Story Sanctuary

Every ending is a beginning,

After a devastating 20-week scan, Amber was given the option to terminate or wait for baby to pass in her womb. On today’s episode of Story Sanctuary, Amber traces her pregnancy journey and the NICU stay that followed baby Rowan’s birth. She also shares what inspired her to start an Etsy shop (Medical Mama Bear) and the power of spreading joy during difficult times.

On today’s episode of Story Sanctuary, E’sha shares her personal medical journey, leading up to the birth of her daughter Kennedy. This journey brought her back to Kansas City where she was able to receive family support during her daughter's NICU stay. Kennedy was born at 4 months, weighing 1lb and 3oz, and was in the NICU for over a year. 

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PSI Online Support Meetings: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/#toggle-id-9-closed

When Sophia was pregnant with her first child Winsley, she never imagined how difficult her entry into motherhood would be. At 33 weeks, Sophia delivered a healthy 5 lb 12 oz baby girl via emergency c-section. Unfortunately, Winsley’s NICU was ill-equipped to care for premature babies and during her hospital stay, she contracted MRSA. Without proper and timely treatment, the MRSA ended up entering Winsley’s spinal fluid and became meningitis. On today’s episode, Sophia shares their 63 day fight for Winnie’s life, her NICU journey, and the lessons learned along the way. ⁣ ⁣ 

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 + 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘔𝘙𝘚𝘈 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴⁣

“We were not born to be Tikvah’s parents, we are growing into being Tikvah’s parents” - Cathy

On today’s episode of Story Sanctuary, Cathy and Ari share the story of their medical journey, which began after a seemingly typical pregnancy and birth. Join these two as they take a “leap of faith” and allow trust in God to shepherd them on their path as they settle into the role of mom and dad to their lovely daughter Tikvah.

“Of course, they give you that percent—95% success, but what happens when your child is born and they’re in that 5%?”

At 14 weeks pregnant, Celeste and her husband received confirmation of a gastroschisis diagnosis with their child, kickstarting a rollercoaster medical journey. On today’s episode of Story Sanctuary, Celeste shares her pregnancy story, NICU stay, and the transplant journey that followed. We also discuss having Crazy Faith, supporting someone who is grieving, and learning to live again after loss.

CW/TW: This episode explores grief and the loss of a child

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Grounding worksheet: https://www.winona.edu/resilience/media/grounding-worksheet.pdf

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If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on Story Sanctuary, please contact nicustorysanctuary@gmail.com

After receiving devastating news during her pregnancy with her daughter Crimson, Jazymne embarked on a life-changing journey. On today’s episode of Story Sanctuary, Jazmyne shares the story of her daughter’s congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) diagnosis and the NICU stay that followed. Join this mama as she courageously shares her story for the first time publicly. 

Content Warning: This story explores infant loss 

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6 Reasons Why We Need to Share Our Stories: https://mollyhostudio.com/blog/6-reasons-why-we-need-to-share-our-stories

About 3 years into being a NICU nurse, Sammi was diagnosed with preeclampsia and delivered her son Connor at 26 weeks. On today’s episode, Sammi shares her birth and NICU journey, including how much of a “different world” it was being on the parent side of things in the NICU and her experience of transitioning to life outside the hospital after 203 days inpatient. We also discuss trach parent burnout, managing anxiety while inpatient, and differences in trach life over state lines.

Continue following Sammi and Connor's story @connor.chronicles on Instagram!

After coming to terms with the fact that they would be unable to conceive, LaTonya and her husband were surprised to find out in November of 2016 that they were expecting a child! Women become mothers every day and while mostly routine, occasionally there comes a transition into motherhood that could be ripped out of the script of a Lifetime Drama. On today's episode, LaTonya traces her remarkable journey into motherhood—from infertility to the NICU and eventually home with her beautiful daughter Kelsey. 

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘧𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜.

Oftentimes, parents who have made it through a long-term NICU stay feel the call to help other families who are in the trenches. My guest this week is a lovely example of that. On today’s episode, Ashley traces her son Bode’s 4 month NICU journey, then shares how that experience inspired her to become a postpartum doula, specifically for moms facing NICU stays. ⁣ ⁣ 

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜.⁣

In February of 2019, Jake and Cayla received devastating news during their 20 week anatomy scan. On today’s episode, this husband and wife duo share the story of their daughter Parker’s birth at 34 weeks and her arthrogryposis amyoplasia diagnosis, then take us on their NICU journey. We also discuss in-home nursing, adaptive sign language and finding joy despite difficult circumstances. 

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺’𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦, 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢 (𝘈𝘔𝘊) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜.

On today’s episode, Shamire shares the story of her son Julian’s birth and her family’s NICU journey. ⁣Julian was born at 26 weeks. At 29 weeks he developed NEC (a devastating intestinal disease) and had to be airlifted to a children’s hospital an hour away. He and his family spent the next 110 days at this hospital before settling at home. ⁣ ⁣ 

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘕𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴 (𝘕𝘌𝘊) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘐𝘊𝘜.

This month’s meditation is a walking meditation. Walking meditations are meant to bring your mind and body in sync while on a stroll. It can be done at the park, in your neighborhood or even in your home. If sitting with your eyes closed to meditate is difficult for you, walking mediations are an alternative way to train the mind in awareness and being present in the moment. They can also be used to supplement sitting mediation practices.⁣ ⁣ 

These mediations are not only for medical parents! Everyone from any walk of life is welcome to set aside a few minutes to access the healing that can come from Story Sanctuary’s monthly guided meditations. Carve out some time and give it a listen! ⁣ ⁣ 

𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