My special guest is Rhandyl Vinyard, Deonna Wade

Rhandyl Vinyard and Deonna Wade are two phenomenal mothers from Texas, each raising disabled children. Drawn together by shared circumstances, their friendship continues to strengthen others walking a similar path. Rhandyl, a physical therapist assistant, is the mother to Remy, who has required intensive medical care from an early age. Her background in healthcare provides a unique perspective into the challenges of raising a disabled child. Deonna, once a teacher, is mom to Allie who was thrust into an unexpected medical journey after a rare and tragic accident. Both moms bring a wealth of personal experience and heartfelt understanding to the table, connecting communities and gifting invaluable advice to others.

If that's your only thing is being that caretaker role and that's it, it's going to eat you up eventually... life is short and that we're not guaranteed tomorrow. So let's just have fun today and be happy and thankful for what we have. - Deanna Wade

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Uncover the remarkable strength that emerges from raising children with special needs.

• Explore the unseen challenges and isolations encountered by parents of disabled children.

• Discover the pivotal role in forming a solid support system for those raising differently-abled children.

• Recognize the necessity of becoming a powerful advocate for your child’s unique needs.

• Grasp the profound influence of Child Life specialists in the lives of families with disabled kids.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 - Introduction, 00:03:33 - Starting the Podcast, 00:07:49 - Purpose of the Podcast, 00:10:04 - Deanna's Story, 00:13:02 - Randall's Story, 00:16:30 - Remy's Journey, 00:19:48 - Remy's Personality, 00:20:56 - Allie's Journey, 00:23:19 - Coping Mechanisms, 00:28:10 - Finding Joy, 00:32:48 - The Importance of Advocating for Your Child, 00:35:47 - Transitioning into a Different Role, 00:38:47 - Learning to Trust Your Instincts, 00:43:58 - Taking Control of Medical Decisions, 00:49:01 - The Purpose of the Podcast, 00:50:30 - Broad Topics of Discussion, 00:51:49 - The Value of Child Life, 00:52:55 - Discovering the Importance of Child Life, 00:55:22 - Resources and Opportunities

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• Give medicine to your child without it becoming a wrestling match
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• 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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