Growing the Gift

Transplant Families
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Monthly

The Growing the Gift podcast is all about pediatric transplant from the eyes of those who live it every day: caregivers, patients, the clinical team and our community. We know that being a transplant family comes with its own unique set of challenges, and we want to provide a space for you to feel seen, heard, and understood. In each episode, we will explore a different topic related to transplantation through interviews with experts and families like yours. We hope this podcast will be a source of information and connection for you as you navigate your transplant journey.

  1. 4d ago

    Finding Community in Biliary Atresia: A BARE Podcast Conversation

    In this episode, Jennifer Lau, MPH, co-founder of Biliary Atresia Research & Education (BARE), joins host Melissa McQueen to share how BARE got started. Jennifer describes meeting another family at a pediatric transplant conference and realizing that families affected by biliary atresia had no community of their own. She also shares her family’s experience, from her son’s diagnosis through his liver transplant and the years since. The conversation also covers BARE’s work on early detection, including efforts to bring biliary atresia and other cholestatic liver diseases into newborn screening, so that children can be diagnosed and treated sooner. If you or someone you love is navigating biliary atresia, we hope this conversation helps you feel seen, heard, and less alone. Guest: Jennifer Lau, MPH, co-founder of BAREHost: Melissa McQueen Biliary Atresia Research & Education (BARE) is dedicated to supporting families through research and education. Learn more at BAREinc.org.

  2. Sep 19

    Empowering Parents in the Era of Outbreaks

    Empowering Parents in the Era of Outbreaks In this episode of Growing the Gift, host Melissa McQueen sits down with Winston Ally, Director of Medical Affairs, and fellow transplant advocate Riki Graves to talk about a topic many families don't think about until it's suddenly in front of them: chickenpox exposure. Winston opens up about the day his own daughter came home from daycare with a mysterious rash that stumped three pediatricians before a chickenpox diagnosis finally clicked, a reminder that even healthcare professionals can be caught off guard when herd immunity means fewer people have seen the virus firsthand. Melissa shares her son Dylan's story: a transplant recipient whose exposure led to a week and a half hospital stay, missed first days of first grade, and the kind of fear that only a transplant parent truly understands. Riki then shares a very different outcome. When her daughter Juliana, transplanted as a newborn, was exposed in a crowded clinic waiting room, her care team acted quickly and she never developed the disease. Together, the three of them explore: Why chickenpox can pose serious risks for immunocompromised children, even when it's a mild childhood illness for othersHow exposure can happen in everyday places like daycare, clinic waiting rooms, or time with family members who have shinglesThe importance of calling your transplant team right away if you suspect exposure, rather than waiting to see how symptoms developWhat questions to ask your healthcare provider about options after a known or suspected exposureHow hospitals manage protocols and supply to protect immunocompromised patientsThis episode also includes important safety information about VariZIG, a prescription product discussed as part of the conversation. Please see full prescribing information and speak with your healthcare provider for complete details specific to your situation. Whether you're a transplant parent, a caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better understand how to protect a vulnerable child, this conversation offers real stories, practical takeaways, and a reminder that you are your child's best advocate. When in doubt, call your care team. Growing the Gift is brought to you by Transplant Families, a program of the Children's Organ Transplant Association, with this episode sponsored by Kamada.

  3. Aug 21

    Navigating Transplant: What the Transplant Families + COTA Merger Means for You (feat. Rick Lofgren, CEO of COTA)

    Navigating Transplant: What the Transplant Families + COTA Merger Means for You (feat. Rick Lofgren, CEO of COTA) Two organizations that have walked alongside transplant families for decades have joined forces, and in this special episode, Melissa McQueen sits down with Rick Lofgren, CEO of the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA), to explain exactly what that means for your family. Transplant Families and COTA have been aligned in mission for years, and this merger brings more hands on deck, shared resources, and lower overhead, so more support goes directly to families, not back-office costs. Melissa and Rick answer the questions you've been asking: what changes, what stays the same, and how does this help families like yours. In this conversation, you'll hear: • How COTA helps families day to day, at no cost and with no fundraising fees. • What's actually covered, and it's more than you'd think: co-payments, deductibles, medications, travel and lodging, household expenses, COBRA premiums, therapy, dental care, even post-transplant home cleaning. • Who's eligible: any family with a transplant candidate or recipient age 21 or younger, plus more than 5,000 single-gene diagnoses, with no age limit. Once you're a COTA patient, you're a COTA patient for life. • Why COTA funds go further than crowdfunding. • More than 100 fundraising ideas your team can put to work, from golf outings and online stores to virtual 5Ks and social media challenges. • Ways to get involved beyond fundraising: advocacy, education, research, and support. Have questions or ideas for a future episode? Reach out to Melissa at melissa@transplantfamilies.org or melissa@cota.org, or contact Rick directly at rick@cota.org. Learn more and explore past episodes at transplantfamilies.org and youtube.com/transplantfamilies.

