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For this special episode, we’re going back to the bedside to sit down with Dr. Melinda Elliott, a board-certified neonatologist with more than three decades of experience caring for premature and medically fragile neonates. After witnessing firsthand the impact of an exclusive human milk diet in the NICU, Dr. Elliott now serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Prolacta Bioscience, continuing her work to improve outcomes for the smallest and most vulnerable babies.

Together, we discuss why nutrition is one of the most important aspects of NICU care and how understanding your baby’s nutritional needs can help parents feel more informed and empowered throughout their NICU journey. Dr. Elliott explains the benefits of human milk nutrition, shares how advancements in neonatal nutrition have improved outcomes and reduced serious intestinal complications, and reminds parents that feeding decisions should never be driven by guilt or pressure during an already overwhelming time.

We also talk about the transition home after the NICU, the ongoing importance of nutrition, and how parents can confidently advocate for their baby’s care. Dr. Elliott offers powerful advice on communicating with your medical team and reminds parents:

“You have a right to be informed about absolutely everything that is going on with your baby and sharing in decision making as much as possible… the parent is the most important person in the room.”

Whether you’re currently in the NICU or reflecting on your family’s journey, this episode is filled with practical education, reassurance, and hope. We hope you’ll come away feeling more confident asking questions, participating in your baby’s care, and knowing that your voice truly matters.

For more information on NICU nutrition you can visit: https://parents.prolacta.com/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=cc-trauma-mamas-podcast&utm_source=podcast

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We finally made it to the day we had been dreaming about for years… homecoming day. 🏡🤍

In this episode, we’re sharing what our homecoming days actually looked like.. the emotions, the people who showed up for us, the help we received, and the moments we will never forget.

We talk about the car ride home after years of living inside hospital walls and how completely unreal it felt to realize… we were really going home.

But coming home brought a whole new set of emotions. We discuss the relief of finally leaving the hospital behind, mixed with the worry of suddenly becoming the ones responsible for everything. After years of having nurses, doctors, and a medical team just steps away, there was a moment where it hit us that we were now the ones taking care of them.

We talk about what nursing looked like at home, creating a new routine, learning to trust ourselves, and navigating those first scary emergency scenarios outside of the hospital. The fear, the adrenaline, the happy "firsts" at home, and the things that helped us feel more prepared.

Because coming home is the goal… but learning how to live beyond the bedside is a whole new and exciting journey. 

Listen now for part two of our homecoming story.

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One of the hardest and most overwhelming moments in having a critically ill child is also the most hoped-for… bringing your baby home for the first time.

This first part of our 3-part series is for the parents in that in-between space… still in the ICU, but starting to prepare for the homecoming. Our hope is that this episode helps you feel a little less alone, and a little more confident as you step into that transition.

In this conversation, Danielle and I share what it felt like preparing to bring our kids home. We talked through logistics like car seats, medical supply ordering, and in-home nursing, as well as the emotional weight of realizing the hospital safety net won’t be there anymore, and what it actually felt like to become the sole caretaker of your trach and vented child overnight.

We also talk about how important the relationships with our nurses became, and how hard it was to leave them, along with the fears we carried and the things no one really prepares you for once you walk through your front door.

We open up about the reality of suddenly being responsible for every alarm, every tube, every breath, our first emergency moments at home, and what helped us build confidence in those early days.

As Alison shares in this episode: “It’s the start of your life really. All that darkness and terrible stuff that happened in the hospital, you can leave behind. There are much, much better days at home.”

Because “going home” sounds like the finish line, but for so many of us, it’s just the beginning of learning a whole new way to live, love, and care.

In Part 2, we’ll be sharing what the actual day of coming home looked like — the emotions, logistics, and everything that came with that moment.

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This week on Trauma Mamas: Beyond the Bedside, Alison and new cohost Danielle Sullivan introduce this new chapter of the podcast and share what “beyond the bedside” truly means in their everyday lives as moms raising medically complex children.

