In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support podcast, Sarah speaks to Vanessa Abraham, a mother and medical trauma survivor, about the untold impact of ICU hospitalization, medical PTSD, and parenting during and after illness. From the shock of sudden critical illness to the emotional pain of being separated from her young daughter and the worry that she would not live to raise her daughter, Vanessa shares her story with raw honesty and deeply earned wisdom.

Together, they explore:

• The experience of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and family post-intensive care syndrome (PICS-F)

• What it feels like to parent through and after a medical crisis

• The hidden layers of grief, guilt, and identity loss that accompany serious illness

• How medical systems often miss the emotional and nervous system needs of patients and families

• The role of nervous system regulation in healing trauma after an ICU stay

• How to begin feeling safe in your body again after medical trauma

If you're navigating medical PTSD, recovering from an ICU experience, parenting while ill, or supporting a loved one who's been hospitalized, this conversation offers compassion, understanding, and practical insight.

Search terms & support topics in this episode:medical trauma, ICU trauma, medical PTSD, post intensive care syndrome, family post intensive care syndrome, parenting while ill, nervous system regulation, somatic healing, parenting after ICU, grief after medical crisis, how to cope with medical trauma