Boss Babe Corner Ep. 81 - Cara's Story + Kegger (Part 2)

Trisomy 18 is rare, occurring in about 1 in 2,500 pregnancies. Mike and Julie Kelly never anticipated being one of those families that would experience the worst hardships of losing a child due to this deadly and rare condition. Cara received a diagnosis of Trisomy 18 before she was born. The odds were against her family having time with her...but Cara was determined to prove everyone wrong - and she did! Cara spent 12 incredible hours on this earth with her family and felt the kindness of doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers at Roger Neilson House and the Ottawa Hospital and captured many memories against all odds. In this episode, Mike and Julie share with her the story of their daughter, from initially finding out her Trisomy 18 diagnosis, to Julie's pregnancy and what they faced together as a couple, the day Cara was born, and the aftermath that follows from losing a child, including sharing her story publically, navigating postpartum, the importance of therapy, checking in on both the mother and the father, and having the difficult and challenging conversation with your other children. In honour of Cara's memory, Mike and Julie are raising awareness for Roger Neilson House to support their mission to meet the unique palliative care needs of newborns, children, youth, and their families. They are also hosting their third annual Cara's Kegger event on Saturday, July 22, 2023, with bigger plans already in the works for 2024. With the generosity of family, friends and local businesses, they have already raised over $8,000. Please help the Kelly's meet our goal and support Roger Nielson House in Cara’s memory 🤍