Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected

In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, Amanda sits down with Jasmine, a homeschooling mom and medical mother whose oldest daughter lives with Smith-Kingsmore syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that has brought significant medical challenges, developmental delays, feeding difficulties, and a severe seizure disorder.Jasmine shares the story of her family, the journey toward receiving a diagnosis, and what life really looks like raising a child with complex medical needs. She opens up about the uncertainty, heartbreak, advocacy, and resilience that have shaped her family’s path.In Part 1, we discuss:• The dreams and expectations Jasmine had before motherhood
• The first signs that something might be different with her daughter
• The long road to receiving answers and a diagnosis
• What Smith-Kingsmore syndrome looks like in everyday life
• Navigating medical emergencies and ongoing care needs
• The realities of medical motherhood that many people never see
• Advocacy, resilience, and learning to adapt to the unexpected
• What she wishes doctors, therapists, educators, and others understood about families like hersThis conversation offers an honest look at life behind the appointments, therapies, hospital visits, and daily caregiving responsibilities that come with raising a medically complex child.Join us next week for Part 2 as Jasmine shares more about her daughter beyond the diagnosis, sibling relationships, a second diagnosis in the family, and the hope that has carried them through some of their hardest seasons.If this episode encouraged you, please follow, share, and leave a review to help more families discover stories of hope and resilience.Follow for more rise stories.

After a two-week break from the podcast, I’m back with unexpected lessons from Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.What started as a trip to support my children quickly became a powerful reminder of what it means to grow through challenges, face fears, embrace teamwork, and keep moving forward when things don’t go as planned.In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes reality of World Finals—the sacrifices, setbacks, victories, and moments of courage that most people never see. We’ll talk about confidence, resilience, medical motherhood, homeschooling, entrepreneurship, and why success isn’t always measured by trophies or outcomes.Whether you’re raising children, navigating a medical journey, pursuing a dream, or simply trying to make it through a difficult season, this episode is a reminder that rising often happens long before anyone notices.In this episode:• The hidden work behind every success story• What Odyssey of the Mind taught me about courage• Why confidence comes after action, not before• The power of teamwork and community• How growth can matter more than winning• What “rising through the unexpected” really meansIf you’ve ever felt discouraged, overwhelmed, or uncertain about your next step, this episode is for you.Because sometimes the greatest victory isn’t winning.Sometimes the greatest victory is becoming the person who was brave enough to try.As I watched students solve problems, overcome setbacks, and keep moving forward under pressure, I couldn’t help but see the same lessons I’ve learned through medical motherhood, NICU life, adoption, caregiving, and building Holyoaks Rise. Sometimes growth isn’t measured by the outcome. Sometimes it’s measured by who you’re becoming along the way.This experience reminded me that resilience isn’t built when everything goes right. It’s built in the moments when things don’t go according to plan and you choose to keep showing up anyway.Subscribe, follow, and share with someone who needs encouragement today.Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the UnexpectedWarm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/I8h8

When we got married 16 years ago, we had plans.What we didn’t plan for were five kids, a NICU journey, foster care, adoption, complex medical diagnoses, countless appointments, sleepless nights, unexpected detours, and all the ways life would rewrite our story.In this special anniversary bonus episode, my husband and I sit down together to look back on sixteen years of marriage and the plot twists that shaped our family. We share funny memories, hard seasons, lessons learned, and the moments that reminded us that even when life doesn’t go according to plan, there is still joy to be found.Whether you’re navigating marriage, parenting, medical challenges, adoption, or simply the unexpected turns life brings, we hope this conversation encourages you to keep showing up, keep loving well, and keep rising through the unexpected.Because sometimes the best parts of the story are the chapters we never saw coming.In this episode:• How our expectations compared to reality• The biggest plot twists of the last 16 years• Lessons we’ve learned about marriage through difficult seasons• Humor, survival mode, and finding joy in the chaos• Why we wouldn’t trade this journey for anythingIf this episode resonates with you, please follow, share, and leave a review. It helps more families discover stories of hope and resilience.Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the UnexpectedTopics discussed include marriage, parenting, medical motherhood, NICU life, foster care, adoption, resilience, survival mode, family life, and navigating unexpected life challenges.Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/I8h8

For years, survival mode was necessary.Medical motherhood, NICU life, caregiving, night shifts, trauma, responsibility, and simply trying to hold everything together can slowly become an identity. But what happens when you finally begin asking yourself who you are outside of survival?In this deeply personal episode, I talk honestly about ambition, fear, vulnerability, healing, motherhood, identity shifts, and what it feels like to dream again after years of simply making it through hard seasons.This episode explores:● survival mode and emotional exhaustion● medical motherhood and caregiver identity● learning to hope again after trauma● the fear of chasing dreams publicly● rediscovering purpose after hardship● healing beyond survival● motherhood, resilience, and personal growthIf you’ve ever felt stuck in survival mode or wondered whether you’re allowed to want more from life after difficult seasons… this episode is for you.Because surviving was important.But maybe surviving isn’t the end of your story.Welcome to Holyoaks Rise — stories of rising through the unexpected.For years, I was focused on getting through the next appointment, the next diagnosis, the next challenge. Somewhere along the way, survival became normal. This episode is a personal reflection on what happens when you finally have enough space to ask a new question: What do I want now? Wondering if I can dream again.. Topics discussed include medical motherhood, survival mode, caregiver burnout, identity after trauma, healing, resilience, personal growth, NICU life, and learning to dream again after difficult seasons.Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/I8h8

