When a medical event rocks her son and family a week before Christmas, guest Karen Draper has to rapidly process everything and do her best to move through it with grace. From the life saving steps necessary for her son, to the protection of her family's hearts through the fear, many of you will relate to this story of shock, strength and ultimately recovery and laughter. 

In her story and sweet conversation with host Jessica Patay, we hear from another strong mother who has experienced the spectrum of experiences that come with the special needs journey and has come out the other side forever healing, human and present.

Karen Draper is a writer, poet and former inclusion advocate who turned her passion for celebrating diversity into her first book, The Place of Us. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably editing photographs instead of words. Karen is an avid walker and yoga enthusiast who can easily be enticed by dark chocolate and red wine. She lives in Frederick, Maryland with her husband, Sam. Karen hopes that The Place of Us will help readers become better advocates for themselves and others. 

Find Karen’s Book here.

Brave Together Podcast is a resource produced by We Are Brave Together, a global nonprofit that creates community for moms raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence, or complex medical and mental health conditions. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to preserve and protect the mental health of caregiving moms everywhere.

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Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]

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