The Incubator: Beyond The Beeps

Your patient's twins were just diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Do you know what the next six months actually look like for that family? On this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah sits down with Lisa Zahakos, physician assistant, mother of identical twins Peter and Maurice, and founder of Heart Reserve, for a raw, detailed walk through a TTTS pregnancy, fetal laser surgery, and a NICU stay that redefined how she understands medicine. Lisa shares what it means to be spoken to "like a mom, not a provider," why she couldn't breastfeed despite everything she tried, and the overlooked long-term cardiac risk factors every NICU parent, especially of twins, needs to bring to their own doctor.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

What does it take to turn a family's darkest days in the NICU into a global mission of hope? In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, host Leah Jayanetti talks with Isabelle Neza, founder of Premi Global Impact (PGI), about the sudden, terrifying arrival of her son Asher at 23 weeks gestation in Dallas, Texas, far from her family's home in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Isabelle shares how a NICU nurse's story, a mentor's soup, and a community she'd known for only four months carried her and her husband through 115 days of setbacks, intubations, and uncertainty. She describes how that experience led her to found PGI, bringing basic needs, bereavement support, and trauma counseling to mothers and premature babies in underserved communities in Congo, Nigeria, and Uganda. A moving conversation about vulnerability, community, and holding on to hope.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

What does it take to feel truly seen during one of the most vulnerable moments of your life? In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, host Leah Jayanetti sits down with Val Butler, manager of AIME (the Alliance for Infant Maternal Health) in Miami-Dade County. Val shares her own NICU story, the surprise of learning her nearly ten-pound daughter needed NICU care, and the grace it took to sit with not knowing. She and Leah unpack what made her care team different: representation, transparency, and a refusal to treat patients as anything less than whole people. The conversation widens into Val's work connecting maternal hypertension, climate, housing, and mental health across Miami-Dade's care systems, and closes with her reflections on hope, grace, and what to pack in a NICU bag. A candid, moving conversation for anyone who has ever needed someone else to carry a little of the weight.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

This week, Leah sits down with Betsy Pilon, Executive Director of Hope for HIE, the global nonprofit dedicated to supporting families impacted by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Betsy shares her personal journey as a NICU parent, from the frightening moments before Max's birth to navigating cooling, an uncertain MRI, and a discharge with almost no guidance. Together, they explore what families need most during each phase of the HIE experience, the groundbreaking Polar Bear Care initiative that allows holding during therapeutic hypothermia, and why naming a diagnosis matters. A powerful conversation for NICU families and care providers alike.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Amber and Andrew Vassell navigated two NICU stays with faith, advocacy, and what they call bubbling. From Austin, born at 25 weeks and one pound one ounce, to Aaliyah at 26 weeks, the Vassells built relationships with care teams, requested meetings, asked hard questions, and chose joy in the most uncertain moments. Now they are channeling that experience into Neo Haven and the NICU Journey Guide, designed to help every NICU family navigate with clarity, confidence, and support.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

Victoria Varela-Hefty, director of programs at ICU Baby and mother of James, a 28-weeker born in 2024, shares her NICU journey with honesty and grace. From a high-risk pregnancy complicated by Sjögren's syndrome and preeclampsia to an emergency classical C-section, inadequate postoperative pain management, and a cardiac complication that kept her hospitalized for eight days — Victoria reflects on what it felt like to navigate her own medical crisis while her son was down the hall in the NICU. She speaks powerfully about what was missing: not heroic interventions, but simple things — someone acknowledging her feelings, preparing her for what was coming, and reminding her that asking for help was allowed. She also shares how James is thriving today, and what she would want every NICU family to know about the power of pausing.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this special double episode of Beyond the Beeps, we're marking ROP Awareness Week with a full look at Retinopathy of Prematurity — from the medical side to the deeply human side. First, Dr. Faizah Bhatti walks us through what ROP is, its causes, risk factors, stages, and treatment options, while emphasizing why parental advocacy and regular follow-ups are so critical for premature infants. Then, Leah MG Jayanetti sits down with Tyronza Williams, who shares her emotional journey through the NICU with her daughter Alicia, born at just 23 weeks. Tyronza opens up about Alicia's ROP diagnosis, the treatments she underwent, and what it truly means to advocate for your child when everything feels uncertain. Together, these conversations capture both the science and the resilience behind one of the most common challenges facing premature babies.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah MG Jayanetti discusses the unique challenges faced by families in the NICU during the holiday season. Joined by Alena Costume, a two-time NICU mother, they explore the emotional rollercoaster of having a baby in the NICU, the importance of community support, and strategies for coping with stress. Alena shares her personal experiences, highlighting the significance of parental presence and the impact of healthcare staff on the NICU journey. The conversation emphasizes resilience, hope, and the need for better support systems for NICU families. In this conversation, Leah MG Jayanetti and Alena discuss the profound experiences of families in the NICU, emphasizing the importance of nourishment, community support, and the unexpected connections that can arise during challenging times. They share personal stories about creating the Touching Tiny Hands organization, the emotional toll of having a child in the NICU, and the significance of hope and belonging in the journey of parenthood, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode, Leah Jayanetti speaks with Keira Sorrells, founder of the NICU Parent Network, about her personal journey through the NICU experience with her triplets and the advocacy work she has undertaken to support NICU families. They discuss the importance of family-centered care, the NICU Babies Bill of Rights, and the emotional challenges faced by parents in the NICU. Kira shares her insights on healing through storytelling and the need for self-care among NICU leaders, emphasizing that hope is an expression of love, regardless of the outcomes.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!

In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah interviews Jennifer Bernardo, a passionate advocate and author of 'Week 26', who shares her journey through the NICU with her twins, Luke and Layla. Jennifer discusses the challenges of having premature babies, the healing power of writing, and the importance of community support. She emphasizes the role of presence in NICU care, the significance of involving siblings, and her advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the NICU experience. The conversation highlights the resilience of NICU parents and the hope that guides them through difficult times.

Support the show

As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: [email protected]. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.

Enjoy!