A different shaped heart conversations about disability awareness

Win Charles
  • 4.7 (64)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to A different shaped heart conversations about being awesome with a disability and raising awareness at the same time and absolutely Yes sometimes you have to say F…..CK you to your own mindset and especially your disability! 

  1. 2D AGO

    From Infection And OT Confusion To Standing Again

    Send a text Some days feel like a gauntlet: a hip that’s healing, an incision that went itchy-to-infected, a possible pneumonia flare, and a tangle of OT and PT notes that don’t quite line up. We walked through the whole maze with honesty, humor, and one bright anchor—standing again after a string of setbacks. That single moment of progress reframed the day and gave us a target to steer toward: by April, walk to the bathroom on our own. We talk about what makes recovery so mentally hard: not just pain or fatigue, but mixed instructions that burn precious energy. Clear occupational therapy goals matter. Accessible physical therapy routines matter. So do the small rituals that keep you going—antibiotics on time, breathing treatments to keep lungs calm, and permission to check in with school tomorrow instead of pushing past exhaustion today. Along the way, a surprise delivery shifts the mood: a cat made of flowers carrying a tiny medical bag, plus chocolates. Support like that is more than cute; it’s fuel for resilience. We also open the door to what’s next. The show is moving to Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we’re planning a feature on Special Olympics, spotlighting lived experience, training, and community. And yes, there’s a spicy take: Apple’s move into video podcasting doesn’t serve listeners who are driving or juggling life; we’re staying audio‑only to keep the show safe, accessible, and focused. Expect more real talk, fewer medical play‑by‑plays, and steady progress behind the scenes. If this story gave you a nudge—whether you’re navigating rehab, chronic illness, or just a hard week—hit play, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Support the show

    10 min

  2. FEB 28

    Life Update: Hip Replacement, CP, And A New Path

    Send a text The quiet after a hospital stay can feel louder than the beeps and hall lights. Coming home post–hip replacement and hamstring lengthening, we open up about the messy middle of recovery with cerebral palsy: the hope of cast removal, the wobble of weak muscles, and the puzzle of choosing the right physical therapy. Six weeks plus a few days in, the hip feels secure, but the next move matters—orthopedic PT for joint safety or neurological PT for tone, gait, and motor control. We walk through what each path offers, where they overlap, and how to advocate for a plan that fits a CP body healing from an orthopedic surgery. We also share the life reframe that follows any major procedure: dropping one project, starting another this fall, and reshaping a college path that better aligns with health and energy. Think of it as changing majors without the meltdown—clear-eyed choices, paced goals, and a schedule that respects rehab. Along the way, we trade small hacks that make a big difference, from retiring the trash-bag shower routine to setting up recovery stations and using movement snacks instead of marathon sessions. The theme is simple and strong: protect the new hip, honor the nervous system, and let purpose guide the calendar. If you’re navigating CP, orthopedic surgery, or the foggy space between medical timelines and real life, this conversation offers practical takeaways, honest moments, and a reminder that progress is personal. Hit play, then tell us: would you choose neurological PT, orthopedic PT, or a blend? Subscribe for updates, share with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review to help others find the show. Support the show

    9 min

  3. FEB 20

    From Hip Surgery To A New Path In Counseling

    Send a text The first night home after surgery always tells the truth. We’re honest about the itch you can’t scratch, the cast you can’t ignore, and the stubborn hope that keeps you showing up for PT when the bed feels like the only safe place. This update pulls back the curtain on what recovery really looks like—two incisions, a knee immobilizer, and a plan to earn back each step with patience and grit. We walk through the rehab blueprint: outpatient PT to rebuild strength and mechanics, home PT to reinforce safe movement, and the messy admin that comes with clarifying diagnoses, negotiating PT vs OT, and threading the needle of insurance and scheduling. Along the way, we pivot our academic path toward counseling with a focus on disability, caregivers, and families—because lived experience belongs at the therapy table. That choice comes with real-world fights for tutoring and accessible support, plus the mental load of tracking paperwork, classes, and energy on days defined by pain. On the home front, we simplify: moving to an all-Apple smart speaker setup to cut friction, planning repairs and device resets for after the cast comes off, and building routines that save willpower for healing. We cap it with a promise—new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday—because consistency builds community and community makes the hard days doable. If you’re navigating recovery, disability advocacy, or just trying to design a home and school life that fits a changing body, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a boost, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Your support keeps us moving—one careful step at a time. Support the show

