NICU Today: A podcast by Today is a Good Day

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Heather Johnson, an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley with a 19-year career on the Institutional Equity Electronic Trading Desk, and the founder of the Love for Liam Foundation. Heather established the foundation in honor of her son Liam, whose brief but powerful life continues to inspire her mission to advance epilepsy research and improve outcomes for families facing similar diagnoses.

Heather is also a devoted mother to Emma (8) and Mia (2), and she brings both her professional leadership experience and deeply personal journey into her advocacy work. Through community engagement, philanthropy, and storytelling, Heather is committed to ensuring Liam’s life continues to make an impact.

On today’s episode:

• Heather shares her journey to starting a family and welcoming her children.
• Her experience welcoming her son Liam and the medical challenges that followed.
• Being transferred to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the emotions that accompanied that transition.
• Navigating life in the hospital while supporting her daughter at home.
• How the hospital team supported her and her family during an incredibly difficult time.
• Reflections on what she wishes she had known and what she hopes other families can learn from her experience.
• How Heather honors Liam’s life today and keeps him present within her family.
• Talking about loss with her daughters and helping them understand their brother’s story.
• What inspired her to give back through fundraising and the creation of the Love for Liam Foundation.
• An update on how her daughters are doing today.

Heather’s story is one of profound love, resilience, and purpose. This episode offers heartfelt insight into navigating loss while continuing to show up for living children, and how honoring a child’s legacy can create meaningful change for families and communities alike.

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Emily Rosen, a mother, freelance creative director, copywriter, and children’s book author. Emily has built her career working with leading advertising agencies and global brands, always aiming to use her creativity to uplift women, mothers, and children. Inspired by her son Max’s time in the NICU, she wrote her debut children’s book with the hope of helping families like hers feel seen, supported, and understood.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Emily now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. When she’s not writing, she loves running through her neighborhood, singing karaoke with friends, and reading bedtime stories with her kids.

On today’s episode:

• Emily shares her family’s journey to welcoming Max and what led them into the NICU.
• How little she knew about the NICU before entering it herself—and what she wishes she had known.
• The practices and coping tools that helped her get through each day in the NICU.
• How she stayed connected to Max while he remained in the hospital and she returned home.
• What inspired her to write her new children’s book and why she chose to help families through storytelling.
• Writing from the perspective of siblings and cousins, and how she captured their emotions in her book.
• An update on how Max is doing today.

Emily’s story highlights the emotional realities of NICU parenthood and the power of turning lived experience into creative support for others. Her work reminds families that their feelings matter, their stories matter, and their children’s journeys—whether big or small—deserve to be honored and shared.

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Nicole Nyberg, MSN, APRN, NNP-BC—Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, clinical specialist, educator, author, advocate, and founder of Empowering NICU Parents. Nicole earned her BSN from Purdue University and her MSN from Rush University, and today she practices as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner while also serving as a Clinical Specialist for AngelEye Health.

Nicole’s passion for supporting NICU families is deeply personal. After her son William was born at just 23 weeks, she devoted her career to empowering NICU parents and clinicians through education, advocacy, and family-integrated care. She serves as Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee on the Family-Centered Care Task Force, has authored and co-authored numerous publications, and created Our NICU Roadmap, a guided journal designed to support families through the NICU journey. Nicole is also the CEO and founder of the nonprofit Empowering NICU Parents and host of the Empowering NICU Parents Podcast.

On today’s episode:

• Nicole shares her journey into nursing and what inspired her to specialize in neonatal care.
• Her pregnancy experience and the birth of her son William at 23 weeks.
• An introduction to Family-Integrated Care and why it is so critical in the NICU.
• Nicole’s own NICU journey, including her family’s transfer to a different hospital.
• The biggest lessons learned during her extended NICU stay.
• The mission behind Empowering NICU Parents and the resources available to families.
• Where listeners can find her podcast and additional educational tools.
• An update on how William is doing today.

Nicole’s story beautifully blends professional expertise with the lived experience of a NICU parent. Her work highlights the profound impact of parent engagement, advocacy, and compassionate support on the entire NICU journey. This episode offers invaluable guidance and encouragement for families navigating the NICU and for professionals dedicated to improving family-centered care.

Dr. Jason Baxter | Advancing Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Supporting Families Through High-Risk Pregnancy

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jason K. Baxter, MD, MSCP, FACOG, a nationally recognized Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jefferson Health. With more than two decades of experience at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Dr. Baxter has led inpatient obstetrics, built research programs, and mentored future physicians through the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship program.

