Curveballs and Lemonade

What do you do when every doctor tells you your child is fine, but your gut tells you something is terribly wrong?In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with Melinda Hughie Blalock to share her family’s extraordinary journey navigating pediatric epilepsy, medical advocacy, and resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges.Melinda opens up about her son Beck’s battle with drug-resistant epilepsy, the years of seizures that went undetected on EEGs, and the emotional toll of repeatedly being told nothing was wrong. After visiting four children’s hospitals without answers, Melinda refused to give up. Her relentless advocacy eventually led her family to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, where advanced testing uncovered the truth and changed Beck’s life.Melinda shares Beck’s journey through epilepsy surgery, VNS, and RNS devices, and the incredible milestone of becoming seizure-free after years of uncertainty. She also discusses her own life-threatening cardiac journey, including open heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm and later a mechanical valve replacement.This powerful conversation explores what it means to trust your intuition, advocate fiercely for your child, and keep searching for hope when the road feels impossible.If you or someone you love is navigating epilepsy, chronic illness, rare disease, caregiving, or medical uncertainty, this episode offers powerful insight, hope, and encouragement.New episodes drop every Thursday.Follow Melinda at: @timindaFollow us on social media:Instagram: @Curveballsandlemonade Facebook: Curveballs and Lemonade TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curveballsandlemonade YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CurveballsandLemonadeRecorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/Engineered by Robert Altschuler.#CurveballsAndLemonade #EpilepsyAwareness #MedicalAdvocacy #CaregiverSupport #Resilience #PediatricEpilepsy

What would you do if a routine trip to the emergency room revealed a rare brain disease you never knew you had?In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with Linda Fuchser to share her incredible journey living with cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM), a rare neurological disease that causes abnormal blood vessels in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord.Linda discusses her accidental diagnosis after a brain bleed, undergoing brain surgery, discovering she carries the common Hispanic genetic mutation associated with CCM1, and learning to navigate life with multiple lesions throughout her brain and brainstem. She opens up about recovery, depression, cognitive challenges, family dynamics, and the uncertainty that comes with living with a rare disease.Most importantly, Linda shares how she transformed her experience into purpose by becoming an advocate for the Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation, helping patients and families find support, education, and hope.This powerful conversation explores resilience, advocacy, rare disease awareness, brain health, patient empowerment, and finding purpose through adversity.If you or someone you love has been affected by a rare disease, brain injury, neurological condition, or chronic illness, this episode is filled with valuable insight and inspiration.New episodes drop every Thursday.Follow us on social media:Instagram: @Curveballsandlemonade Facebook: Curveballs and Lemonade TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curveballsandlemonade YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CurveballsandLemonadeRecorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/Engineered by Robert Altschuler.#CurveballsAndLemonade #RareDisease #BrainSurgery #CCM #PatientAdvocate #Resilience

What happens when a health crisis becomes the wake-up call that changes everything?In this episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, Judy Kogan sits down with Candice Kennedy to discuss her remarkable journey from a serious diabetes diagnosis, high blood pressure, and declining health to losing 127 pounds and completely transforming her life.Candice shares the emotional toll of being a full-time caregiver, the impact of stress on her physical and mental health, and the moment she realized she had to fight for herself. She opens up about learning to manage type 2 diabetes, changing her relationship with food, finding the right doctor and trainer, overcoming self-doubt, and building a healthier future one step at a time.This inspiring conversation is about resilience, self-worth, healing, personal transformation, and the power of taking that first step toward change.If you've ever struggled with your health, your weight, your confidence, or finding the motivation to start over, this episode is for you.New episodes drop every Thursday.Follow us on social media:Instagram: @Curveballsandlemonade Facebook: Curveballs and Lemonade TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curveballsandlemonade YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CurveballsandLemonadeRecorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/Engineered by Robert Altschuler.#CurveballsAndLemonade #WeightLossJourney #Type2Diabetes #HealthTransformation #Resilience #PersonalGrowth

In the very first episode of Curveballs and Lemonade, host Judy Kogan sits down with Jennifer Satel for an emotional and deeply honest conversation about secondary infertility, IVF, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and the emotional toll of trying to grow a family after having a child.Jennifer opens up about her years-long fertility journey, including multiple miscarriages, IVF treatments during COVID, financial struggles, grief, therapy, marriage, and the loneliness that often comes with infertility and loss. She also shares how those experiences changed her, what continues to weigh heavily on her heart, and why speaking openly about these struggles matters.This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, healing, heartbreak, hope, and learning how to navigate life when things do not go according to plan.If you or someone you love has experienced infertility, pregnancy loss, IVF, miscarriage, or grief, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone.New episodes drop every Thursday.Follow us on social media:Instagram: @Curveballsandlemonade Facebook: Curveballs and Lemonade TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curveballsandlemonade YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CurveballsandLemonadeRecorded and produced by Command Creative Studios: Command Creative StudiosEngineered by Robert Altschuler.

Curveballs and Lemonade is a powerful podcast hosted by Judy Kogan featuring honest conversations with people who have faced life’s toughest moments and found a way to move forward.Each episode explores real stories of loss, trauma, heartbreak, illness, and unexpected life changes, while focusing on resilience, healing, personal growth, and hope. Judy sits down with guests to discuss how adversity changed them, what they learned through their experiences, and how their stories can help others navigating difficult seasons of life.These are conversations about rebuilding, rediscovery, and finding strength in the moments that shape us the most.If you’ve ever wondered how people survive the unimaginable and come out stronger on the other side, Curveballs and Lemonade is for you.New episodes drop every Thursday.Follow the show: Instagram: @curveballsandlemonade Facebook: Curveballs and LemonadeProduced by Command Creative StudiosEngineered by Robert Altschuler