When Autumn Comes: Seasons of Hope for Medical + Disability Moms

We are coming to you on location today… from a campsite in Virginia Beach!  Sorry if the quality isn’t stellar but it’s Susan’s birthday!  Her RV is stocked like a mobile clinic for her kids but of course we didn’t plan ahead enough to actually have the champagne AND the orange juice for birthday mimosas… 

Links and resources:

• Want to join the 4AM Mom Club?  http://www.4am-mom-club.com
• Join the conversation: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety 
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

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Often, as an entry into special needs parenthood, moms and dads are given a poem by Emily Perl Kingsley titled “Welcome to Holland.” This poem explains to the reader how it feels to arrive in Holland when you were planning a dream vacation to Italy.  Suz and Diane chat about this poem and how it makes each of them feel throughout an often isolating, surprising form of parenthood. 

Topics you do not want to miss:

• Welcome to Holland - the poem
• This poem is comforting to some, and hurts others
• Italy isn’t always perfect
• ‘My barn burned down’ metaphor 

Links and resources:

• Welcome to Holland Poem: http://www.dsasc.ca/uploads/8/5/3/9/8539131/welcome_to_holland.pdf
• The Trouble with Welcome to Holland’ blog post by Kristen Groseclose: https://smithkingsmore.org/the-trouble-with-welcome-to-holland/
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast 
• Join us in the WAC Society:  www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow Diane on Insta: @Diane.Kay.Erdman
• Follow Susan on Insta: @suzgeoghegan

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We know that you have so many life questions.  And we want this podcast to be a place to answer as many of your questions as possible so we are starting a new series called “Just Ask Us”.  Today we are talking about summer weather + thighs, finding a campground, and wearing bras + makeup post pandemic. 

Links and resources:

• Want to join the 4AM Mom Club?  http://www.4am-mom-club.com
• Join the When Autumn Comes Society to chat about all-things-pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety 
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Music for the ‘Just Ask Us’ intro is called “Quirky Dog” by Kevin McLeod – https://filmmusic.io/song/4259-quirky-dog – License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

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Dr Ami Mehta, a pediatric pain and palliative care doctor at CHKD.  Today we have a candid conversation about how she helps care for children with complex medical needs, in addition to end of life care. She helps us understand what kind of role palliative care can have for medical or special needs children.  As you listen, you cannot help but feel Dr Mehta’s passion when it comes to caring for her patients and their families. 

Topics we talked about that you do not want to miss:

• What is a pediatric palliative care doctor and how is it different from adult palliative care? 
• What brought you into this line of medicine? 
• Relationship building with patients 

Links and resources:

• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join the WAC Society to talk about all things pod related: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review!  Thank You!

423AM: Apparently we are influencers, for ourselves, because past 4AM episodes convinced Suz to get botox.  She talks about that today.  Diane talks about how she whitens her teeth with her cell phone. 

Links and resources:

• Want to join the 4AM Mom Club?  http://www.4am-mom-club.com
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review? Thanks!

We are so happy to have Angela on the show, talking about her life as an Autism mom to two beautiful children.  Not only were we delighted to talk to her, but we are so incredibly proud of Angela for opening up with us.   Two years ago, she was still hiding the fact that her children had Autism from even her closest friends and family.  Now, as she is working through the stages of grief and discovering the beauty that this life can bring - she is ready to share it with the world.  

Conversations you do not want to miss:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder is the condition that affects this family
• Stages of grief 
• State facts, don’t ask questions 
• Discussing the future

Links and resources:

• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Join our Society where we chat about All-Things-Autumn-Pod: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesSociety
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review!  Thank You!  

Elizabeth, Kyan and Bodhi’s mom, joins us for today’s bonus content.  She shares her story about connecting with a medium after Kyan passed away.  Suz shares her story about a card reader in Key West.  Both tales will give you goosebumps! 

Links and resources:

• Want to join the 4AM Mom Club?  http://www.4am-mom-club.com
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review? Thanks! 

This is Part 2 to Elizabeth’s story.  Go back to episode 21 and start there if you didn’t listen.  After losing her first son Kyan at just 36 days old, Elizabeth has another son (after a pregnancy of more grief).  She talks about the beautiful relationship that her son Bodhi has with his old brother in heaven and tells us how “The Man with the Tie” brought things full circle for her. 

Highlights you do not want to miss:

• The emotions of having a second child after losing your first
• Fertility treatments and miscarriage
• The relationship Kyan and Bodhi share
• The man with the tie

Links and resources:

• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review!  Thank You! 

Lorelei, Susan's daughter, went to Girl Scout Camp as part of her bucket list and we are chatting about it today! 

Links and resources:

• Want to join the 4AM Mom Club?  http://www.4am-mom-club.com
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review? Thanks! 

After complications during labor, Elizabeth and her husband spent 36 precious, traumatic, beautiful, scary days on Earth with their son Kyan James.  Today she talks to us about their NICU experience, processing the unknown and then facing the worst case scenario, losing her first child.  We talk about grief. Lots and lots of grief - with a reminder to all mamas and families going through their own grief - just keep going. Elizabeth encourages you to give yourself grace and take your time, as much time as you need. 

Highlights you do not want to miss:

• Together at the same time, without blending the two
• The Bucket List in the NICU
• Still: Grief is a personal journey and it’s gradual 

Links and resources:

• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhenAutumnComesPodcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @WhenAutumnComesPodcast

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on our upcoming stories of medical and special needs parenting from families like yours.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5 star rating and a review!  Thank You!