July 06, 2025

Silent Systems, Shattered Bones

29 minutes

Melissa’s story isn’t one of passive survival—it’s one of ruthless advocacy and soul-shattering grief. When her son—a nonverbal, medically fragile man with severe disabilities—was neglected and injured under professional care, she was told he “just fell.” No investigation. No justice. And when she dared to speak up? Society turned its blame on her.

This episode is a masterclass in what it means to be a mother, an advocate, and a woman who refuses to be silenced.

Highlights:

🧠 What it’s like to live in constant fight mode for 29 years
💔 The horrifying story of her son’s injuries and the school’s response
🔇 The dangerous reality of caregiver shame and victim-blaming
✊ How she turned silence into activism—and grief into power
📚 The journey behind her book Who Cares?
🛑 What we must do to stop looking away from disability injustice
🧍‍♀️ Why she stopped waiting for change—and started becoming it

🎙️ What We Talk About:

Parenting a child with severe disabilities from age 18
The moment she realized she was deep in survival mode
Medical trauma, long-term care failures, and systemic neglect
The unspoken grief of not being able to “protect your child”
The role of social media shame and public cruelty in silencing survivors
Her pivot into writing and public advocacy
The radical decision to not stay silent anymore

🔑 Key Takeaways:“My job was to protect him—and I couldn’t. That pain has no words.”“They said he just fell. He had a broken hip, femur, arm, and spirit.”“One comment shut me down for a year. I almost didn’t tell our story.”“People with disabilities have value. They have a voice. And we will not be ignored.”
🙌 Why This Episode Matters:

This episode is an urgent, emotional call to wake the hell up. Melissa’s story isn’t just her own—it echoes the experience of thousands of caregivers navigating a broken system that refuses to protect the most vulnerable. It challenges every listener to stop looking away and start asking: What am I doing to make this world safer—for everyone?

If you've ever felt silenced, blamed, or invisible while advocating for someone you love… this episode will rip you open in the best way.

💬 Connect with Melissa: