Parenting Children with Limb Differences

Today's interview features Allison Sweet Grant! Allison is a writer published in the New York Times and The Atlantic; she holds dual master’s degrees from the University of Michigan. She is the author of I am the Cage, which was February 18th, 2025.

I Am The Cage is a beautiful coming-of-age story that draws from the author's own adolescent experiences in the medical system undergoing a limb lengthening procedure. This is an episode you don't want to miss!

Thanks for tuning into the Parenting Children with Limb Differences Podcast. Follow us, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends and family. Learn more about Allison Sweet Grant and how you can support her book by visiting @allisonsweetgrant on Instagram!

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In part two of this two-part interview, Ryan Haack, author ofDifferent is Awesome!, discusses his role models, the advocacy organizations he is passionate about, and the connections he has formed across the U.S. Part two is especially raw as Ryan shares about the loss of his father. Disclaimer: we are inserting a trigger warning here, as a family member's death by suicide is briefly discussed.

Thanks for tuning into the Parenting Children with Limb Differences Podcast. Follow us, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends and family. Learn more about Ryan Haack by visiting ⁠http://www.livingonehanded.com/⁠

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In part one of this two-part interview, Ryan Haack, author of Different is Awesome!, shares the strength he's found in family, community, activities, and most of all, through self-reflection and sharing his emotions! Ryan is a motivational speaker, limb difference advocate, parent, and humanitarian. He is also an adult who was born with an upper limb difference! Don't forget to check out Part 2!

Thanks for tuning into the Parenting Children with Limb Differences Podcast. Follow us, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends and family. Learn more about Ryan Haack by visiting http://www.livingonehanded.com/

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Today’s Interview is with Gigi Verrey, Vice President of a local wealth management company here in Illinois and is the Creator and she is the creator of Very Smart Ideas, LLC. Gigi is also an adult who was born with an upper limb difference - and she is an inspiration! We want to share her story with you, including the challenges she has faced, her successes, and the ways in which she has overcome adversity. We enjoyed Gigi's warm personality, sense of humor, and advice for parents and children in the limb difference community and we think you will too! And check out Very Smart Ideas, on Instagram!

Thanks for tuning into the Parenting Children with Limb Differences Podcast. Follow us, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends and family. Learn more about Gigi Verrey and Very Smart Ideas by visiting https://verysmartideas.com/

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Katie Mick shares her journey from pregnancy, birth and beyond. Katie dives into how she has learned to help support her son, Conor by tapping into her own personal and professional knowledge, training and experiences. She also explains what resources have been most helpful for her as she has navigated this unexpected pathway.

Thanks for tuning into the Parenting Children with Limb Differences Podcast. Follow us, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Our season 2 kicks off with our interview with Sean and Brian, our partners, who are raising children with limb differences alongside us. In this episode, we hear their perspectives on finding out about our child's limb difference, emotional processing, research, partnership and parenting.

Thanks for tuning into the Parenting Children with Limb Differences Podcast. Follow us, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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This mini episode offers a sneak peak into Season 2 of Parenting Children with Limb Differences. It highlights special guests, upcoming events in the community, and other resources we are excited about for this season. Get ready for more inspiring stories, laughter (and maybe a few tears), and support, as we challenge the world’s perception of limb difference limitations by offering a perspective that focuses on limb difference ability and resiliency. Stay tuned!

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In part 2, Emma discusses the importance of having open dialogue with our children about their limb difference and working with them to develop the language to effectively and confidently manage questions about their limb difference (or for our typical children, to discuss their sibling’s limb difference). She also shares her aspirations in connecting every family who finds out that they will have a child with a limb difference (whether at scan or at birth) with resources, including home visits.

 Emma also acknowledges and addresses the grief associated with finding out she would have a different baby then expected (that no one talks about but many feel), along with how reframing, and moving toward acceptance and excitement of the new vision, has helped her; especially, looking forward to what she imagined her child would teach her.  More conversations around adaptive equipment, challenges and successes around managing activities of daily living are also addressed in part two of this episode.

Thanks for tuning into the Parenting Children with Limb Differences Podcast. Follow us, leave a review, and share this episode with your friends and family.

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Wrapping up season 1 of PCLWD, this is a two-part, heartfelt interview with Emma Gilpin.  Emma is a Pediatric Nurse and mom of two, located in the U.K.  Her eldest child, Miles, was born with an upper limb difference.  Emma is also a major limb difference advocate who is involved with both Reach and LimbBo, two fantastic organizations in the UK. 

In part one, we learn more about Emma and Miles. Emma shares how learning of Miles’ limb difference and researching led her to connect with Reach and LimbBo. She also shares how her journey with motherhood and her experiences have informed and inspired her professional work, and igniting her passion for supporting the limb difference community. 

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In this episode, Rachel shares with us her personal journeyfrom the challenges of conception and Miles’ traumatic birth. She also shares with us how she learned about Miles' limb differences (with a diagnosis of amniotic band syndrome), and walks us through Miles’ development and surgeries. Rachel identifies the resources that have been helpful and offers advice for other parents, as well as her hopes for Miles' future.

DISCLAIMER– there is some descriptive content involving Rachel's traumatic birth story that may be difficult for some listeners to hear.

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