#10: You Weren't Expecting to Learn so Much From Nick and Leslie: You Are Not Defined by Cerebral Palsy or Other Diagnoses

Send us Fan MailWow!! Episode 10! I had just met Leslie for the first time doing this episode. She is just so easy to talk to and get to know. After discovering our podcast through Tori, Leslie reached out, excited about the community we’re building—a community she wished was there during her own uncertain and difficult times with her son, Nick, back in 1995.Leslie tells what it was like to have nick unexpectedly, miles away from her home, at 28 weeks. Unknowingly, she contracted listeriosis while pregnant, which led to preterm labor and a very sick baby. She shares her birth story like it happened yesterday and talks about the day Nick was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a couple years later. taking us through the many medical challenges they’ve faced—and overcome.Even though I haven’t gotten the opportunity to meet nick myself, I can tell he has an infectious spirit by what Leslie tells. Leslie celebrates Nick’s unstoppable spirit. from his school accomplishments to joining a men’s choir, even though he doesn’t talk. Reflecting on her evolving perspective as a parent, she says,“Before you have kids you see someone with a disability and think oh my gosh I hope that never happens to me and then you have a child with medical complications with the fresh perspective of my gosh look how many things actually ended up going right for him to be here or you think about how many ways things aren’t as bad as what they could’ve been.”Leslie’s story reminds us that even in the toughest moments, there’s room for hope, humor, triumphs and getting creative with your child in a wheelchair. Like many of our episodes Leslie will have you laughing, crying and inspired..equal parts healing and real talk about life as a Trauma Mama.