Joy In The Journey

082: Bringing Peace & Joy to Families with Pediatric Cancer with Jenna Kmitch

Caring for a newly diagnosed child going through a medical journey can be scary and overwhelming. Especially when finding resources meant to support you, like Child Life Specialists, requires extensive research and planning.  This is why I am so grateful to our guest today, Jenna Kmitch, for courageously sharing what her process looks like beside her daughter Sydney, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma just a few weeks after birth.  Jenna is the founder of Love Smiles, an organization dedicated to bringing moments of peace and joy to families with pediatric cancer through stories.  Today, she shares her experience and advice on navigating surgeries, treatments, PICU stays, and returning home and how to enjoy parenthood through it all. Jenna found joy in her journey by leaning on her baby's resilience and the community and medical staff that showed up for her, and she hopes to inspire others to do the same. Key Takeaways with Jenna Kmitch The challenges of becoming a mom during a pandemic Navigating a baby's cancer diagnosis  Processing the risks & results of infant surgery  The role of child life specialists in the PICU How to lean on nurses and doctors for additional support  The stages of grieving a diagnosis  Finding yourself as a mom during caretaking  Show Notes: Get Full Access to the Show Notes by visiting: MatteasJoy.org/82. Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of The Joy In The Journey, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review over on Apple Podcasts. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

081: Insights on Communicating Effectively With Your Medical Team with Henry Rosh & Megan Keeler

When you first enter the medical world as a caregiver, everyone around you hits the ground running. The nurses and doctors know exactly how to get started, and yet, you might be left feeling overwhelmed and powerless.  This is what makes social workers so important: they support the family holistically, encourage communication, help bridge information gaps, and empower you to become an important member of your child's medical team. My guests today, Henry Rosh and Megan Keeler, are both social workers at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Henry works with families who have extended admissions in the heart center, and Megan extensively prepares families for admissions and hospitalizations in the epilepsy center.  They are the superheroes in a medical team, meeting families where they are and making their experience in the hospital remarkably better. In our conversation, they're sharing their best advice on communicating with your medical team, building relationships with nurses, and participating in your child's care so that you can feel more comfortable and better informed on the next steps in your journey. Key Takeaways with Henry Rosh & Megan Keeler The impact of social workers on medical journeys How they make hospitals less intimidating for families  What is Psychosocial Support? Encouraging communication with medical providers  The role of families in the medical team  What to expect from bedside nurses, providers, & physicians Getting involved in your child's care both in-person & remotely Having confidence to challenge & question medical plans Building a two-way relationship with nurses Show Notes: Get Full Access to the Show Notes by visiting: MatteasJoy.org/81. Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of The Joy In The Journey, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review over on Apple Podcasts. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

080: Discovering Unexpected Gifts in Times of Grief with Sara Ward

After losing someone close to us we are usually told about the five stages of grief and how each of them will show up. But grief often shows up differently for everyone, skipping and cycling through stages in unique ways. My guest today is Sara Ward, and she knows a thing or two about grieving. After unexpectedly losing her father to a heart problem as a teenager, her 9-month-old adopted son was diagnosed with a rare and terminal disease and given a very short time to live.  Instead of choosing to focus only on the hardships of grief, Sara committed to looking for unexpected gifts in her journey. Since then, she's written a book titled, Made for Hope: Discovering Unexpected Gifts in Brokenness, which is aimed at helping others navigate their grief journey. She's sharing her story on how community, faith, hope, and gratitude got her through some of the hardest challenges of life.  This episode is perfect for anyone who's in the thick of their grief journey or knows someone who is to feel less alone in this very difficult season of life.  Key Takeaways with Sara Ward Processing grief as a child or teenager Dealing with a sudden and unexpected loss  How the stages of grief are unique for everyone  The anticipatory grief that comes with terminal illnesses Seeking help through grief groups  The importance of rest for caregivers  Leaning on faith & community When parents have different coping mechanisms  Feeling guilt after the loss of a child  Focusing on the blessings in the midst of pain  Show Notes: Get Full Access to the Show Notes by visiting: MatteasJoy.org/80. Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of The Joy In The Journey, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review over on Apple Podcasts. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

079: The Glimpses of Joy You'll Find When You Look For Them with Gina Prosch

We've all experienced those days where it feels like we catch every red light on a busy commute and nothing seems to be going right. But what happens when we're intentional about stopping to look for the small glimmers of joy, even in those heavier days? Allow me to introduce you to today's guest to answer that question. Gina Prosch is a writer and teacher who has made it her mission to help children and adults find joy in even the most difficult days. Her childrens books are perfect for little ones who may be experiencing a harder season of life, and provide parents with inspiring ways to keep hope alive.  In our conversation, you'll hear a few ways you can train and reframe your mind to look for the joy around you, reflect on your past experiences, and tools to guide children through failures and tough challenges.  Key Takeaways with Gina Prosch Finding hope during a tough time  Establishing healthy gratitude and accountability habits Training and reframing your brain to look for joy  Tips to navigate a harder season of life with optimism  Helping children grow through mistakes and failures  The difference between positive and negative instruction  Shifting your mentality from "I have to" to "I get to" Show Notes: Get Full Access to the Show Notes by visiting: MatteasJoy.org/79. Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of The Joy In The Journey, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review over on Apple Podcasts. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!

078: Offering Hope, Dignity and Holistic Care in Kenyan Hospice with Juli Boit

Juli Boit is no stranger to helping those in need. She's an author, family nurse practitioner, and international non-profit director of Living Room International, dedicated to providing palliative care services to adults and children in western Kenya.  After going through an adoption journey with her son Ryan, whose parents had recently passed, and consequently adopting his siblings, she found herself needing some help of her own when two of her kids required transplants far from their Kenyan home.  These transformative experiences made Juli see her work through a different lens: that joy can be found in both giving and receiving and that without the pain, we cannot experience joy.  Today, Juli is sharing her experience in the hopes of making someone else's journey of navigating children's treatments, ICU admissions, and surgeries feel a little more manageable.  Key Takeaways with Juli Boit Navigating an international adoption process How motherhood changes your perspective on helping others The importance of community & the feeling of belonging  Creating community in a new phase of life Asking for help when you feel vulnerable or scared Guiding others through shared experience  Making room for grief to experience joy  Practices to help you feel present and grounded Navigating a transplant and ICU journey  How traumatic experiences affect your faith  Welcoming people who feel like they've never been welcome anywhere Show Notes: Get Full Access to the Show Notes by visiting: MatteasJoy.org/78. Rate & Review If you enjoyed today's episode of The Joy In The Journey, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review over on Apple Podcasts. Reviews go a long way in helping us build awareness so that we can impact even more people. THANK YOU!