The Power of Owning Your Story: Dana’s Path Through Scleroderma and Into Advocacy

In this powerful episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, I’m joined by Dana Hammerstrom, a journalism student at USC, who shares her deeply personal story of being diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease, as a child. Dana opens up about the medical trauma she experienced — from frightening medical experiences and painful treatments to the emotional impact of being a young child facing a complex chronic illness.Together, we explore how childhood medical trauma can leave lasting emotional scars, especially when it’s misunderstood or minimized. Dana also discusses how revisiting her medical history through the lens of her college capstone project helped her reclaim her voice and begin to heal.This conversation sheds light on:What it’s like to grow up with a rare pediatric autoimmune conditionChildhood medical trauma and situations that can cause itHow unprocessed medical trauma can show up years laterThe healing power of telling your story and raising awarenessWhether you're navigating your own healing or supporting a child through chronic illness, this episode offers insight, validation, and hope.You can find Dana's childhood medical trauma website here. Learn more about the medical trauma community, Befriend Your Body to Heal from Medical Trauma.