Joy In The Journey

It's so hard to conquer your fears and give yourself over to God, especially on the hard days. And my guest today has a lifetime of experiences that I know will be very meaningful to anyone who is facing similar challenges.

In today's episode, we have the lovely Annie Kidd. Annie is a mother of two, and a nurse of circumstance who went through 38 years of caring for a child with five different heart defects—and she's thankful for every day that God gives her.

Her daughter, Courtney, who had seven surgeries (including a liver transplant), became a pioneer to create other opportunities for sick babies with similar heart conditions.

Annie shares Courtney's journey and also speaks about the difficulty of navigating breast cancer twice, going to college at the same time with her two kids, and reminds us that smiling and having fun is the most important thing for your children to see.

Listen to today's episode to hear this inspirational story about faith, hope, and strength!

• Annie talks about how her daughter fought liver sarcoma and passed away on her 38th birthday.
• Why your health conditions don't define who you are.
• Don't rob yourself of joy today. Turn your worries over to God and take the signs he gives you.
• The power of conquering your fears, and giving yourself to God?
• How do you navigate the experiences of chronically ill children and remember your blessings?
• How having a chronically ill child gives you a better perspective on the world.
• The importance of giving your children hope and faith.
• Find joy in everyday life, whether it's from practical jokes, scary movies—just always have fun!
• That it's okay to give your child a break.
• Never give up hope and always try to buy as much time as you can.
• How do you find the touchstones of peace after your child passes away?
• The belief that our children are on loan from God.
• Tips for your own family's medical journey

Show Notes:

Get Full Access to the Show Notes by Visiting: MatteasJoy.org/3

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!

It's so hard to know what to expect as a parent, and even harder when your child has medical issues that were never on your radar.

Today, we have the courageous Lorna Walker joining us on our very first interview of the podcast, to talk all about how to maneuver the stress, depression, fear, and setbacks that come with having a critically sick kid. Lorna is a blogger of Walk This Way, and author of Trach Free for P: How One Little Boy's Life was Spared to Impact Countless Others.

In our discussion, she reveals the trials and tribulations of having her twin boys in the NICU, the gripping fear of one of her children code on an operating table, and the overwhelming challenges associated with a son who had to undergo a tracheostomy.

Lorna teaches us about the gift of perspective; being able to see the great things that may not feel so great in the moment, and how to find the silver lining in the midst of despair.

She is heart wrenchingly honest with the shame she experienced surrounding IVF treatment, her fears of the unknown, and using medication to treat her depression.

Join us for this amazing discussion and hear to how one little boy's life impacted countless others.

Key Takeaways with Lorna Walker

• Lorna talks about her IVF experience and how it mentally prepared her for a tough road ahead.
• The medical incident that led to her son coding on the operating table, requiring an unexpected tracheostomy.
• Giving yourself permission to take a mental break—even during times when it feels like your family needs you the most.
• Dealing with the shame and stigma that comes from an IVF pregnancy.
• Appreciating the expected and unexpected angels that show up during life's darkest moments—and how Lorna connected with a family going through similar struggles.
• Understanding why the people who are closest to you prior to a tragedy or life-changing event may not be there for you when you need it—and that's ok.
• Lorna shares the experience that revealed God's plan and why her faith was vital to her survival.
• The #1 resource Lorna recommends to Mom's going through tough times.
• Pay attention to when God shows up and know that he's got your back!
• The importance of taking care of your physical and emotional well-being—and why medication was critical to Lorna's happiness. What does your personal self-care look like?
• The therapeutic writing experience that allowed Lorna to find more joy in the journey!
• How do you navigate knowing your child will be going through pain, while needing to live in the moment?
• The gift of perspective and being grateful for how fortunate you truly are.
• Why service to others is a doorway to joy.

Show Notes:

Get Full Access to the Show Notes by Visiting: MatteasJoy.org/lorna-walker

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!

Welcome to the Joy In the Journey podcast! My name is Jamie Freedlund, and I'm the host of the show and Co-Founder of Mattea's Joy, a non-profit organization that helps families with hospitalized children.

I know firsthand what it means to be the parent of a sick kid, and the challenges that go with it, as my daughter, Mattea Joy, was born with several severe medical complications.

My husband and I were given a very small chance that Mattea would survive at birth. Thankfully, we were able to share nine and a half wonderful months with her that we didn't expect to have. This experience led to a deep level of gratitude, shifting our lives as a result, and allowing us to discover joy in every day—even the tough ones.

Through this podcast, my hope is to help other families going through similar struggles and to remind them that they're not alone.

Please join me as I share beautiful stories from resilient human beings who managed to find strength during life's darkest moments. And remember, life will bring unexpected circumstances, but choosing joy makes all the difference.

• Mattea's prenatal diagnosis and the challenges that Jamie and her husband faced along the way.
• The gratitude that they felt when Mattea survived the delivery.
• Choosing joy over anger and despair.
• Leaning on faith to get through dark times.
• Spending 13 weeks at home with Mattea and the lessons learned.
• How Mattea's Joy helps families with critically ill kids at Comer Children's Hospital.

Show Notes:

Get Full Access to the Show Notes by Visiting: MatteasJoy.org/1

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!