Dr. Baxter’s path to medicine began after earning an engineering degree from Princeton University, where he met his wife, Heather. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed residency and fellowship training in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, along with a Master’s in Human Investigation. His three children were born at the very hospitals where he trained, giving him both professional and personal insight into the care of high-risk pregnancies.

Throughout his career, Dr. Baxter has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and has been honored for clinical care, research, teaching, and leadership. His research interests include prediction and prevention of preterm birth, pharmacology in pregnancy, and evidence-based obstetric care. He also serves on Maternal Mortality Review Committees for both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.

On today’s episode:

• What led Dr. Baxter to a career in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and what his role entails.
• When families can expect to be referred to Maternal-Fetal Medicine during pregnancy.
• The number-one question families ask—and what they should be asking at their first MFM appointment.
• How the medical approach to bedrest has evolved and what that means for families today.
• Understanding the care team: OB, MFM, and NICU—and whether families can request a collaborative team meeting to discuss a birth plan.
• A meaningful story from Dr. Baxter’s career and how it shaped his perspective as a clinician and leader.
• His biggest advice for families navigating high-risk pregnancy or preparing for the possibility of NICU care.

Dr. Baxter’s expertise, compassion, and commitment to patient-centered care provide clarity and reassurance for families experiencing complex pregnancies. This episode offers valuable education to help families feel empowered, informed, and supported every step of the way.

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Nicole Lewis-Keeber, MSW, LCSW—Business Therapist, author, leadership coach, and a thought leader at the intersection of trauma and entrepreneurship. Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work and extensive experience working as both a therapist and a coach. She trained directly with Brené Brown and is certified in The Daring Way™ and Dare to Lead™ methodologies. Nicole has been featured in major media outlets including NPR and Fast Company for her work in breaking the stigma around mental health and business ownership.

Nicole’s approach is grounded in understanding the impact trauma has on how people show up in their relationships, careers, and personal lives. She is passionate about helping individuals—especially leaders and caregivers—recognize how their past experiences influence the way they navigate stress, responsibility, and emotional resilience.

On today’s episode:

• Nicole shares her professional background and what led her into trauma-focused work.
• Her experience training with Brené Brown and the most powerful lessons from that process.
• Understanding what trauma really is and the different ways it can show up in someone’s life.
• Why many people don’t realize they have experienced trauma and how it can resurface during high-stress situations.
• How the lens of trauma applies to NICU parents and families navigating fear, uncertainty, and medical trauma.
• Breaking the stigma around mental health and encouraging individuals to seek support.
• Nicole’s biggest piece of advice for those processing trauma or carrying emotional burden.
• Where listeners can learn more about Nicole’s work and access her resources.

Nicole’s insight sheds light on the emotional weight NICU families carry—and offers tools to help them move from survival to healing. This episode empowers listeners to recognize their own emotional experiences and understand that healing is not only possible, but deeply deserved.

Darcy Walker Krause | Understanding and Navigating Grief in All Its Forms

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Darcy Walker Krause, Founder and CEO of Grieve to Thrive, LLC. With an impressive career spanning both law and social work, Darcy has dedicated her life to grief education, advocacy, and organizational leadership. After earning her Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law and practicing labor and employment law for five years, Darcy shifted her focus, earning her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Since then, she has spent over a decade supporting individuals and organizations through the complexities of grief and loss.

Darcy previously served as Executive Director of the Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia, where she led transformational growth and supported countless families through loss. Today, through Grieve to Thrive, she provides grief-focused consulting, workshops, and educational services, helping workplaces and communities foster a grief-informed culture.

On today’s episode:

• What inspired Darcy to transition from law to grief education and family support.
• How her personal experience losing her mother at a young age shaped her passion for this work.
• The different types of grief and how they can manifest in daily life.
• How NICU families can navigate the sense of loss that comes with premature birth or extended NICU stays.
• The importance of allowing space and time to grieve—and how families can recognize when they need support.
• Understanding the complex emotions that often accompany grief, especially in the NICU experience.
• Darcy’s biggest piece of advice for families learning to live, heal, and grow through loss.

Darcy’s wisdom and compassion offer invaluable perspective for families and professionals alike. This episode sheds light on the many forms of grief, emphasizing that healing begins when we give ourselves permission to acknowledge, understand, and embrace the process.

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Thiviya Selvanathan, a neonatal neurologist and clinician scientist at BC Children’s Hospital and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Selvanathan’s groundbreaking research uses advanced brain imaging to explore how early-life brain injury and NICU clinical care influence brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. Her work provides vital insights into how the smallest patients grow, heal, and thrive beyond the NICU.

