66 episodes
Milkshakes for Marleigh Kate Fisher
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- Society & Culture
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4.8 • 22 Ratings
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The podcast that tells the survival stories of blood product recipients to thank donors and to encourage people to donate blood, plasma, platelets and breast milk. This season we are also telling the stories of donors.
Milkshakes for Marleigh aims to bridge the gap of anonymity between blood donors and their recipients, If you have ever been a donor you could be the one who saved, prolonged or improved the quality of life the person that we profile here each week on the podcast, and becoming a donor in the future means that you too could become a part of this story.
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S3. Ep13. The Pastega’s will always be tethered to Australian blood donors by an ”invisible string”. They share their family ”story from the stars” on World Prematurity Day.
~This episode is dedicated to Francesca Pastega. We promise to always say her name.~
Ian and Lyndsay Pastega have had to navigate the most extraordinary challenges to create their family. Through alloimmunisation in pregnancy (requiring their babies to have multiple blood transfusions before they were even born), premature birth, neonatal death and pregnancy after loss.
Lynds, Elda (9) and Charlie (7) share their story of navigating premature birth and NICU life, being blood product recipients, grieving the loss of Frankie and the healing power of welcoming their youngest child, Lincoln (2).
The Pastega's have partnered with the Canberra Hospital NICU Foundation to provide books and resources for those who are newly bereaved. You can show your support for the "Stories from the stars" campaign here: https://newborn.org.au/support/
https://www.canberrahospitalfoudation.org.auThe Milkshakes for Marleigh book can be ordered here: https://kmdbookstore.com/milkshakes-for-marleigh/fbclid=IwAR168JlGAPgDEwIgvbZlaEMFTluCi0EuKADyYO6o0mt0xPcFEtUM3xumYbo
Lyndsay's Her Canberra article about "The pain of silence" can be found here: https://hercanberra.com.au/life/family/pregnancy-and-infant-loss-awareness-month-life-after-frankie/
Please book a blood donation with Lifeblood by calling 13 14 95 learn more about blood donation advocacy here: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
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S3. Ep12. Molly Dawson survived cancer with the help of Australian blood donors. She is now a fierce youth cancer advocate.
Molly Dawson tells her story for all the people who have not survived their cancer journey.
With the help of Australian blood donors she overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 18 and has now dedicated aged her life to volunteer work and advocacy to support others in their cancer journey.
This episode is full of joy and post traumatic growth alongside an honest reflection of what it's like to live through cancer diagnosis, treatment and life the other side of cancer.
To read more stories like Molly's you can purchase a copy of The Milkshakes for Marleigh Book at: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
Information about the cancer treatments Molly refers to can her found here: https://www.cancer.org.au
Please book a donation for The Milkshakes Marleigh Lifeblood Team here: www.lifeblood.com.au -
S3. Ep11. Missy will be forever13, but every year she gives 1000s of Aussies a tomorrow.
Anj Middlestant, better known as This Strong Mum, shares the incredible story of her daughter Missy, who will be forever 13, to thank blood donors and encourage new ones.
Anj celebrates Missy's life and honours her legacy through the Missy's Donors Lifeblood team and her phenomenal blood donation advocacy work, encouraging others to 'save the lives of people we will never know and faces we will never see.'
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a time to acknowledge all children with cancer, past and present - and acknowledge the enormous impact of childhood cancer. (Children's Cancer Institute).
Please book a blood donation today to make treatment for kids with cancer possible: www.lifeblood.com.au
Follow Missy's Donors and This Strong Mum : www.thisstrongmum.com.au
Follow Milkshakes for Marleigh: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org or https://www.instagram.com/milkshakes_for_marleigh/?hl=en
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S3. Ep10. Alba’s Mum, Jess thanks blood donors all over the world for helping to #bringalbahome.
Alba is the baby who humanised war for so many Australians. She is the Australian baby born 11 weeks prematurely, days before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2021, fighting for her life in the middle of a war zone.
Alba's Mum, Jess details how donors from all over the world needed to donate blood to keep Alba alive. First in Ukraine and then in London.
This is an episode of two Mums marvelling about overcoming infertility and the immense gratitude we share for the blood donors who have saved and preserved our daughters lives.
Please follow Milkshakes for Marleigh on Instagram for updates on updates on the release of The Milkshakes for Marleigh book! https://www.instagram.com/milkshakes_for_marleigh/?hl=en
You can becomes a member of the The Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood Team and make an appointment to donate blood by calling 13 14 95 or online: https://www.lifeblood.com.au
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BONUS: Kate Fisher chats to 91.9 HOT FM about Milkshakes for Marleigh
Kate Fisher chats to 91.9 HOT FM about her quest to end persistent critical blood shortages in Australia through her blood donation advocacy work and The Milkshakes for Marleigh Podcast. She explains why her daughter Marleigh will be dependant on blood products for life to treat Autoimmune Encephalitis.
To learn more: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
To join The Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood Team and book a donation: https://www.lifeblood.com.au
To find out more 91.9 HOT FMs 'Bloody Oath': https://www.hot91.com.au/event/91-1-hot-fms-bloody-oath/
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S3. Ep9. Kellie Finlayson thanks Aussie blood donors for giving her the gift of time.
Kellie Finlayson was just 25 and a first time Mum to a 3 month old baby girl when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Kellie is a model, marathon runner & brand ambassador. Her husband is AFL star Jeremy Finlayson and together they are navigating her battle against Stage 4, colorectal cancer while raising their little girl, Sophia.
In this episode Kellie courageously and candidly share the reality of parenting alongside fighting cancer, living with a stoma and what the cancer has meant for her transition to motherhood. While at the same time accepting the reality that Jeremy may become a single Dad and raising their daughter alone. Kellie thanks the Australian blood donors who saved her life following surgery and continue to make her treatments possible, giving her more time with little Sophia.
You can find Kellie’s “Trust Your Gut” Campaign with The Jodie Lee Foundation here: https://jodileefoundation.org.au
Please vote for the AusMumpreneur People’s Choice Awards here:https://milkshakesformarleigh.org
Book a blood donation here: https://my.donateblood.com.au/app/appointments/location
Customer Reviews
My lifelong dance with blood
The 'Milkshakes for Marleigh' podcast is simply amazing. As someone who has dedicated their life to the importance of blood—first as a lifelong donor, then as a pediatric nurse working in neurology and later specialising in oncology, and now as a transfusion professional—I can't stress enough how significant this topic is to me. Blood is, quite literally, the essence of life. One Christmas, a Secret Santa gifted me balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil, humorously labeled as 'blood' and 'plasma.' It's safe to say that I'm a blood zealot. I'm also a proud advocate for our organisation’s Lifeblood team. I've shared this podcast on LinkedIn because I believe its work is absolutely phenomenal!
Incredible stories
Loved listening to these, has opened my eyes so much.
Wow
Omg Kate, I thought I knew your story but listening to you telling Marleighs story had me in tears! What an incredible journey you have been on. You my friend are an amazingly strong women and a fiercely strong Mumma. I can’t even fathom what you have all been on from the mum side, the nurse side is so much safer to stand on. But I am proud to be a member of the milkshakes for Marleigh team and have to always in my thoughts! Xx