In this special intro episode, Danielle gives listeners a glimpse into the logistics of life at home with Cora — from the routines and realities of managing a “mini ICU” at home, to finding ways to create normalcy, comfort, and joy in the middle of medical complexity. She also shares why she decided to join Alison on this journey and what she hopes this podcast can bring to families walking similar paths.

Both Alison and Danielle share their personal “why” behind creating this space, their hopes for the future of the podcast, and practical insight into balancing the clinical side of caregiving while still making home feel like home.

This episode is structured as two personal monologues, offering an honest and intimate look into life beyond the hospital walls.

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Danielle and I sit down for a fun Q+A so you can get to know us a little better. We asked each other questions about motherhood, life outside the hospital, and the experiences that shaped us and this podcast — things like, “What’s the most medical mom thing you’ve ever done?”, “What does this podcast mean to you?”, and "When did you start to feel like yourself again?"

There are tons of laughs, some deep moments, and, as always, a lot of honesty as we begin this new chapter of Trauma Mamas: Beyond the Bedside. I’m so excited to officially welcome Danielle as my new cohost, and I can’t wait for you all to follow along with us this season. 💛

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In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Sullivan to talk about what it really looks like to survive the NICU — not just physically being there, but mentally and emotionally enduring the unknown.

After a long and difficult fertility journey, Danielle welcomed her daughter, Cora, at 24 weeks. What followed was a 477-day NICU stay, a diagnosis of severe chronic lung disease (BPD), and the reality of bringing home a child with a tracheostomy and ventilator.

Danielle shares what it’s like to live in constant uncertainty — navigating fear, high-anxiety moments, and medical decisions without always having clear answers. She opens up about coping through hypervigilance and organization, and the toll that takes over time.

We also talk about the mental weight medical parents carry — the guilt, the comparison, and the pressure to do everything “right.” Danielle shares one of the most powerful lessons from her journey: being a “better” parent won’t make your child heal faster or meet milestones sooner.

She speaks candidly about the importance of therapy during her daughter’s ICU stay, and the process of unlearning the belief that control could change outcomes. Instead, she found strength in learning to be present, advocate, and slowly release that weight.

This episode is for parents in the middle of it — navigating uncertainty, trying to hold it together, and learning how to care for themselves while caring for their child.

You weren’t expecting to learn how to survive the NICU… but somehow, you do. 💛

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In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Bobbi Kline — a fellow BPD mom who just gets it.

We talk about the honest realities of raising boys with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the kind of medical mom banter that doesn’t require explanation, and what it looks like now that our kids are growing up and doing better than we ever imagined. From sending them to preschool to learning how to let go a little after years of hospital living and 24/7 high alert, we reflect on what it means to find your footing again.

Bobbi shares her traumatic birth experience with severe preeclampsia that led to heart failure, the heartbreak of transferring her son Thomas far from her other children, and the uncertainty her family carried during that season. Thomas required a tracheostomy and ventilator to come home — and today, he almost needs neither.

We also dive into the gaps in care for children with severe BPD and tracheostomies, the lack of resources many families face, and the practical side of advocacy. Bobbi shares why educating yourself on your child’s diagnosis can be just as important as advocating in the room — and how that mindset helped shape Thomas’ outcome.

Bobbi is also the founder of T. Rex Little Lungs, a foundation based in Idaho that supports trach families both in the hospital and transitioning home. The organization connects families, fills critical care gaps, and provides financial assistance for essential equipment that insurance often won’t cover.

This episode is for the mom who is in the thick of it — wondering what the future might look like — and not realizing yet that she’s already making a positive impact.

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In this episode, I’m joined by NICU mom and advocate Essie Weiss, founder of The Cuddle Foundation—a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring NICU babies are held when families can’t always be at the bedside.