On today’s episode:

• Dr. Selvanathan shares her background and what inspired her to specialize in neonatal neurology.
• An overview of her current research on brain development and injury in premature babies.
• The connection between pain and brain development in NICU infants.
• Guidance for parents navigating uncertainty after a diagnosis such as brain bleeds.
• The most common questions families ask in the NICU—and how providers can best support them.
• The lasting importance of post-NICU care and early intervention in supporting brain growth.
• Memorable moments and stories from families that have shaped her perspective as a clinician.
• Her biggest piece of advice for parents navigating the NICU and early developmental care.

Dr. Selvanathan’s expertise bridges science and compassion, helping families and healthcare professionals better understand the developing brain of premature infants. This episode offers invaluable education and perspective for anyone seeking to learn more about the long-term impact of early brain health and care in the NICU.

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Mary Farrelly, RN, BSN, RNC-NIC, a certified NICU nurse, doula, and educator dedicated to bridging the gap between clinical care and the lived experiences of NICU families. As the founder of The NICU Translator, Mary provides evidence-based education, compassionate guidance, and advocacy for both families and the professionals who support them. Through her courses, resources, online community, and work as a NICU doula, Mary’s mission is to make the NICU journey more empowering and less overwhelming for everyone involved.

On today’s episode:

• What inspired Mary to transition from bedside NICU nursing to providing family-centered education and support.
• How parents can confidently advocate for a smooth transition home after NICU discharge.
• Understanding your baby’s unique feeding cues and navigating common feeding challenges.
• Guidance on when and how to ask for additional feeding or developmental support.
• The importance of follow-up care—how to find the right pediatrician and which appointments to schedule first.
• Preparing for life at home, both practically and emotionally, after leaving the NICU.
• Recognizing signs of postpartum depression and anxiety and how to seek help early.
• Actionable steps families can take to build confidence and create stability once home from the NICU.

Mary’s insights offer a blend of professional expertise and heartfelt advocacy, providing parents with the knowledge and confidence to navigate life after the NICU. This episode is filled with practical advice and compassionate guidance to help families feel supported every step of the way.

Dr. Tanner Walsh | A Pediatrician’s Perspective as a NICU Mom

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Tanner Walsh, a primary care pediatrician in Delaware County, PA, and proud mom of 6-year-old boy-girl twins. Her twins were born at 35 weeks and spent six days in the NICU at the very hospital where she worked—an experience that shaped her perspective both as a pediatrician and as a parent. Fluent in Spanish and a graduate of UAG in Guadalajara, Mexico, Dr. Walsh brings a culturally sensitive and family-centered approach to pediatric care. As an IBCLC, she is committed to supporting families throughout their feeding journeys and beyond.

On today’s episode:

• Dr. Walsh shares her background in medicine and the story of her surprise twins.
• What her experience looked like during pregnancy and the early NICU days.
• Reflections on navigating the NICU as both a pediatrician and a parent.
• Lessons learned during her family’s NICU journey.
• Life after the NICU: what early care looked like for her family and the importance of NICU follow-up.
• How parents can build a strong care team post-NICU and what to ask their pediatrician.
• Guidance on feeding preemies and starting solids, including questions to bring to your pediatrician.
• Tips for families on choosing the right pediatrician.
• Updates on how her twins are doing today.

Dr. Walsh’s story offers a rare dual perspective of NICU life from both sides of the bedside—bringing empathy, professional insight, and practical advice to families navigating life during and after the NICU. This episode highlights the importance of strong partnerships between parents and pediatricians in caring for NICU graduates.

Dr. Vanessa Freeman | Supporting NICU Families Through Psychology and Personal Experience

In this episode of the NICU Today Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Vanessa Freeman, licensed psychologist, NICU mom, and owner of Searching for Self Counseling and Consulting, a virtual private practice serving Black women and mothers. Dr. Freeman brings both her personal experience as a NICU parent and her professional training as a psychologist to guide and support families navigating the challenges of NICU life.

Dr. Freeman’s daughter, Rylee, was born at 29 weeks and 1 day after an in-utero diagnosis of IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction). She spent 66 days in the NICU, an experience that profoundly shaped Dr. Freeman’s outlook as both a parent and professional.

On today’s episode:

• Dr. Freeman shares her family’s journey and the realities of receiving an IUGR diagnosis.
• How she prepared for a potential early delivery and the unexpected challenges of the NICU.
• Lessons learned during her 66-day NICU stay and the impact they had on her family.
• How her personal journey informed her career path and her focus on serving Black women and mothers.
• The most common struggles her clients face and the advice she shares to support them.
• An update on how Rylee is doing today.

Dr. Freeman’s story highlights the resilience of NICU families and the importance of mental health support throughout the journey. This episode provides both education and encouragement, reminding parents that they are not alone and that resources exist to help them thrive during and after their NICU experience.