The P in PANS/PANDAS stands for pediatric, and that single word shapes how patients get treated long after childhood. Meet Kirk, Emily and Lily from the National PANS/PANDAS Youth Alliance. They talk with us about what it's like to live with a condition most doctors still associate only with small children. Each of them were diagnosed as children, but they had different journeys and different experiences, which shows how vastly different each individual's experience with PANS or PANDAS truly is.

Kirk, Emily and Lily talk about how differently PANS/PANDAS presents from person to person, how tick-borne infections play a role, and how relapse can arrive years after a treatment that seemed to work. 

They also talk about the National PANS/PANDAS Youth Alliance, how they advocate for themselves and other people living with PANS/PANDAS and what they're pushing for legislatively. 

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance https://www.nationalpandasyouthalliance.org/home 

NPYA Advocacy Guidebook https://www.nationalpandasyouthalliance.org/store/p/how-to-advocate-a-youth-survivors-guide-to-panspandas-advocacy 

Donate To NPYA https://givebutter.com/Qz6f5s 

NPYA on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pandasyouthalliance/ 

Emily on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chronicallyem.pans/ 

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

PANDAS PARENTS Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/461708653853619

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OCD and tics are two of the most common ways PANS/PANDAS shows up, and neither one tends to look the way parents expect. In this episode, teens Lynn and Brady describe what it actually felt like growing up with PANDAS: the fear of shiny objects, being called names by classmates who don't understand your tics and intrusive thoughts that convinced them something was deeply wrong with who they were.

This conversation gets into why so much of what PANS/PANDAS kids experience stays hidden for years. Kids assume their intrusive thoughts mean something about them, so they don't tell anyone, and parents read their behavior as ordinary anxiety. This episode covers the difference between anxiety and OCD, why curiosity works better than problem solving, the shame that keeps kids silent, and the single reframe that helps the most: if a thought horrifies you, that's evidence it isn't you. 

This episode includes discussion of intrusive thoughts, including sexual and harm-themed OCD, and bullying.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance https://www.nationalpandasyouthalliance.org/home 

PANDAS PARENTS Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/461708653853619

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autism and PANS/PANDAS share enough symptoms that separating them can be nearly impossible. In this episode, meet Madi, a 15-year-old freshman and horseback rider who can tell you exactly what her favorite horse will do for a handful of feed. She also experiences both autism and PANDAS. It wasn't until after IVIG that she could start to tell which symptoms belonged to which diagnosis.

Flying Through Fog hosts Krystal Vivian, Lindsey Forsyth and Angela Henry talk with Madi and her mom, Mindy, about what a flare feels like from the inside, how OCD had her convinced she was a bad person (though she's lovely), and what symptoms stayed behind after PANDAS treatment. Madi is honest about the intrusive thoughts she experienced and how nobody told her that the struggle simply wouldn't end after IVIG. Mindy talks about watching for the same patterns in her other children and how hormones, not just infection, can set off a flare. 

This important episode includes discussion of self-injury and intrusive thoughts of harm. 

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance https://www.nationalpandasyouthalliance.org/home 

PANDAS PARENTS Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/461708653853619

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is it like to have PANDAS in college? Abby is a freshman in Minnesota, twelve hours from home, playing Division II volleyball and working toward vet school. She's also managing a PANS/PANDAS diagnosis she didn't receive until her junior year of high school, which meant most of her life was spent coping without a name for what was happening to her.

Your Flying Through Fog hosts Krystal Vivian, Lindsey Forsyth, and Angela Henry talk with Abby about what a flare actually looks like for her, which is quiet and solitary rather than the raging many parents expect. She walks through the two flares she had during her first semester away, deciding whether to tell her coach and her teammates, and which part of her treatment has helped her most. She also answers the question a lot of parents of newly diagnosed kids are afraid to ask out loud: what does this look like when my child is grown?

This is our first episode of season 2 of Flying Through Fog. We're so glad you're flying with us.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance https://www.nationalpandasyouthalliance.org/home 

PANDAS PARENTS Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/461708653853619

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you're in the darkest moments of your PANS/PANDAS journey—when your child is a shell of themselves, when every day feels like surviving an impossible storm—it's hard to imagine that things will ever get better. But they can. And they do.

For the final episode of Season 1, hosts Krystal Vivian and Lindsey Forsyth are joined by Angela Henry to share powerful stories of hope from real PANS/PANDAS families. From the mom whose daughter went from a watermelon "cake" due to severe food restrictions to eating real birthday cake a year later, to the child who missed a year and a half of school and is now getting straight A's, to the 19-year-old thriving in pre-med who wants to become the doctor that helps other PANDAS kids—these stories prove that healing is possible.

This episode is a reminder that you're not flying through the fog alone. Other families have walked this path, fought these battles, and come out the other side. Whether your child was just diagnosed or you've been in the trenches for years, these stories offer something every PANS/PANDAS parent desperately needs: hope. Sometimes the most powerful medicine is knowing that recovery is possible—and it's happening for families just like yours.

Thank you for joining us for Season 1 of Flying Through Fog. We'll be back in 2026 with Season 2.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

PANDAS PARENTS Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/461708653853619

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your child is screaming in the car, refusing to go to school. Or they're hiding under their bed, terrified of another doctor's appointment. You know something is deeply wrong, but from the outside, it just looks like defiance. Welcome to one of the most misunderstood aspects of PANS/PANDAS: refusal behaviors.