Essie shares how her own NICU experience inspired a mission to bring trained volunteer cuddlers into hospitals across the country. We talk about why physical touch and kangaroo care are so critical for NICU babies, including benefits like improved heart rate and breathing regulation, better oxygenation, reduced stress, brain development support, and improved growth and outcomes.

Essie also opens up about her daughter Elizabeth’s medical journey. After a short NICU stay, Elizabeth was diagnosed with a severe staph infection that led to osteomyelitis and multicystic encephalomalacia. Essie walks us through what those diagnoses meant, the challenges Elizabeth faced, and how finding the right support—particularly through the Family Hope Center—became a turning point in her development. Through therapy, education, and the power of neuroplasticity, Elizabeth began overcoming obstacles that once felt impossible.

This episode is a powerful conversation about advocacy, faith, healing through connection, and how one mom turned trauma into meaningful change for families everywhere.

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This episode is the most special one to me. And I'm happy to be back!!

You’ve heard pieces of our story throughout the last 21 episodes, but for the first time, I’m not helping someone else tell theirs..we’re telling ours. And for the first time, I’m bringing on our first dad: my husband, David! 

Our son was born at 28 weeks due to complications from IUGR and was later diagnosed with very severe lung disease (BPD). He spent close to the first 2 years of his life in three different hospitals receiving lifesaving care. There were many moments we didn’t know how we would make it through as a family. Living in the hospital and the constant uncertainty felt endless…but we did it, one hard day at a time, and I’m really proud of us.

Today, Donny is 3 years old. He’s off his vent during all waking hours, and as of recording this episode, he’s starting to walk! Saying we’re grateful for where he is today is an understatement. 

In this episode, David and I talk about IUGR, having a micropreemie, transferring hospitals, and explain why our son eventually needed a trach. We shared our earliest experiences stepping into this very unique type of parenthood together. The emotions we felt, the impossible decisions we made and what it was like living in constant uncertainty.

David is the best dad. He has always been loving, helpful, and very technical. He learned everything he could about our son’s diagnosis, asked the best questions, and always advocated. He understood when I was too emotionally exhausted to be at the hospital. I truly could not have gotten through this without him and he feels the same about me. We make a good team, and I hope parts of this episode help other families going through something similar.

We also share what we wish we had known then, what we would have done differently, and the frustrations we’ve faced within hospital systems. 
People often tell us, “I don’t know how you got through that,” and we always say, “You just do what you have to do.” In this episode, we talk honestly about that and we also share some of the practical things we actually did to cope with the heavy days and impossible decisions.

I started The Trauma Mamas Podcast last year after having Donny home for a couple of months. During our hardest days, I desperately needed to hear from other parents who had lived through it and not necessarily perfect outcomes, but honest stories. I’m honored to now to be another voice for NICU families and parents raising medically complex children.

🎧 This episode is now available on all platforms.
Here’s to a new season!

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It feels so good to be back behind the mic! In this bonus episode, Alison is joined by co-host Tori for a laid-back but much-needed conversation about life with our trach/vent-dependent toddlers — and what the holidays look like when they happen inside the hospital instead of at home.

We know the weight of spending the holidays in the ICU: the grief, the guilt, the exhaustion, the “this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” If that’s where you are right now, we want you to know there can still be joy — even in the most unexpected places.

We reflect on our own ICU holidays from 2022–2024:
• Tori’s incredible decorating skills
• Elias’s iconic 90s rapper Halloween costume
• Emotional (but joyful) first birthdays in the hospital
• Donny being in a medically induced coma over Christmas
• And the years we almost ignored the holidays completely

Through all of it, we’ve learned this: do the best with what you have, focus on the people who truly care, and remember that grief and joy can exist together. You don’t have to love the season, but you can find small moments of light — and you and your child deserve a good day, no matter where you are.

We also talk about how different life feels now that we’re no longer living in constant fight-or-flight. When this podcast started last year, neither of us imagined we’d someday feel this much happiness and contentment within medical complexity.

If you’re in the hospital or going through something heavy this holiday season, this episode is for you. 💛