Story Sanctuary

Even though Adrianna knew her pregnancy would be high risk and her baby would likely have a NICU stay, nothing prepared her for the roller coaster of emotion when actually going through the process. On today’s episode, Adrianna shares what it was like to brave her journey as the mom of a micropreemie and how she survived 167 days inpatient with her son Astin while simultaneously managing her own mental and physical health.⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘚𝘎𝘚 𝘒𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘐𝘜𝘎𝘙, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴

At 26 weeks, Carrita’s “Promise Son” Isaac made his entrance into the world at just 1 lb 13 oz. On today’s episode, this Mama to a miracle shares her pregnancy story, Isaac’s 116 day NICU journey and how actively advocating as a parent likely saved her child’s life. Carrita also discusses the inspiration for her book 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 and the birth of her non-profit organization—The Premium Promise Project. ⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨.⁣

10 weeks pregnant with her son Jett, Tara received shocking news from a genetic counselor, embarking on a new journey of grief and pain. On today’s episode, she shares the pregnancy and birth journey with Jett and her family’s choice to love hard in the face of unimaginable heartache. Tara also discusses ways to support those who are navigating grief and trauma. 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴

If you’re affiliated with the NICU at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, you’ve likely heard the name Tara Jarvis. This mama is somewhat of a local celebrity when it comes to resilience, strength and community-building in the toughest of times. After receiving earth-shattering news during her second pregnancy, she and her husband Matt embarked on a profound journey with their daughter Piper. On today’s episode, Tara graciously shares her pregnancy and birth story with Piper, as well as her family’s NICU journey. She also shares what sparked the creation of her non-profit Grace Blankets, one of the ways Tara continues to give back and provide support to others in the NICU.⁣

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𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴

When Sophia was pregnant with her first child Winsley, she never imagined how difficult her entry into motherhood would be. At 33 weeks, Sophia delivered a healthy 5 lb 12 oz baby girl via emergency c-section. Unfortunately, Winsley’s NICU was ill-equipped to care for premature babies and during her hospital stay, she contracted MRSA. Without proper and timely treatment, the MRSA ended up entering Winsley’s spinal fluid and became meningitis. On today’s episode, Sophia shares their 63 day fight for Winnie’s life, her NICU journey and the lessons learned along the way. ⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 + 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘔𝘙𝘚𝘈 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴⁣

Early on, Amanda felt a “nudging in her soul” that something was going to be different with her second pregnancy. Her fears were confirmed when she and her husband found out at 20 weeks that their son had a massive hole in his diaphragm and his organs had shifted up into his chest. On today’s episode, Amanda shares the story of her son Theo’s Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia diagnosis, braving a pregnancy full of unknowns and her family’s NICU journey. ⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘴 (𝘊𝘋𝘏) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘊𝘔𝘖

During her first trimester screening, Stephanie was shocked to find out there were anatomical concerns for her baby—including several organs being outside its body. Determined to find out everything she and her husband could and to be prepared as possible, this fierce couple forged on through their pregnancy. On today’s episode, Stephanie traces the pregnancy journey with her son Kai, his omphalocele diagnosis and their NICU stay. Stephanie also discusses ways she found support along her journey (including a facebook group for omphalocele parents where Stephianie and the host of Story Sanctuary met). Follow Stephanie’s lifestyle blog on IG: https://www.instagram.com/modernfarmhouseliving_⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵.

After coming to terms with the fact that they would be unable to conceive, LaTonya and her husband were surprised to find out in November of 2016 that they were expecting a child! Women become mothers every day and while mostly routine, occasionally there comes a transition into motherhood that could be ripped out of the script of a Lifetime Drama. On today's episode, LaTonya traces her remarkable journey into motherhood—from infertility, to the NICU and eventually home with her beautiful daughter Kelsey.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘧𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜.

Nine months after their daughter Grace’s birth and NICU stay, Moji and Shane find out they are expecting another child. At 18 weeks pregnant, they are surprised to find out they are actually expecting twins..again! Despite doing everything their team could do in preparation (twin to twin transfusion surgery, multiple cerclages), Moji went into labor and delivered Annabelle and Annaelle at 23 weeks and 1 day gestation. On today’s episode, Moji shares the story of her second twin pregnancy and second NICU journey, along with advice for parents currently in the NICU. 𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨: 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴.

Moji gave birth to her rainbow baby Grace at 30 weeks and 6 days gestation. Five days into their NICU stay, she and her husband Shane received shocking news--Grace was born with a coarctation of the aorta and would immediately be flown to another city to prepare for open heart surgery. On today’s episode, Moji traces her birth journey, Grace’s surgery and her family’s NICU stay. Moji and Erika (the host of Story Sanctuary) also discuss how their stories overlapped during this difficult time and benefits of building a support community while in-patient.⁣

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𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘱𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜.