Ep. 151 - I Survived Child Loss. Then I Learned to Fight for My Autistic Daughter with Emily.

Host Rashidah introduces a raw episode of Autism for BadassMoms on grief, autism parenting, divorce, and coping, featuring guest Emily Fell, a 45-year-old Wisconsin mom to 15-year-old Grace, diagnosed with autism at 2.5. Emily recounts the 2008 pregnancy and birth of her first daughter,Katie, who had hydranencephaly, was delivered by C-section with Emily suffering severe blood loss and transfusions and lived two days. Emily describes Grace’s traumatic birth in 2010, vaccine-related reactions, developmental regression,extensive early interventions including ABA, and later conflicts in her marriage—especially over vaccines—leading to her husband moving out in 2016 and divorce finalized in 2018, plus financial stress and foreclosure. Emily shares past self-medicating with alcohol, recent sobriety, homeschooling Grace using spelling to communicate, and plans for a center/community for non-speakers with respite and ABA partners targeted for April 2026 and provides her TikTok contact. In this episode, we discuss:00:00 Podcast Intro00:43Grief and Autism02:46 Meet Emily Fell04:52 Pregnancy and Shocking Ultrasound08:50 Katie’s Birth and Medical Crisis13:20 Saying Goodbye to Katie16:04 Pregnant Again After Loss17:44 Grace’s Birth Complications23:19 Regression and Autism Diagnosis26:15 Marriage Strain and Vaccines29:11 Husband Moves Out and Fallout32:58 Black Cloud and Getting Sober34:21 Quitting Alcohol Clarity35:24 Divorce Boundaries Strength36:44 Grace Therapy Reflections39:49 First Word Mom Moment42:04 School Battles Presume Competence46:55 Homeschool Spelling Breakthroughs49:24 Spiritual Walk Revelation52:14 Building Non-Speaker Community56:15 How to Reach Emily58:09 Advice for New Moms01:03:22 Final Encouragement Outro01:03:56 Guest Application Call Connect with Emily: TikTok:  emilygrace.do.homeschool(Emily & Grace Do Homeschool)Instagram: www.instagram.com/amazing_grace_homeschoolThreads: https://www.threads.com/@amazing_grace_homeschool?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091213029569&mibextid=LQQJ4d LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-fell-presume-competence/  If this episode resonated with you: -Follow the Autism for Badass Moms Podcast-Leave a review to help other autism moms find thiscommunity-Share this episode with a parent who may feel unseen ormisunderstood Follow Us: Instagram: www.instagram.com/theabmpodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast