Some moments change a life forever.

When Melissa's son, Trenton, was injured during his senior year in a Friday night high school football game, everything changed in an instant. In the hours and days that followed, their family didn't fully understand the severity of his spinal cord injury or what the future would hold. Despite that, they clung tightly to their faith and their community support as they navigated all the changes in their world.

In this heartfelt episode, Melissa shares the raw emotions of those early days, the months spent traveling across the country for rehabilitation, and the determination that helped Trenton not only finish high school but eventually attend college independently. Their journey is one of resilience, perseverance, and refusing to let tragedy define the future.

Melissa also shares how their family's experience inspired their non-profit, Game Plan 4 Hope. Through support, resources, adaptive equipment, and community, the organization is making sure others don't have to navigate this journey alone.

Check out Game Plan 4 Hope: gameplan4hope.org

Hear Trenton tell his story on a podcast:

https://www.fortitudethepodcast.com/2009891/episodes/11370570-5-trenton-bass-tragic-football-accident-tackling-paralysis

In this deeply moving episode, I talk with Shelby, a mom whose life changed in an instant after her infant son, Benny, suffered a catastrophic injury while at daycare.

Shelby shares the heartbreaking story of the day everything changed—from a police officer arriving at her work to deliver the news to the long road of unanswered questions, hospital stays, and adjusting to a completely different future. Today, she is a full-time caregiver to Benny, whose medical complexities have transformed her family's daily life, while also running an online boutique and raising her two daughters.

We talk about what it truly means to become a "medical mom," the resilience required to navigate therapies, appointments, and advocacy, and the hope that keeps her moving forward. Shelby also opens up about pursuing stem cell treatment for Benny and why even the smallest signs of progress are worth celebrating.

Beyond sharing her family's journey, Shelby offers practical advice for other parents, including the importance of carefully vetting childcare providers and advocating for yourself in the workplace. She encourages working moms to seek employers who genuinely support the realities of raising a family.

This episode is one of heartbreak, incredible strength, and unwavering love. Shelby's story is a powerful reminder of the resilience parents discover in the face of unimaginable circumstances—and the hope that can still exist, even on the hardest days.

Follow Benny on FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591158371122Follow Shelby on IG: @shelbcannon

Support Shelby and her family:https://www.supportnow.org/beelieve-in-benny

Check out Shelby's boutique:https://shopraeandkae.com/

RE-RELEASE

Today, I'm happy to share my interview with Ashley, whose 8-year-old daughter, Sadie, has been diagnosed with a rare disease called Sanfilippo Syndrome. Sanfilippo, as described by Ashley, is similar to dementia or Alzheimer's, but in children. In this episode, you will hear about:- What is Sanfilippo and how does it present in children- What has been Sadie's journey in terms of diagnosis, symptoms, and the involvement in a clinical trial- How Ashley makes sure that Sadie's life is full of travel and adventure This one is SO full of great lessons for all of us - the way Ashley approaches each day with Sadie is something we should all do! To learn more about Ashley and Sadie, you can find them on IG at @savingsadieraeYou can help at: https://curesanfilippofoundation.org/how-to-help/

RE-RELEASE!

This is such an exciting episode!

Today, I have the honor of chatting with Jessie Boeckmann, whose daughter was born via surrogacy in Ukraine the day before Russia attacked. Jessie takes us along her journey as she escapes Ukraine with her husband and her newborn, driving and even walking to safety. You definitely don't want to miss this fascinating story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

This is a big thing to say, but it's true: this interview changed my life. I had the complete honor of interviewing Salym Liufau who is a mom of 4. Salym shares about her journey with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). While this diagnosis may have slowed down what she can do physically, it has also led her to really understand what is important in life - no longer worrying about things like having a Pinterest-worthy house, but instead, stopping to really absorb the joy in her children's faces and snuggling together as a family in bed, sharing movie nights. I'm so excited to share this episode with you all, and I hope it touches your hearts as much as it did mine.

Follow Salym on IG @alswithsalym

On today's interview, I had the privilege to talk with Andi Almond about her family's incredible 13-month world schooling adventure. Andi and her family prepared for 5 years for this epic trip which took them through 27 different countries and 7 continents. She also tells about the details of world schooling her two kids, incorporating their lessons into where they were traveling. You'll love her stories about Morocco, Greece, Argentina, Nepal, Antarctica, and more!

You can check out Andi's adventures on IG @4almondsabroad and find her book, The Everywhere Classroom, at andialmond.com

What do you do when your worst fear becomes your reality — just as your life is beginning.

In this deeply moving conversation, Heather Palmer shares her journey through devastating loss, silent struggle, and ultimate healing. Shortly after getting married, Heather’s husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Because of the side effects of his treatment, they turned to IVF to conceive their daughter — a baby her husband would only get to know for one precious month in the hospital before he passed away.

Heather opens up about navigating new motherhood while grieving, remarrying and growing her family, and the hidden battle she fought with an eating disorder — even when everything looked “fine” on the outside.

Now the author of Gold-In Cracks, Heather draws on the Japanese concept of Kintsugi — the art of repairing broken pottery with gold — to show how our deepest pain can become the very place our strength shines through.

This episode is a powerful reminder that broken doesn’t mean ruined — it can mean rebuilt, refined, and even more beautiful than before.

Heather's website: www.mygoldwithin.com

Follow Heather on IG : @heather8888

As a twin mom, life was crazy when my kids were little - but today's guest, Steph, took that adventure to a whole new level!

In this episode, Steph shares about her fertility journey, including the moment she chose to ignore what turned out to be very inaccurate advice from her doctor. She opens up about using a sperm donor, welcoming twins, and then — a few years later — going through the same process again… only to find herself laughing uncontrollably when she learned she was pregnant with triplets.

Steph walks us through her pregnancies, navigating life with preemies, and what it’s really like to have that many little feet running around at home.

Steph also shares what she had to let go of, what she discovered truly didn’t matter, and the advice she now gives to overwhelmed moms trying to hold it all together.

This episode is honest, emotional, and chaotic ... all in the best way.

What does motherhood look like when your office is in the sky?

In this episode, Tracy shares what it’s really like to raise her 10-year-old son while working as a flight attendant. From the surprising perks of having clear boundaries between home and work, to the emotional weight of time away, Tracy gives an honest look at balancing her job and motherhood.

We talk about breastfeeding in the aviation industry, navigating homeschooling with a nontraditional schedule, and the unexpected ways this career has shaped her relationship with her son.

Plus — Tracy shares insider travel tips every parent needs to hear before flying with kids!

Whether you’re a working mom, a traveling parent, or just curious about life behind the cabin door, this episode will give you a whole new perspective.

In this powerful and hope-filled episode, I sit down with Mollie, the mom of Nash, who was born at just 21 weeks and 0 days gestation, weighing only 10 ounces — making him the world’s most premature baby. This episode blew me away because this means my micropreemies, who were born at 1.5 pounds, were THREE TIMES BIGGER than Nash - mind blown.Mollie shares about what it was like going into pregnancy so early, specifically following a devastating loss at 18 weeks gestation of her daughter. When Nash was born, his eyes were fused shut, he could not breathe on his own, and his skin was so underdeveloped, he could hardly be touched....but after nearly 200 days in NICU, Nash got to go home and is now a thriving 1.5 year old...who just happens to hold the very special honor of Guinness Book of World Records Most Premature Baby.