Parenting Through Pediatric Surgery: Coping with Fear, Grief, and Recovery

Hearing that your child needs surgery is one of the most frightening moments a parent can face. In an instant, fear, uncertainty, and grief can take over — even before the procedure begins.In this deeply personal episode of Chat with Dr. Kat, Dr. Kat is joined by Nee Zartoshty (@CranioCoach), who shares her firsthand experience navigating pediatric surgery with her daughters. Together, they explore the emotional realities families face when confronting medical uncertainty — including the shock of diagnosis, the loss of the expectation of perfect health, and the powerful mix of fear, love, and resilience that emerges during the process.Nee speaks openly about what parents go through during these moments, while Dr. Kat explains the psychological mechanisms that often appear in medical crises — including anticipatory grief, guilt, emotional overwhelm, and the pressure many parents feel to stay strong for their child while privately struggling themselves.Together, they discuss how preparation, support, and shared understanding can help families move through these incredibly difficult experiences.About our guest: Nee Zartoshty (@CranioCoach) coaches parents whose children are facing craniosynostosis and pediatric surgery, helping guide them through diagnosis, surgery preparation, recovery, and the emotional toll that can follow. Drawing from her own lived experience with both of her daughters, she offers support, perspective, and practical insight so families do not have to go through this alone.In this episode, you’ll learn:— Why parents often experience grief before a child’s surgery even begins — The emotional stages families commonly go through during medical crises — Why parents frequently feel guilt even when they have done nothing wrong — How couples and families can support one another through medical trauma — The importance of preparing emotionally, not just medically, for pediatric proceduresIf your family has ever faced a serious medical moment — or if you support someone who has — this episode offers compassionate insight and guidance for navigating one of the most challenging experiences a parent can endure.I want to hear from you!  To submit show ideas or be considered as a guest, visit https://chatwithdrkat.com/contact/Follow Chat with Dr. Kat:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/chatwithdrkatInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatwithdrkatYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chatwithdrkatTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatwithdrkatX:  https://x.com/ChatwithDrKatHealth & Wellness Programs:https://mindbodyseries.com/