In this honest and deeply relatable episode of Rarely Typical, Gerry is joined by her friend and fellow rare disease mom, Chelsea Price, for a raw conversation about parenting while living with a chronic illness.

Together, they talk about:

* What it looks like to show up as a parent on the hard days

* How disease progression affects energy, routines, and mental load

* The emotional weight of watching your health shift while trying to maintain normalcy for your kids

* Giving yourself permission to parent differently, with grace and flexibility

* How progression can affect you mentally

Chelsea and Gerry open up about the grief and heaviness that can come with declining health, and how they manage expectations—both from themselves and others—while raising children with compassion and joy.

They also touch on the hope that comes from clinical trials, new medications on the horizon, and why advocating for themselves is part of how they fight for their families.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

* Parenting with a chronic illness looks different—but it’s still powerful

* Disease progression can be emotionally and physically exhausting, and it’s okay to grieve

* There’s no one “right” way to be a good parent—especially when you’re navigating health challenges

* Clinical trials aren’t just about patients—they’re about giving families more time, stability, and hope

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

* ClinicalTrials.gov – For patients interested in learning about or joining a clinical trial

* Gerry’s Blog Post on PAH Treatments

* Find Chelsea on Instagram

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