  4. 12/05/2025

    Mindfulness-Based Retreat for Mothers of Pediatric Transplant Recipients

    Join us for this episode of "Growing the Gift."  where we replay "Mindfulness-based retreat for mothers of pediatric recipients " from the 2023 Pediatric Transplant Conference, part of National Pediatric Transplant Week and National Donate Life Month featuring Samantha Anthony, PhD, MSW, RSW, Health Clinician Scientist, Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre, the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) Joanna Mitchell, mother to pediatric heart transplant recipient. From the time of diagnosis, mothers are significantly more likely than any other family member to be the primary caregiver of a child with a heart transplant. Given that a mother’s ability to successfully cope with the demands of caregiving predicts positive social and health outcomes for the child, it is critical that maternal coping and wellbeing are supported. This presentation will highlight results from a two-day mindfulness-based retreat attended by 16 mothers of pediatric heart transplant recipients as an innovative intervention to improve maternal coping, quality of life, distress tolerance and reduce social isolation. Guided by the experiential expertise of Joanna Mitchell (Parent Partner), this presentation will emphasize the importance of patient- and family-centered care and the intersection of maternal wellbeing and child health outcomes within pediatric heart transplantation. Intro music: "Reach for Success" by Purple Planet (purple-planet.com). Used with permission. Outro music: "Fresh" by Emil Waldhauer (Notize), 2022. Used with permission. The "Growing the Gift" podcast is about pediatric transplant recipients from the eyes of those who live it every day: caregivers, parents, the clinical team, and the community. We know that being a transplant family comes with unique challenges, and we want to provide a space for you to feel seen, heard, and understood. In each episode, we will explore a different topic related to transplantation through interviews with experts and families like yours. We hope this podcast will be a source of information and connection for you as you navigate your transplant journey. Thank you for being part of our community, and happy listening! Look for Growing the Gift on Spotify, iTunes, and our very own webpage under podcasts.

  5. 11/07/2025

    Caring for a Transplanted Child and the Effect on Siblings

    Join us for this episode of "Growing the Gift."  where we replay "Caring for a transplanted child and the effect on siblings" from the 2022 Pediatric Transplant Conference, part of National Pediatric Transplant Week and National Donate Life Month featuring CC Cunningham, Executive Director for the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF). Caring for a transplanted child can be a daunting task - both for the child and their siblings. While brothers and sisters may feel anger, resentment, or jealousy towards the new addition to the family, it's important to remember that they are going through just as big of a change as everyone else. By supporting one another, brothers and sisters can help make this difficult time a little bit easier for all of them. Families who have gone through this experience share what they've learned in this session. Join us to learn how to best support your recipient child's siblings and your transplanted loved one. Intro music: Time Warp by Emil Waldhauer (Notize), 2022. Used with permission. Outro music: Believe in Me by Emil Waldhauer (Notize), 2022. Used with permission. The "Growing the Gift" podcast is about pediatric transplant recipients from the eyes of those who live it every day: caregivers, parents, the clinical team, and the community. We know that being a transplant family comes with unique challenges, and we want to provide a space for you to feel seen, heard, and understood. In each episode, we will explore a different topic related to transplantation through interviews with experts and families like yours. We hope this podcast will be a source of information and connection for you as you navigate your transplant journey. Thank you for being part of our community, and happy listening! Look for Growing the Gift on Spotify, iTunes, and our very own webpage under podcasts.

  6. 09/05/2025

    Eliminating CMV, EBV, BK as Post-Transplant Complications

    Join us for this episode of "Growing the Gift."  where we replay "Eliminating CMV, EBV, and BK as Post-Transplant Complications" from the 2023 Pediatric Transplant Conference, part of National Pediatric Transplant Week and National Donate Life Month featuring Taylor Heald-Sargent, MD, PhD, attending infectious disease specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Priya Verghese, MD, MPH, nephrologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Learn effective strategies for supporting younger children in expressing their feelings during hospitalization and after a transplant through the use of play therapy. Children can relate to the emotions and challenges portrayed in the stories. This approach not only facilitates communication but also fosters empathy, resilience, and a sense of empowerment in young transplant recipients as they navigate their unique experiences and emotions. Intro/Outro music: "Parasail" by Moby. Used with permission. The "Growing the Gift" podcast is about pediatric transplant recipients from the eyes of those who live it every day: caregivers, parents, the clinical team, and the community. We know that being a transplant family comes with unique challenges, and we want to provide a space for you to feel seen, heard, and understood. In each episode, we will explore a different topic related to transplantation through interviews with experts and families like yours. We hope this podcast will be a source of information and connection for you as you navigate your transplant journey. Thank you for being part of our community, and happy listening! Look for Growing the Gift on Spotify, iTunes, and our very own webpage under podcasts.

