Does your life have a clear before and after? A single moment that changed everything irrevocably?

That's what happened for Heather Straughter.

In this deeply moving episode, Heather shares her journey of love, loss, and finding meaning after her son Jake's unexpected medical crisis and tragic passing. Heather's story begins when Jake was just eight months old and had his first seizure. From that moment, their lives were forever changed as they navigated the challenges of caring for a medically complex child.

Heather takes us through the 117 days they spent in the hospital, the search for a diagnosis, and the profound shift in her identity as a mother. She shares the joys and struggles of parenting a child with special needs, the incredible bond she shared with Jake, and the devastating loss her family experienced when he passed away at just four years old.

Through it all, Heather found strength, purpose, and a new perspective on life. She turned her pain into promise by founding Jake's Help From Heaven, a non-profit organization that has provided more than $1.7 million in grants to families with medically complex children.

Heather's story is a testament to the power of a mother's love, the resilience of the human spirit, and the possibility of finding light in even the darkest of times.

You'll learn:

• Why you should listen to the pit in your stomach
• How it's your right to question doctors and share what's best for your family
• The beauty of focusing on what someone can do, rather than what they can't
• Why the comments that make us mad and make us hate the person who said them can be exactly what we need to hear
• The value in sharing your journey, even -- and maybe especially -- in your darkest times 

Learn more about Heather:
Jake's Help From Heaven
Jake's Help From Heaven IG
Heather on IG
Jake's Help From Heaven FB
Heather on FB

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Music credit: Limitless by Bells