Inside the Children's Hospital

Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist
  • 4.9 (162)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

Inside the Children's Hospital shares real stories from parents, caregivers, and pediatric healthcare professionals navigating the emotional realities of caring for a hospitalized child with honesty, compassion, and hope.

  1. 16h ago

    Trusting your gut: Advocating for a childhood OCD Diagnosis

    In this week's episode, Kristy Berksza, a mom and former Child Life Specialist, tells us how her experience being a healthcare professional and a parent taught her how to communicate a diagnosis to her own daughter. Maggie, Kristy's daughter, was diagnosed with OCD last year when her refusal to go to school worsened.   Being a former CLS, Kristy has been able to better support Maggie and explain what the diagnosis means for her going forward. Kristy tells us how a mixture of both medication and therapy that she advocated for have helped create a positive difference in Maggie's quality of life!   Timestamps  1:33 - Introduction to Kristy 5:15 - Receiving the OCD diagnosis   11:16 - Communicating the diagnosis to Maggie  19:59 - Treating OCD in Children 23:24 - Maggie's Superpowers 26:50 - Finding Community and Taking Care of Oneself 34:08 - Advocating for your Child's Health   To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care. The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

    Trusting your gut: Advocating for a childhood OCD Diagnosis

  2. Oct 28

    Finding Joy in the Unknowns: The Journey to an LCH Diagnosis

    Katie Taylor sits down with Katie Cangi, mom to 4 and medical mom to her youngest, Lola. Lola was Katie's first NICU baby, and for nine months she was a happy baby, till it became harder and harder for Katie and her husband to calm her down.  Both Katies traverse through the diagnosis process, as Katie C. attended multiple doctors visits in order to figure out Lola's LCH (Langershans Cell Histiocytosis) diagnosis. Finally getting the answer, the hospital became the family's second home, and Katie gives us an understanding of how she, along with her family, were able to find the little joys in their new atmosphere.  TimeStamps 1:29 - Introduction to Katie's Journey  4:22 - Lola's Diagnosis 7:15 - Understanding LCH  10:14 - Navigating the Diagnosis  13:12 - The Impact of LCH on Family Life  16:25 - Navigating Treatment Decisions  22:12 - Coping Strategies for Caregivers  25:29 - Managing Hospital Visits  29:29 - Supporting Siblings in Medical Journeys  31:31 - Finding Joy Amidst Challenges  33:18 - Reality of Medical Parenting   Resources What is LCH   To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care. The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

    Finding Joy in the Unknowns: The Journey to an LCH Diagnosis

  3. Oct 21

    Five Lives Saved: A Mother's Story of Loss, Organ Donation, and Hope (Bacterial Meningitis)

    In today's episode, we sat down with Kristen Cowan, a teacher, and mom of Rylen and Corbin. In 2017, Rylen was only 13 months old when he woke up with a fever that turned out to be bacterial meningitis. Rylen was in the hospital for about 9 days before he unfortunately passed away from the illness.   Kristen shares her journey of being in the hospital with Rylen, and how she was able to provide a new hope for other families through organ donation. Throughout the episode, Kristen unpacks how she is able to cope with the loss of Rylen by creating a legacy through the Smilin' Rylen Foundation. The foundation was made to honor Rylen by raising awareness about organ donation and assisting families in crisis by offering to pay for hospital parking passes.   Time Stamps  1:32 - Introduction to Kristen 4:29 - The Journey of Loss and Grief 9:30 - Hospital Experiences and Medical Challenges 19:30 - The Decision of Organ Donation  24:29 - Creating a Legacy  32:21 - Understanding Rylen's Health Challenges 38:08 - Finding Purpose Through Grief 41:26 - The Significance of Orange  44:15 - The Parking Pass Program  49:27 - Growing the Foundation's Impact  52:14 - Celebrating Rylen's Impact   Resources https://www.smilinrylenfoundation.org/ https://www.facebook.com/SmilinRylenFoundation/   To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care. The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

