April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. We have reposted this episode to bring awareness and give you tangible tools to speak with your kids about child abuse. Today’s guest expert is Jane Donovan, who is a child abuse prevention advocate. "And like we say in...
Episode 152 | Kelly’s Story – A daughter with Epilepsy [Trigger Warning: Death]
Podcast Show Notes
This episode is full of tangible truth about what it means to be a caregiver and advocate. Kelly shares about her daughter’s epilepsy diagnosis and how it changed her entire world. After a normal pregnancy and delivery, Adelaide wasn’t gaining weight and had low muscle tone which was the beginning of her epilepsy diagnosis. Kelly became involved in CURE Epilepsy’s mission and shares how Adelaide’s spirit lives on through the work she does today.
**Trigger warning: Kelly talks about her daughter’s death in this episode**
[3:20] Introductions
[4:35] Adelaide’s diagnosis
[5:15] Miguel getting the call
[6:00] Moving to Chicago
[7:50] A friend’s advice
[10:35] Learning how to find your voice as a medical parent
[14:05] Talking with other parents
[16:40] Adelaide’s seizures
[17:31] Having a plan for seizures gave control over the situation
[19:08] Regression after seizures
[21:00] Accepting the reality of the situation
[22:20] Finding empowerment and advocacy through working with CURE Epilepsy
[24:51] CURE Epilepsy’s research on Infantile Spasms
[26:24] Adelaide passed away in 2019
[29:00] Adelaide’s spirit lives on with the research
[31:15] The forever connection with epilepsy families, clinicians and doctors
[33:31] Learning patience along the way
[36:00] How to connect with Kelly
Connect with Kelly
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- Give medicine to your child without it becoming a wrestling match
- Prepare your child (and yourself) for a shot so they can feel less anxious
- Create and use a coping plan for any medical appointment or procedure
The first sign of sniffles, or worse, shouldn’t send you into a tailspin. Feel confident in your role as a parent and advocate, no matter what medical situation you’re facing.
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