After finally getting her room in the rehab division of the hospital, Carla has a new fight ahead of her – learning to regain the use of her body. In this episode, Steve and Carla welcome Pam, the physical therapist who helped Carla build the strength—and the confidence—to stand again.

Carla and Pam talk about their daily workouts, Pam’s process in assessing Carla’s strength, and the importance of sharing that information with Steve, who ultimately cared or Carla at home when she was released from rehab.

There’s a lot to unpack and we’ve also included videos of some of the actual rehab. 

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver

After months of navigating a mystery disease, Carla finally learns that her instincts were correct when a neurologist diagnoses her with Guillain-Barré syndrome, and apparently in just the nick of time. Carla shares her mix of relief and fear as she learns just how close she was to being placed on a ventilator. Meanwhile, Steve recounts the day he had to step out of the hospital for a couple of hours and missed an important meeting with doctors, which led to the biggest fight your hosts have ever had in their three-decade friendship.

Thanks for listening!

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver

After finding their way to a somewhat eerie ER, Carla finally finds a nurse who seems to understand the seriousness of her condition. Steve helps Carla (who is mostly numb/paralyzed) pee in a cup without spilling, and the two part ways when a specialized ambulance finally arrives to take Carla to a hospital room - back where our night started.

While a sense of relief washes over Carla, that feeling is fleeting as she soon understands that even the hospital staff is unsure what to do with her or how to treat her condition. 

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver

After Carla's fall, Steve calls their friend Tim, who helps get them to the nearby ER. What they find is a power-hungry valet, a crowded waiting room full of Covid-19 cases and an ornery pull cord in a bathroom that brings some unwanted attention. Tim shares his perspective as he sees Carla's health failing while offering his support in a time of crisis. Just another night as we navigate through this episode of The Dramady Podcast with Team Awesome.

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver

In Episode 4, Steve and Carla talk about becoming roommates again.

As Carla downsizes and moves in the best friends soon learn that this living arrangement is much different than their previous experiences. Carla's health continues to decline and Steve, with no medical background, does the best he can to keep his best friend comfortable. But when a dramatic fall in the hallway becomes emotional, they have to decide whether to continue on their path or find a completely different way to move forward.

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver

Carla and Steve continue their conversation about the strange healthy symptoms Carla presented and their decision to live together once again. Carla, afraid for her own safety, moves from her own house and into Steve's, where they had to adjust to not only adjust to being roommates again, but to continue navigating life. Steve was working full time, remotely, and at the early stages of a new relationship. Carla needed rides to doctors and specialists and the two have to figure out how to stay positive when no one seemed to have any answers. We hope you enjoy Episiode 3 - Moving In as Life Goes On

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver

No matter how independent you are, there comes a time when you have to rely on others for help. In this second episode of The Dramedy Podcast with Team Awesome, your hosts Carla and Steve welcome their mutual friend Denise. Denise was instrumental in assisting Carla early on once she started showing strange symptoms. And it was Denise who took Carla to the urgent care and Emergency Room the first time. Denise shares what it was like assisting a dear friend who was terrified and the real struggle of trying to stay optimistic when answers felt so elusive.

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver

Welcome to Dramedy (which we admit was not named when we first started this conversation). In our debut episode, your hosts Carla Vaughan and Steve Blanchard talk about what they hope to accomplish in this podcast by discussing their long-time friendship and their struggles when Carla was diagnosed with an at-first unidentified disease that slowly caused her to be paralyzed. 

The good news is they survived, and Carla is doing well, all things considered. But the journey was scary, and our two hosts will share every step of the journey (they can remember) from early signs of Guillain Barre Syndrome, the challenges of getting proper medical care, and how they came to rely on their network of friends and the right experts to navigate a year of discovery and rehabilitation. They also invite you to share your stories with them in the comments. No one should have to face a medical crisis alone, and community is sometimes the best way to find the support you need. Welcome to The Dramedy Podcast, Episode 1!

You can watch the video version of this podcast at YouTube.com/@badassproblemsolver