    Five Lives Saved: A Mother's Story of Loss, Organ Donation, and Hope (Bacterial Meningitis)

  4. Oct 14

    When Play Looks Different: Activities for Kids with Disabilities and Medical Needs

    For this week's episode, Katie is talking with fellow child-life specialist, Annie "Sunshine" Gunning. For 25 years, Annie has helped adapt typical playtime into something that everyone with different needs, such as children who are nonverbal or wheelchair bound, can enjoy.  Annie gives us insight into how playing through medical experiences like going to a therapy appointment is important for children to understand the world around them. Similarly, Annie leads us into the hospital setting, detailing how play inside the hospital can create positive environments for children, especially for children who are staying for a longer period of time.    Timestamps  1:44 - Intro to Child Life and Play 3:20 - Adapting Play for Children with Disabilities  6:57 - Sibling Interaction and Play 9:03 - Play in Hospital Setting  12:42 - Creative Play for Hospitalized Children 17:45 - The Importance of Play in Medical Experiences   Resources Annie's Company Hope for HIE Annie's Instagram   To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care. The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

    When Play Looks Different: Activities for Kids with Disabilities and Medical Needs

  5. Oct 7

    Win Bars for LSU Tiger Football and Aplastic Anemia Pediatric Patients

    During this week's episode, Katie sits down with Ryan Solieau, an LSU Alum, and dad to a Henry who was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. Aplastic Anemia is a rare blood disorder where bone marrow stops making new red blood cells, which appeared in Henry as a heart rate of 250.  Ryan takes us through the experience of learning a new reality during all phases of Henry's diagnoses, from learning how to navigate Henry's initial hospital stay, all the way to supporting Henry emotionally during his monthly transfusions. In the episode, we also learn from Ryan how crucial it is to take care of oneself in order to be the best advocate for Henry.     Timestamps 1:37 - Intro to Ryan  3:38 - The Hospital Experience: A Second Family 6:24 - The Diagnosis: A Life-Changing Moment 9:38 - Navigating the Medical System 13:49 - Understanding Aplastic Anemia 15:27 - The Roles of Fathers in Caregiving 18:12 - Building Relationships with Hospital Staff 20:44 - Recognizing Emotional Needs 26:40 - Advice for Parents: Seeking Help and Support 35:08 - Fatherhood and Personal Growth 42:01 Navigating Medical Challenges and Triumphs    Resources https://www.instagram.com/rsoile6    To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care. The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

    Win Bars for LSU Tiger Football and Aplastic Anemia Pediatric Patients

  6. Sep 30

    From Peds Nurse to Cancer Mom: What Helped her Child Cope

    Pediatric nurse and mom Brigid shares how her family navigated her son's neuroblastoma diagnosis—with practical guidance on preparing kids for care, accepting support, and finding hope. Key Topics: The symptoms that led to Brigid's son's neuroblastoma diagnosis Going from pediatric nurse to parent receiving life-changing medical news Using medical play to prepare young children for procedures Giving children choices and control during repeated medical care Why slowing down can sometimes make procedures easier Supporting siblings through a cancer diagnosis Caring for yourself while caring for a seriously ill child Asking for and accepting practical support from others Resources including Beads of Courage, Connecting Champions, and neuroblastoma-specific preparation tools Timestamps 00:00 - Finding support through childhood cancer stories 01:11 - Brigid introduces her family 01:38 - Penn State THON and supporting families facing cancer 03:21 - The first sign: a persistent limp 04:55 - Night sweats, an ER visit, and the diagnosis 05:18 - Understanding neuroblastoma and treatment 06:31 - Receiving serious news in the hospital where Brigid works 10:28 - Being both mom and medical translator 11:32 - Why preparing children for procedures matters 12:52 - Medical play and repeated procedures 14:08 - Choices, breaks, and helping kids feel more in control 15:09 - Practicing dressing changes through play 16:49 - Why faster isn't always easier for kids 18:34 - The hard days and emotional toll of treatment 20:36 - Stem cell transplant and the hardest phase of treatment 21:34 - Prayer, gratitude, and staying grounded 25:31 - Simple medical play using things you already have 27:58 - Explaining cancer to siblings 28:28 - Bringing support into a sibling's school 31:12 - Child life tools that can help with procedures 34:09 - Taking cancer treatment one hurdle at a time 35:22 - What asking for help looked like for Brigid's family 39:36 - Connecting Champions and identity beyond cancer 41:00 - Beads of Courage 42:01 - Neuroblastoma resources and medical play tools 43:32 - What Brigid learned about control, patience, and time To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care. The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

