Part 2 of Episode 47 continues my Brave Mom conversation with Kennedy as we go deeper into her journey with her brave girl, Huxley. In so many ways, Huxley reminds me of my late Bella, and simply talking about the two of them together brings healing to my heart. We talk about Kennedy returning to school to become an RN while Huxley undergoes her second bone marrow transplant, and she asks me about Bella’s bowel surgeries...opening up an honest, tender exchange between two medical moms who truly get it. We also dive into homecare support for medical families, sharing our own experiences, discussing the financial support Minnesota provides, and of course touching on the TikTok stories that have connected so many of us. You can find Kennedy & Huxley on TikTok at @kgeis27 and on Instagram at @kennedyy_klehr. 💛

In Part One of this special two-part Beyond Brave episode, I sit down with fellow medical mom Kennedy from Minnesota, whose daughter Huxley shares striking medical similarities with my Bella, a connection first brought to me by my TikTok community. We talk about how this unexpected introduction turned into an instantly deep, healing conversation between two medical moms navigating rare diagnoses, hospital life, and the emotional weight of raising medically complex children. Kennedy shares Huxley’s journey, including her recent second bone marrow transplant, and what life looks like inside the thick of it all. This conversation was so real and so full that we couldn’t fit it into one episode, so stay tuned for Part Two, where we continue this powerful medical-mom-to-medical-mom chat.

We didn’t mean to be gone this long.

After what felt like being hit with grief again, a hard holiday season, illness, and the quiet realization of stepping into another year without Bella, we’re finally back. In this first episode of 2026, Lyle joins me for an honest check-in as we talk about recent travel and a Disney World recap, what surprised us, what helped, and what we’d do differently, alongside the deeper conversations we didn’t expect to be having. We open up about second-year grief, how it shows up differently than the first, and what it looks like to try to support each other in a marriage when both cups are empty. This is a real conversation about showing up changed, still learning, and choosing to come back anyway.

In this episode, Lyle and I finally share our full Ronald McDonald House story. From our very first stay in Calgary when we walked in terrified and exhausted, to our last days in Toronto with our Bella. Ronald McDonald House wasn’t just a place to sleep; it became our family. We talk about the rooms we lived in, the meals that kept us going, the programs that lifted us up, the volunteers who saw us on our hardest days, and the milestones Bella reached inside those walls. We also open up about what it was like to return to the House after Bella passed, and how they held us in our grief. If you’ve ever wondered what Ronald McDonald House truly means for families like ours, this is our story — start to finish — and why we’re so honoured to support them this Season of Giving.

In this Brave Mom episode, I sit down with Liz, a fellow bereaved and medical mom, to honour and share the story of her beautiful son, Mathias. This conversation was healing in a way only another SCID mom could understand. Liz and I share so many parallels in our stories… from navigating a SCID diagnosis, to battling CMV, to watching our babies endure bone marrow transplants. There are moments in this episode that felt like looking into a mirror… moments only a mom who has lived this kind of love and loss could connect to. I’m so grateful Liz trusted me with Mathias’ story, and I know her strength, honesty, and love for her boy will stay with you long after you listen.

Find Liz on Instagram at @li_zarrd.

If you’re a medical or bereaved mom who feels ready to share your brave story on Beyond Brave, I would love to hear from you. Please reach out anytime at [email protected].

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and event-planning powerhouse Jen Draper to talk all things Bella’s Birthday Ball, how it began, why it matters, and the incredible heart behind it. We dive into Jen’s world as an author, creator, event planner, oracle-card reader, and community builder, and explore how she uses all her talents to bring meaning and magic into the spaces she creates. It’s a conversation full of heart, purpose, and the beautiful impact one person can make.

You’ll find the direct link for Bella’s Ball tickets and event info right here in the show notes, and you can also find me over on socials at @kylact.

Event Link: https://tr.ee/ZHMYKwDSu9

Hubby Lyle is back! It’s been a minute since we've sat down together and there’s a lot to catch up on. From planning our first Disney World trip and celebrating one year of Beyond Brave, to my recent keynote and the launch of my new Brave Moms Series. Lyle and I also open up about how grief continues to evolve 16 months after losing our Bella, what it looks like to find joy alongside heartache, and how we're shaping the next chapter of the podcast and our lives, with bravery, fun, and everything in between.

Follow along on Instagram @kylact and Facebook (Bella Brave).
If you are, or know, a Brave Mom or Medical Mom whose story should be featured on the podcast, reach out on Instagram or email [email protected].

At just 34, Megan survived two strokes that left her with paralysis in one arm and limited movement in her leg. Through some of her hardest moments, she found hope and strength in Bella’s brave journey. In this episode, Megan opens up about her recovery, the emotional battles she’s faced, and how she’s redefining what it means to be truly brave.

Make sure you listen right to the end, after my outro, Ashley and I keep chatting about self-care and share a heartfelt side conversation.

In this powerful second episode of my Brave Mom Series on Beyond Brave, I talk with Ashley Hernandez from Kleefeld, Manitoba; a bereaved mom whose courage allows her to open up to me about her unimaginable loss. Ashley’s daughter, Aliyah, was diagnosed with an aggressive neuroblastoma just days after her 18-month birthday and passed away two months later, in March 2025. With honesty and grace, Ashley shares how she continues to carry Aliyah’s light through this life of grief & her and I connect over heart-breaking truths of losing our daughter's.

💛 This episode is part of my Brave Mom series ,honouring mothers who continue to live bravely through heartbreak, healing, and endless love.

✨ You can learn more about Ashley and her journey on Instagram at @ashley_Hernandez92.
Connect with me on TikTok and Instagram @kylact, and on Facebook at Bella Brave.

Maria & Her Miracle Micro Preemie, George
Born at just 22 weeks, George’s story is one of pure resilience and his mom Maria shares it with beautiful honesty.

What does it mean to raise a miracle? In this first episode of our Brave Mom Series, I sit down with fellow medical mama Maria Panayiotou , whose little boy George, born at just 22 weeks and 5 days, weighing only 1 pound, 4 ounces — has defied every odd in the book.

Maria and I instantly connect through our shared experiences as moms who’ve lived inside hospital walls, fought through fear, and celebrated the smallest victories that mean everything.

Maria shares George’s incredible fight for life, the strength it takes to parent through uncertainty, and the joy that comes from seeing your child thrive after so much pain. Together, we laugh, reflect, and honor the community of brave moms who carry both the heartbreak and the hope that comes with medically complex motherhood.

Tune in for a heartfelt, honest, and uplifting conversation that reminds us: our kids are the bravest teachers we’ll ever have.

Follow along:
🎙️ Beyond Brave Host: @kylact on Instagram & TikTok | Facebook: Bella Brave
💛 Guest: @maria_panayiotou & @george__10c