Story Sanctuary

Pregnant with their rainbow baby, Tanisha and her husband were surprised to find out at 20 weeks that their son had a lower urinary tract obstruction. On today’s episode, Tanisha shares her birth story, Jaleel’s 157 day NICU stay and the transplant journey that has followed. Tanisha and I also discuss mothering “medically complex miracles” and our ideal therapy package for critical care families.

At 41 weeks and 6 days, Kamilah gave birth to her “little fighter” Christian. On today’s episode, Kamilah shares the story of her son birth, their 229 day NICU journey and her experience as a special needs mom for nine years. She also discusses a day in their life, focusing on what your child CAN do and how crafting has helped her along the way. ⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘻𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩/𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵

On the precipice of giving birth at 22 weeks, Ima told her team “I want you to save my son”. These seven words totally changed the trajectory of this faith-filled mama’s life, opening her eyes to a world she didn’t know existed.⁣

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On today’s episode, Ima shares her son Jaxson’s birth and NICU story, then explores how faith is often increased through experience. She also talks about navigating the new world of a NICU, changing career plans and the fact that “Hard things don’t have to break you.”. ⁣

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Following her story, Ima and I discuss affirmations, undoing trauma and appreciating the journey.⁣

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Don’t forget to check out her clothing brand at www.halosandmiracles.com!

⁣After years of infertility and loss, Ebony and her husband were surprised to find out they were expecting a baby girl in 2018. However, their joy was cut short when Ebony developed HELLP syndrome and Reign swiftly came into the world at 26 weeks. On today’s episode, Ebony shares her pregnancy and birth journey, along with the realities of confronting illness outside of the NICU. ⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘢, 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢, 𝘏𝘌𝘓𝘓𝘗 𝘴𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘴.

How do we as NICU parents find community and support after leaving the NICU? What is the reality of life on the other side of a long-term NICU journey? If you’ve had an extended NICU stay, you’ve likely pondered these questions. Today, Ebony (former Story Sanctuary mom) joins us to share how she is building community and connecting families to resources outside of the NICU. Tune in and plug in!

When Kaylee was 24 weeks pregnant and preparing students to compete in the American Royal Quarter Horse Show, her blood pressure suddenly landed her in the hospital. Soon after, it was discovered she had the onset of preeclampsia and would need to be rushed into emergency surgery in hopes of saving both her and Kaydee’s lives. ⁣

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On today’s episode, Kaylee shares her pregnancy journey and NICU story, exploring how her promise to “look for God’s hand throughout the journey” allowed her to find peace and hope during incredibly trying times. We also discuss Kaylee’s role at our local children’s hospital, what she has learned about how best to prepare parents for life outside the NICU and how medical parents can manage goals vs expectations.⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘢, 𝘱𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘴

⁣For Donya, what began as a typical pregnancy changed course when at 26 weeks she was admitted due to preterm dilation. After a week in the hospital, her daughter Kenzie was born at 2 lb 2oz. On today’s episode, this Mississippi mama shares the story of her 3 month NICU journey and advice for others who find themselves facing a long-term NICU stay.⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘴

⁣For Donya, what began as a typical pregnancy changed course when at 26 weeks she was admitted due to preterm dilation. After a week in the hospital, her daughter Kenzie was born at 2 lb 2oz. On today’s episode, this Mississippi mama shares the story of her 3 month NICU journey and advice for others who find themselves facing a long-term NICU stay.⁣

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During a NICU stay with her third son Caden, Cailin was introduced to scalp IVs in infants, sparking her interest in the possibilities of having a cap with a hole in it. On this episode, Cailin shares the story of Caden’s birth and how she went from being struck with inspiration to creating and manufacturing a revolutionary product called the Mati Cap.⁣

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Learn more about Cailin’s products and story at www.matronee.com⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘢, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘴𝘺

After several losses and an IVF journey, Adam and his wife were excited to find out they were finally pregnant with the baby they had been hoping for. As a surprise to them both, Brady came into the world at 25 weeks and 1 day, weighing 1 lb 4 oz. On today’s episode, Adam shares his son Brady’s birth and 135 day NICU journey, then explores how healthy communication with his wife and a dark sense of humor has helped him survive the experience. Learn more about Adam’s projects and his book “Our Preemie Adventure” at www.preemieadventures.com⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘤𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘐𝘝𝘍, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