    From Peds Nurse to Cancer Mom: What Helped her Child Cope

  7. Sep 23

    My Daughter Had a Brain AVM: Advocacy, Medical Trauma, and Hope

    As we begin to close out NICU Awareness Month, Katie sits down with Matilda "Tilly" Aldridge, a content marketer and mom. During a normal morning, Adelaide, her oldest child, was rushed to the hospital after Tilly and her husband heard Adelaide screaming from her room. She was given a CT scan, and a large tumor was found in her brain.  Tilly recounts her experience not only dealing with the sudden occurrence of Adelaide's medical emergency, but also how Adelaide herself was able to overcome the trauma she suffered. Together, Tilly and Katie dig into what advocating for answers can entail, and finding joy in the aftermath.  Timestamps  1:40 - Introduction to Tilly's Journey 4:28 - Navigating Parenthood During COVID 7:21 - Impact of Postpartum Depression  10:41 - Life-Altering Medical Emergency 13:18 - Understanding AVIM  16:10 - The Road to Recovery  22:13 - Managing Anxiety in Children  25:17 - Empowering Children Through Choices 32:04 - The Impact of Medical Trauma  37:00 - The Search for Answers  43:57 - The Fight for Medical Attention  49:07 - The Joys of Motherhood Post-Trauma Resources What is AVM What is AVF Medical information shared in this episode is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team for guidance specific to your child and family.

    My Daughter Had a Brain AVM: Advocacy, Medical Trauma, and Hope

  8. Sep 16

    The Long-term Effects of Short-term Medical Decisions: A parent's story of NEC, the NICU and Short Bowel Syndrome

    Welcome back to NICU Awareness Month. In this episode, Katie is sitting down with Kim Holland, mom of Tripp who was born at 27 weeks and also developed NEC. NEC, or Necrotizing Enterocolitis, is the inflammation of the intestine that often leads to the death of intestinal tissue/lining, which caused Tripp to undergo multiple surgeries and spend months in the NICU.   Kim delves into the raw emotions she went through during her pregnancy with Tripp and his stay in the NICU as she had to make tough medical decisions. She also gives us some insight into how she coped and was ultimately able to create a new normal after the NICU. Katie and Kim speak on how to build community and support during a time of healing for all parents.  Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction  1:30 - Kim's Family and Background  4:18 - Emergency C-Section and Preeclampsia Experience 7:39 - Tripp's Birth and NICU Journey 10:20 - Navigating the NICU  13:28 - Understanding NEC and its Impact  16:33 - Surgery and the Role of Faith  19:25 - Post-Surgery and Ongoing Challenges  34:57 - The Grim Reality of Medical Decisions 46:28 - Coping Mechanisms in the NICU  54:26 - Life After the NICU  58:34 - Building Community and Support    Medical information shared in this episode is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team for guidance specific to your child and family.

    The Long-term Effects of Short-term Medical Decisions: A parent's story of NEC, the NICU and Short Bowel Syndrome
See All (337)

4.9
out of 5
162 Ratings

About

Inside the Children's Hospital shares real stories from parents, caregivers, and pediatric healthcare professionals navigating the emotional realities of caring for a hospitalized child with honesty, compassion, and hope.

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    337
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Child Life On Call®
  • Show Website
    Inside the Children's Hospital

You Might Also Like