When Laura's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, her world stopped. What followed was a powerful journey through fear, resilience, and fierce advocacy. In this episode, Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree—a lifelong educator and now author of The Cancer Parent’s Handbook—opens...
Episode 63 | Krystal’s Story – A son with Neonatal Pneumothorax in the NICU
Podcast Show Notes
Your son is the sickest in the NICU.”
Katie, Certified Child Life Specialist interviews Krystal, a mom from South Florida that shares her son’s experience in the NICU.
Both Krystal and her husband are mental health therapists and have three children ages 6, 2 and 9 months. Despite a relatively normal and uneventful pregnancy and an anticipated c-section, her son was born and within minutes was unable to breathe on his own.
No one can prepare you for a NICU stay, the ups and downs and foreign language spoken by doctors. Krystal talks about feeling several emotions all at once, gratitude, concern, exhaustion, worry and the list goes on.
As her son was born at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which means she had to spend time in the hospital without her husband and the two of them could never visit the NICU together.
Their story has a happy ending, her son was discharged 13 days after being admitted to the NICU. However, the scars remain and she shares her story to help other parents feel less alone.
Follow along with Krystal and her family on Instagram @krystal_wallick_author
Child Life On Call is a community of parents and professionals that share ideas, stories and resources to help YOU navigate your child’s unique experiences. We give you strategies to support yourself and your family through life’s challenges. We are so glad you are here.
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