    16 min

  4. FEB 8

    Chocolate Cake Tried To Kill Me, But Insurance Might Finish The Job

    Send a text A single bite changed everything. What began as a straightforward recovery from hip and hamstring surgeries veered into aspiration pneumonia, a fight for air, and a crash course in medical advocacy. We walk you through the minute-by-minute reality: the warning signs that were missed, the plea for intubation that took too long to land, and the moment a routine anesthesia choice nearly collided with a known allergy. It’s unvarnished, emotional, and grounded in practical takeaways you can use if you or someone you love ever faces a similar crisis. We open up about how a caregiver’s voice can cut through chaos when yours won’t, why documenting allergies and repeating them matters, and how to handle transfers when hospitals are out of ICU beds. From the suction that cleared thick mucus to the sedation that fogged memory, we share the clinical steps alongside the human ones—staying calm, asking direct questions, and pushing for the right level of care. You’ll hear how our aides balanced fear and focus, how a medical liaison showed up before sunrise, and how community support steadied the ground under our feet. Then we turn to rehab reality: a heavy cast, energy budgeting, and building a plan that integrates physical therapy and occupational therapy when insurance only funds so much. We map out practical strategies for continuity of care, including choosing facilities that fit your needs, pacing progress to protect surgical gains, and preparing for the first days back home. If you’ve navigated disability, chronic illness, or complex post-op care, you’ll recognize the small victories and the stubborn barriers. If you haven’t, consider this a guide to speaking up, writing things down, and not apologizing for persistence. If this story resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s advocating inside the system, and leave a review with your best tip for surviving hospital chaos. Your words help others breathe a little easier. Subscribe and stay with us as we work our way back home. Support the show

    14 min

  5. JAN 7

    What If Recovery Is The Moment I Find Myself Again

    Send a text The countdown is real: I’m heading into a total hip replacement on Monday, and I’m bringing you into the plan, the fear, and the hope. After months of pain and a stubborn leg pulled up by CP tone, the goal is simple but big—get this leg to drop straight and make sitting, standing, and moving a whole lot more human again. I talk through what the surgery involves, why a titanium joint could change everything, and how we’re preparing for the curveballs that come with cerebral palsy. I share the practical details that matter when your body doesn’t follow the manual: bracing if the leg needs guidance, sleeves to protect skin, and a pain plan that avoids an anesthesia that once sent me to the ICU. There’s a real chance of six weeks in braces, and an equally real chance we skip them if the alignment holds. Either way, I’ve lined up outpatient PT with a team that knows hip replacements and CP, because consistency, careful weight‑bearing, and smart pacing are the path to progress. Beyond the operating room, this is about rebuilding life. I’ve set targets to return to work and school by mid‑January, with podcasting back on the horizon as soon as the body allows. I also talk honestly about the emotional toll—months in bed, the frustration of dependence, and the messy moments that happen when pain piles up. You’ll hear how I’m documenting recovery with before‑and‑after photos, planning transport, and leaning on community to keep me grounded and accountable. If you’ve faced surgery, CP spasticity, or just a long season of waiting, this conversation will feel like a hand on your shoulder. Stick around for updates, share your recovery tips, and send some strength my way. If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need a little hope today. Support the show

    16 min

  6. JAN 1

    Ocean Firsts And Mickey Magic

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    12 min

  7. 12/14/2025

    What If Rehab Wear Made You Feel Beautiful

    Send a text The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Support the show

    31 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    How Do You Rebuild A Body And A Life At The Same Time

    Send a text A fall on a birthday changed everything—and sparked a plan that’s equal parts grit and vision. We open up about living with a hip 50% out of its socket, the decision to move forward with replacement surgery, and the systems we’re putting in place to make recovery sustainable. From pre-op countdowns and pain management to the day-by-day updates we’ll record after surgery, you’ll hear how structure, community, and honest storytelling turn fear into forward motion. At the same time, we lay out a big academic move: stepping back from work through spring to pursue counseling at Grand Canyon University and reviving a path in fashion communications and styling at the Academy of Art. The cornerstone is inclusion—building disability-forward styling that respects braces and mobility aids, designs for seated wear, simplifies closures, and still looks sharp and personal. We talk about why counseling pairs with fashion: the goal is confidence, self-advocacy, and safety, delivered through practical design and empathetic care. We also get candid about accessibility in higher education: requesting accommodations, managing timelines around PT and recovery, and navigating FAFSA and student loans without losing momentum. There’s no sugarcoating the friction between disability and college bureaucracy, but there’s also a clear strategy: backup plans, flexible formats, and firm boundaries. Community shows up in powerful ways—from aides and local friends to a hip replacement forum where support flows both directions. If you’re navigating surgery, balancing school with disability, or curious about adaptive fashion and counseling as a combined path, this conversation offers a grounded map and real talk about the tradeoffs. Subscribe, share this with someone facing a big medical decision, and leave a review with your best recovery tips or accessibility wins—we’ll read our favorites on a future show. Support the show

    12 min
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Welcome to A different shaped heart conversations about being awesome with a disability and raising awareness at the same time and absolutely Yes sometimes you have to say F…..CK you to your own mindset and especially your disability! 

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