Rise StoryIn 1987, the world held its breath as 18-month-old Jessica McClure fell 22 feet into a narrow well in Midland, Texas. For 58 hours, rescue crews dug through rock by hand while millions watched and prayed.But this story isn’t only about a rescue.It’s about exhaustion. Fear. Human determination. Parents waiting helplessly. Rescue workers refusing to quit. And what happens when ordinary people rise in impossible moments.In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, Amanda walks through the real timeline of Baby Jessica’s rescue, the emotional weight carried by her family, and the lessons medical moms and survival-mode families can recognize inside this unforgettable story.This episode of Holyoaks Rise was inspired by publicly available historical reporting and research surrounding the 1987 rescue of Baby Jessica McClure in Midland, Texas.Primary references include:● Inside the Well: The Midland Texas Rescue of Baby Jessica by Donna Guthrie and Chip Hickey● Archived news coverage from CNN, ABC, NBC, and local Texas reporting● Public interviews with rescue personnel, family members, and medical teams involved in the event● Historical timeline documentation and published rescue accounts available through public media archivesThis episode is intended for storytelling, educational, and inspirational purposes. While every effort was made to present the events respectfully and accurately, portions of the episode may summarize or paraphrase publicly reported information for narrative flow.Holyoaks Rise does not claim ownership of historical events, news facts, or quoted public statements referenced within the episode.Topics Discussed• Baby Jessica rescue• Jessica McClure• Midland, Texas rescue• Crisis response• Human resilience• Community support• Survival and hope• Parenting through uncertainty• Strength in adversity• Rising through the unexpectedWarm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Rise Story Series. In this episode, we’re talking about the life of Christopher Reeve—a man most people knew as Superman… until everything changed in a single moment.After a devastating accident left him paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator to breathe, his life didn’t just shift—it completely reset.This is the part of the story we don’t always know what to do with.The part where survival doesn’t look strong.Where identity feels lost.Where “normal” never comes back.But this episode isn’t just about what he lost.It’s about what he built after.From becoming one of the most powerful advocates for spinal cord injury research, to helping create the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, his life became something bigger than the one he had before.This is a story about redefining strength.About rising in a way no one expects.And about what it really means to keep going when everything changes.If you’ve ever felt like your life took a turn you didn’t choose…If you’ve ever wondered who you are on the other side of hard…This episode is for you.“This story is shared using widely known, publicly available information, told in a way that connects us to the meaning behind it—no formal citations needed.”Topics Discussed• Christopher Reeve• Spinal cord injury• Disability advocacy• Identity after trauma• Resilience and perseverance• Life after catastrophic injury• Caregiving and family support• Purpose after loss• Personal growth through adversity• Rising through the unexpectedWarm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Rise SeriesWhat does Rising actually look like in medical motherhood?Not the dramatic moments—but the everyday ones.In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, I’m sharing what that season really looked like for me—the routines, the appointments, the court dates, and the quiet decisions I made without even realizing it.This is a raw look at:● The daily weight of medical motherhood● Living on autopilot when your capacity is stretched thin● Foster care and adoption—the emotional complexity no one prepares you for● Showing up in court when you don’t feel equipped● Choosing kindness in situations that aren’t simple● And the moments I handled things I never thought I couldThis episode isn’t about big, dramatic breakthroughs.It’s about the quiet, steady kind of strength—the kind that looks like getting everyone where they need to be,asking questions you don’t feel ready to ask,and continuing to show up… even when you don’t feel strong.If you’ve ever felt like you’re just going through the motions,just doing the next thing,just trying to hold everything together—this episode is for you.Because sometimes rising doesn’t look like overcoming.Sometimes it looks like staying.Topics Discussed• Foster care• Adoption journey• Medical motherhood• Caregiver resilience• Parenting through uncertainty• Court hearings and advocacy• Identity and personal growth• Family transitions• Emotional resilience• Rising through the unexpectedWarm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

