support net with other families helped them get through. A special thank you to Emily Browne, Transition Oncolo...2023-09-0729 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 3: Seeking Help and SupportPaula and Jason explore ways to find support during treatment, whether from the medical team, social workers, or others. They share the importance of advocating for yourself and your child and how important it is to speak up when you know something is not right. Jason and Paula explain how they responded to unsolicited medical advice during treatment, and when to ask for help from someone outside the care team. They point to self-care, connecting with patient families, and living in the moment as tools for making it through. A special thank you to our moderator, Erica Sirrine, Social Work...2023-08-2427 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 2: Handling Logistics and Household DecisionsHow does a caregiver handle day-to-day logistics at home when their child has a serious illness? Paula and Jason share how they were able to ask for much-needed help from friends and loved ones, even with mundane tasks like yard work and oil changes. They discovered that sometimes coping means focusing on a calendar or a to-do list. They also learned that it’s OK to realize you can’t do it all on your own. Listeners learn tips for keeping logistics organized and which items to pack for long hospital stays. A special thank you to our moderator, Erica Sirr...2023-08-1023 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastEpisode 1: The Shock of a New DiagnosisHow does it feel to first receive a child’s diagnosis of a serious illness? Paula shares her initial feelings of having the rug pulled out from under her. Jason reflects on feeling out of control and exhausted. In the fog of a new diagnosis, how do you keep a clear head to make key health decisions for your child? Jason and Paula discuss the small losses and changes along the way. They also discuss the moment of realization that nothing will ever be the same. As Jason reflects, “the dreams [you had for your child] aren’t gone. They do cha...2023-07-2720 minCaregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastTrailer: Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude PodcastA child’s diagnosis of a serious illness can be difficult. Families, guardians, and loved ones feel a range of emotions and need support related to their child’s treatment. Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast, is a place for family caregivers to hear advice, reflection, encouragement, and real stories from families and hospital staff. SHARE stands for Support, Honor, Advise, Reflect, and Encourage. The podcast is brought to you by Patient Family-Centered Care and Psychosocial Services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.2023-07-2500 min