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This week, I sat down with Kristin Herzberg Purdy—psychologist, rare disease advocate, and mom of two children with disabilities. KristIn shares her deeply personal story of parenting through autism, epilepsy, and a rare neurodegenerative condition. We talked about the emotional toll of constant caregiving, the push to find answers when the medical system leaves you hanging, and how self-compassion gets complicated when you're stuck in survival mode.

Kristin was so open about what it means to love fiercely while grieving at the same time. We touched on everything from her professional lens as a trauma psychologist to the messy feelings of comparison and guilt that creep in, especially when you’re watching other families do “typical” things.

She's also raising funds for a gene therapy treatment for her son, Paxton, and currently in the quarterfinals of a Supermom contest that could bring in $20,000 toward that effort. She's a powerhouse, and I know you'll be as moved by her.

Connect with Kristin: 

• CureCLCN6.org : Kristin and her husband’s nonprofit
• Contact Kristen: [email protected]
• Vote for Kristin in the Supermom contest! 

Other Resources: 

• UMass Chan Medical School : Partnering for gene therapy development
• Article on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Connect with Kara, host of The Special Needs Mom Podcast:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespecialneedsmompodcast/
Website: https://www.kararyska.com/