On today’s episode, Katie had the privilege of speaking with Annie Gunning, a Certified Child Life Specialist and Grief Counselor, and Haley Thomas, a Licensed Master Social Worker, on their collaborative efforts to support families at Hope for HIE. Annie and Haley...
222: Ask a NICU Mama with Ashley O’Neil
Podcast Show Notes
In this episode host Katie Taylor sits down with Ashley O’Neil, a family nurse practitioner and a NICU mom. Ashley shares her journey when her son, Colin, was born at 25 weeks gestation and the following 183 day NICU stay. Listen to hear how she balanced work, advocating for her son’s needs, coping with personal loss, as well as providing invaluable support and resources to other families in similar situations.
“The hardest part isn’t being in the NICU; it’s the real advocating that starts after discharge.” – Ashley O’Neil
Key Insights:
Early Challenges: Ashley shares the difficulties of having a baby born at 25 weeks and the emotional turmoil of seeing healthy babies at work while her own child struggled in the NICU.
Advocacy: Emphasizing the importance of advocating for her child, Ashley highlights how she meticulously kept records, attended rounds, and communicated her son’s needs to the medical staff.
Support Systems: The significance of community support and online groups played a crucial role in her journey.
Resilience: Despite being told what her son might not achieve, Ashley remained steadfast in her belief in his potential, advocating for her son, and celebrating every milestone and victory.
Navigating Systems: The real battle often begins after leaving the NICU, dealing with insurance, medical equipment, and ensuring her child receives the necessary care and resources.
Resources and Tips
Ronald McDonald House: Provides essential housing and support for families with hospitalized children.
Kids Grief Support: Find information and resources to support grieving children.
When parents feel empowered, everyone wins – kids thrive and the care team excels!
- 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.
You Might Also Like…
220: Know EXACTLY When Rounds is Happening with Q-Rounds with Dr. Mike
Episode Description: Join Katie Taylor, CCLS in this episode as she talks with Dr. Michael Pitt the founder of Q-Rounds and a compassionate pediatrician (and magician!) dedicated to enhancing doctor-patient communication. As a child life specialist, Katie understands...
219: 60 Years Later: Reflecting on a Daughter with Ichthyosis
“We, we weren't letting those people push us around because, believe it or not, living with us 24 hours a day, we knew more than some of the doctors.” - Skip Vilas In this heartfelt episode of the Child Life On Call podcast, host and CCLS Katie Taylor...
