Raising Joy

In this heartwarming episode of Raising Joy, we meet Raymond Turner, the studio producer of Sparklefly Recording Studio in the Child Life Zone at Cook Children's. Raymond's story is one of resilience, compassion, and the transformative power of music.

Join us as Raymond shares his inspiring journey to Cook Children's, where he found his calling in creating music for some of the hospital's youngest patients. We'll delve into the deeply moving experience of crafting heartbeat songs memorializing terminal children for their families, a testament to Raymond's unwavering dedication to bringing joy and solace during the most challenging times.

Raymond's story is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always room for hope, healing, and the power of human connection. His work at Cook Children's is a beacon of light, touching the lives of countless families and leaving a mark on their hearts forever.

Raymond also gave a TedX Talk in the spring of 2023. You can watch his talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFLwwUj7gHg

When we think of the holidays, most of us think of good food, family gatherings and beautiful holiday decorations. For many, it’s the happiest time of the year; but for others it’s a very different story.

The holiday season can be a difficult time for many, especially those grieving the death of a loved one.

On this episode of the Raising Joy podcast, we're joined by Hannah Boyd, CCLS, a child life specialist, and Jennifer Hayes, MDiv, BCC, Director of Spiritual Care at Cook Children’s. They share their insights on how parents can talk to children and navigate grief as a family during a time of the year that is supposed to be full of joy.

Does your child experience frequent and intense tantrums? Is their irritability and anger impacting their daily life and relationships? This episode delves into the world of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), a condition characterized by persistent irritability and severe temper outbursts.

On this episode of Raising Joy, pediatric psychiatrist Rachel Talbot, M.D., of Cook Children’s sheds light on this misunderstood but common diagnosis. She helps us navigate the complexities of DMDD, differentiating it from other mood disorders like childhood bipolar, and identifying its unique symptoms at home and at school.

Whether you’re a parent seeking understanding and guidance, a teacher hoping to better support students with DMDD, or someone interested in learning about this complex condition, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and practical insights.

In this episode, we chat with Laurie Williams George, a mother and doctoral student in educational psychology, about the challenges and rewards of parenting neurodiverse children. We delve into her research on autism and academic performance, as well as her son's heart-wrenching experience with bullying while playing video games online. We also discuss the importance of teaching kids how to behave online.

Laurie is also the creator of the online platform, Parent with Merit, which features articles and information about testing, diagnosis and the intervention process. The site also provides free resources regarding developmental disabilities, including organizations to reach out to and one-page information sheets available for download.

Resources:

·         Parent with Merit

·         Child Study Center at Cook Children’s

In this episode of Raising Joy, we interview Paige Charbonnet, the executive director of LVT Rise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of residents in the Las Vegas Trail neighborhood of Fort Worth, Texas.

Paige discusses the top health concerns facing the Las Vegas Trail community, and how the new Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center will address those issues. 

The two-story, 40,000-square-foot center will provide pediatric and adult medical services, behavioral health services, and wrap-around social services support. It will include Cook Children’s ninth Neighborhood Health Center, a new JPS Medical Home, a food pantry, community education and onsite job training for health care industry positions. With support from the City of Fort Worth, a Fort Worth Police storefront will also be located on-site to help build stronger relations between police and the Las Vegas Trail community

The new center is expected to open in late 2025 and will serve a community that has been identified as a health care desert. This episode dives into the factors that have affected the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood over the past several decades and what’s being done to revitalize the community.

Setting boundaries with kids is an important part of parenting, but it can also be challenging. In this episode of the Raising Joy podcast, we speak with Rebecca Clark, a licensed professional counselor at Cook Children’s, about the importance of boundaries, how to set them in a loving and supportive way, and how to deal with common challenges.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, teachers, and healthcare workers who want to learn more about setting boundaries with kids.

What’s the state of mental health for kids? What are psychiatrists seeing in their patients? Have we turned the corner on the mental health crisis post-COVID-19 pandemic? On this episode of Raising Joy, Wini King interviews co-host Kristen Pyrc, M.D., co-medical director of psychiatry at Cook Children’s. Dr. Pyrc shares what she’s seeing in her office and how things have changed in recent years.

On this episode of Raising Joy, we hear the story of Megan Hodges Cook, community program coordinator at Cook Children’s. Her story isn’t easyfor her to share, but she hopes it will help other parents in similar situations, and provide some insight into a topic that has become extremely controversial.

Megan is the mother of a transgender child. Her daughter came out to her when she was 12 years old, though she saw the signs nearly a decade prior. Megan isn’t embarrassed or ashamed of her story, but she knows some will have a difficult time understanding her journey. We hope listeners of this podcast will embrace Cook Children’s values of kindness and respect, and embrace Megan’s story of unconditional love for her child.

In this episode of Raising Joy, we discuss a new peer-to-peer support program that is underway in Cook Children's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Chaplain Amanda Payne Lindsay and Katelyn Terry, RN, join us to talk about the program's goals, how it works, and the impact it's having on PICU staff.

The PICU can be a traumatic environment for health care workers, and this program is aimed at limiting the impact of stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout. The program trains appointed PICU employees to serve as supportive peers to lean on in times of need.

Listen to learn how they started the peer-to-peer support program and why similar programs could benefit workplaces of all kinds.

Helen Ramsbottom, RN, and Melody Hackfeld, RN, both case managers with Cook Children's psychiatric department, join the Raising Joy podcast to discuss how to manage a child's mental health care after they are released from an inpatient psychiatric unit. They also discuss resources and support groups for parents, such as Links of Hope.

In addition, we learn about the ASQ tool, which is used by nurses in the emergency department at Cook Children's to identify suicidal patients. The tool is comprised of questions that are asked to every patient, regardless of their reason for visiting the emergency department. Since 2017, 640 suicidal children have been identified and received the support they needed. You can learn more about the ASQ tool in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing and on Checkup Newsroom. 

In this episode, you will learn:

·        What to expect when your child is discharged from an inpatient psychiatric unit

·        How to create a transition plan to help your child adjust to being home

·        How to support your child's long-term mental health

Listen in to learn how to help your child thrive!