  7. 08/01/2025

    How to Talk to Peers About Your Transplant

    Join us for this episode of "Growing the Gift."  where we replay "How to talk to your peers about your transplant - 2023 Pediatric Transplant Conference" from the 2023 Pediatric Transplant Conference, part of National Pediatric Transplant Week and National Donate Life Month featuring Kirson Barnes, Donor & Sponsor Relations Coordinator - Transplants for Children, Eliot J. Lopez, PhD, MS, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University Children's Health, Carmelita Baza, mother of pediatric transplant recipient, Zachary Baza, pediatric transplant recipient, Iliana Bazan McGurn, LCSW, University Children's Health Transplants for Children is a non-profit organization headquartered in the San Antonio area that assists and supports children and their families in dealing with the challenges of organ transplantation. The organization was founded in 1986 by the Sutton Family, themselves a transplant family, to improve the lives of children needing organ transplants by providing financial, emotional, and educational support. Transplants for Children has a dedicated team of professionals who ensure that every child and their family receives the best care possible during the transplant process. Their programs include TFC Families Connect, STARS Scholarship, College Success, Pediatric to Adult Care Transition (PACT) Support, and Family Emergency & CoPay assistance. The organization is committed to positively impacting the lives of children and families affected by organ transplantation. We are honored to have them with us to talk about speaking with your peers about your transplant. Intro/Outro music: "Parasail" by Moby. Used with permission. The "Growing the Gift" podcast is about pediatric transplant recipients from the eyes of those who live it every day: caregivers, parents, the clinical team, and the community. We know that being a transplant family comes with unique challenges, and we want to provide a space for you to feel seen, heard, and understood. In each episode, we will explore a different topic related to transplantation through interviews with experts and families like yours. We hope this podcast will be a source of information and connection for you as you navigate your transplant journey. Thank you for being part of our community, and happy listening! Look for Growing the Gift on Spotify, iTunes, and our very own webpage under podcasts.

  8. 07/04/2025

    Doctors with Transplants: Including Special Considerations for Women Part 2

    Join us for this episode of "Growing the Gift."  where we replay "Docs with transplants: Including considerations for women " from the 2024 Pediatric Transplant Conference, part of National Pediatric Transplant Week and National Donate Life Month featuring Julie Bonn, MD (liver recipient), Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Silke Niederhaus, MD (kidney recipient), Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery Kristen-Allyson Ramones, MD (lung recipient), Pediatric pulmonology fellow at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital Sara Kathryn Smith, MD (liver recipient), Medical Director of Pediatric Liver Transplantation at Johns Hopkins University. Hear from women who are transplant physicians who have lived experience in the world of transplant. Not only do they manage transplant patients but they are recipients themselves. They will address special considerations related to mental health, birth control, fertility and pregnancy. Intro/Outro music: "Parasail" by Moby. Used with permission. The "Growing the Gift" podcast is about pediatric transplant recipients from the eyes of those who live it every day: caregivers, parents, the clinical team, and the community. We know that being a transplant family comes with unique challenges, and we want to provide a space for you to feel seen, heard, and understood. In each episode, we will explore a different topic related to transplantation through interviews with experts and families like yours. We hope this podcast will be a source of information and connection for you as you navigate your transplant journey. Thank you for being part of our community, and happy listening! Look for Growing the Gift on Spotify, iTunes, and our very own webpage under podcasts.

See All (29)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Growing the Gift podcast is all about pediatric transplant from the eyes of those who live it every day: caregivers, patients, the clinical team and our community. We know that being a transplant family comes with its own unique set of challenges, and we want to provide a space for you to feel seen, heard, and understood. In each episode, we will explore a different topic related to transplantation through interviews with experts and families like yours. We hope this podcast will be a source of information and connection for you as you navigate your transplant journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Transplant Families
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Transplant Families
  • Show Website
    Growing the Gift

You Might Also Like