In this episode, licensed clinical social worker Angela Henry joins hosts Krystal Vivian and Lindsey Forsyth to unpack why so many children with PANS/PANDAS struggle with school and medical appointments—and what parents can actually do about it. From understanding the difference between "not willing" and "not able" to exploring options like IEPs, homeschooling, and unschooling, this conversation offers both validation and practical strategies.

Whether your child is currently refusing to get out of the car or you're worried about what happens when refusal turns physical, this episode tackles the hard questions with honesty and compassion. Because sometimes the most important thing parents need to hear is: you're not alone, this is real, and there are people who understand.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the hardest parts of a PANS/PANDAS diagnosis isn't just getting the diagnosis—it's figuring out how to talk about it. How do you explain to your child that their brain is under attack by their own immune system? What do you tell siblings who've been walking on eggshells for months? And how much should teachers, friends, and extended family really know?

In this episode, licensed clinical social worker Angela Henry joins hosts Krystal Vivian and Lindsey Forsyth for an essential conversation about communication. They break down how to have age-appropriate discussions with children about their diagnosis, why naming the disease can actually be liberating, and how to navigate the delicate balance between privacy and advocacy. From the child who presents about PANDAS to their entire fifth-grade class to the teenager who only confides in one parent, they explore how different families approach these conversations in ways that work for them.

Whether you're preparing to tell your child they have PANS/PANDAS, trying to help siblings understand why things feel so unfair, or wondering what to share with your child's school, this episode offers practical guidance rooted in compassion. Because the right conversations, approached with curiosity instead of judgment, can transform a diagnosis from a source of shame into an opportunity for connection, self-awareness, and hope.

Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do when you've tried everything—antibiotics, therapy, multiple specialists—and your children are still struggling? For Tricia, the answer came from an unexpected place: her own home.

In this episode, we sit down with Tricia, a teacher and mom of two kids with PANDAS, whose five-year diagnostic journey took her from Tourette's and ADHD diagnoses to discovering PANS/PANDAS—and ultimately uncovering mold as a hidden trigger keeping her children sick. Tricia shares the gut-wrenching moment when both her son and daughter began showing symptoms, her battle through insurance denials for IVIG treatment, and the surprising discovery that changed everything for her family's healing journey.

Whether you're just beginning to suspect PANDAS, fighting for treatment approval, or wondering why your child isn't improving despite doing "all the right things," this episode offers validation and practical insights. Tricia's story reminds us that healing isn't always a straight line, and sometimes the answers we need are hiding in places we'd never think to look. Because when you're a parent fighting for your child's health, you learn to question everything—and trust your instincts above all else.

Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, parents have been told their observations about their child's PANS/PANDAS symptoms don't match the "typical" pattern—leaving them confused, doubting themselves, and struggling to get proper treatment. But what if there isn't just one typical pattern? What if your child's unique journey is actually completely normal?

In this episode, we break down a groundbreaking Stanford University study that finally gives scientific validation to what parents have been experiencing all along. Licensed clinical social worker Angela Henry joins hosts Krystal Vivian and Lindsey Forsyth to translate the complex research into practical insights families can use today. Discover why having a common language for flares changes everything—from getting doctors to take you seriously to knowing what to expect in the months and years ahead.

Whether your child just had their first flare or you've been navigating this journey for years, this episode offers both validation and hope. Because when the research finally catches up to what parents have been saying, everything changes.

Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting a PANS/PANDAS diagnosis is only half the battle—the other half is fighting insurance companies for treatment coverage.

In this episode, Krystal and Lindsey sit down with Dr. Warris Bokhari, co-founder of Claimable, an AI-powered platform that's helping families overturn insurance denials for IVIG therapy with an 80% success rate.

Dr. Bokhari shares his journey from emergency medicine in London to taking on the US healthcare system, and reveals why insurance companies routinely deny legitimate claims—often using unqualified reviewers and cherry-picked evidence.

Learn the critical mistakes families make when appealing denials, discover the hidden rights you have under federal and state law, and find out why copying your CEO on your appeal letter could be a game-changer.

Whether you're facing your first denial or your tenth, this episode gives you the roadmap and resources to fight back and win.

Read the full transcript of this episode at PANDASMichiana.com.

RESOURCES:
Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit For PANS/PANDAS Caregivers — Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Claimable https://www.getclaimable.com/ 

PANDAS Michiana https://pandasmichiana.com/ 

PANDAS Physician Network https://www.pandasppn.org/ 

PANDAS Network https://pandasnetwork.org/understanding-pandas/ 

Angela Henry, LCSW https://angelahenrylcsw.com/services/pandas-pans-ae 

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Advocacy, Community & Support Aspire

Neuroimmune Foundation Neuroimmune Foundation | Inflammatory Brain Conditions

Mind Global Council https://www.mindglobalcouncil.com/

OCD Family Podcast https://www.ocdfamilypodcast.com/

Hornets and Hippos Workbook: https://margaretjessoppsyd.com/hornets-and-hippos/ 

Parenting Resources:

Dr. Ross Greene https://drrossgreene.com/ 

Dr. Becky Kennedy https://www.goodinside.com/about/ 

Dr. Dan Siegel https://drdansiegel.com/ 

Brene Brown (professor and researcher of shame, vulnerability, courage and empathy) https://brenebrown.com/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.