You think rising comes after survival mode. After the crisis.After the fear.After everything finally settles down.But what if you are already rising?In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, we’re redefining what “rising” actually means— because it’s not something that started when life gets easier.It’s happening right in the middle of the hard.Rising looks like… showing up when you’re exhausted.. making decisions you never thought you could handle.. learning, adapting and advocating in real time.. holding it together for your family— even when you feel like you are falling apart… becoming stronger without even realizing it. If you’re stuck in survival mode right now, you might feel stuck. Like you’re just getting through the day.But survival mode isn’t the absence of growth— it is were the deepest growth begins. Because rising isn’t a finish line you reach someday. It’s something you are already doing— even if it doesn’t feel like it yet. If you are in the middle of something heavy and wondering if you are “doing okay”.. this episode will help you see that you are. Topics Discussed* Survival mode* Medical motherhood* Emotional resilience* Caregiver stress* Parenting through crisis* Growth during hardship* Chronic illness parenting* Identity and personal growth* Finding strength in difficult seasons* Rising through the unexpected

Medical Motherhood series.You make it through the emergency… and everyone expects life to go back to normal.But what happens when it doesn’t?In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, we’re talking about the part no one prepares you for—the emotional crash that comes after the crisis is over.When the adrenaline fades, the appointments slow down, and things are finally “stable”… why can it feel like everything is hitting you all at once?This episode dives into:​Why the emotional crash after survival mode is completely normal​What it means when life doesn’t go back to the way it was​The mix of grief and gratitude that so many medical moms carry​Why you’re not “behind” just because you’re still processing​How to begin rebuilding instead of trying to go backIf you’ve ever thought, “Things are better… so why don’t I feel better?”this episode is for you.You’re not doing it wrong.You’re coming down from survival mode.Topics Discussed:* Life after survival mode* Medical motherhood* Emotional recovery after crisis* Grief and gratitude* Trauma recovery* Adjusting to a new normal* Chronic illness parenting* Emotional resilience* Healing after medical trauma* Rebuilding after difficult seasons⸻🎧 Holyoaks Rise is a podcast for parents navigating medical motherhood, NICU life, and the unexpected paths we never planned—but learn to rise through anyway.Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Next up in my Medical Motherhood series.. If you feel like you’re constantly on edge… exhausted but unable to rest… forgetting everything and just trying to make it through the day—you might be living in survival mode.In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, we’re talking about what survival mode actually is—especially in medical motherhood—and why it’s not something you can simply “push through” or fix with better routines.Survival mode isn’t a mindset problem. It’s a nervous system response to prolonged stress, uncertainty, and real-life medical challenges. And for so many moms walking through the NICU, diagnoses, therapies, and ongoing care… it becomes a way of life.We’ll talk about:​What survival mode really looks like day-to-day (the mental fog, decision fatigue, and autopilot living)​How survival mode affects your identity, your relationships, and your ability to rest​The hidden cost of “staying strong” for too long​And the gentle first steps toward feeling like yourself againThis episode will help you put words to what you’ve been feeling—and remind you that you are not broken, and you are not alone.Whether you’re in the middle of a medical journey or coming out of one, this conversation is for you.Topics discussed:* Survival mode in medical motherhood* Caregiver burnout* Chronic stress and trauma* Nervous system responses* Decision fatigue* Mental overload and brain fog* Parenting medically complex children* Identity and emotional resilience* Medical trauma recovery* Finding yourself after crisis🎧 If this episode resonates, share it with another mom who might be in survival mode too.Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Medical Motherhood series: There’s a part of medical motherhood no one really prepares you for…Not the appointments.Not the diagnoses.Not even the relationships.But you.Because somewhere along the way, while you’re caring for everyone else…you start to feel like you’ve lost yourself.In this episode, we’re talking about the identity shift that happens in medical motherhood—the quiet, in-between version of you that no longer feels like who you were… but not quite who you thought you’d become.We’ll walk through:​ the grief of what you expected motherhood to be​ the moment everything stops being about you​ the many roles you carry every single day​ the tension between “nurse brain” and “mom brain”​ and why feeling lost doesn’t mean you areIf you’ve ever thought:“I don’t recognize myself anymore…”You are not alone.And you are not broken.You are becoming.🤍Topics discussed:* Medical motherhood* Identity shifts in caregiving* Parenting a medically complex child* Grief and loss of expectations* Caregiver burnout* NICU and chronic illness parenting* Balancing professional and parent roles* Finding yourself again after medical trauma* Emotional resilience* Personal growth through adversity🎧 Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the UnexpectedNew episodes weeklyWarm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Medical Motherhood SeriesMedical trauma affects more than just the child— it reshapes the entire family system. In this episode, we discuss how chronic illness, NICU experiences, and prolonged medical stress impact marriages, siblings, grandparents, friendships, and caregiver mental health. Learn how trauma can influence family dynamics, and emotional regulation for parents raising medically complex children. We also explore practical ways to support siblings, maintain relationships, and understand nervous system responses to ongoing stress.This episode is for parents of medically fragile children, NICU families, special needs caregivers, and anyone seeking trauma-informed guidance for family resilience. Topics discussed:* Marriage and medical motherhood* NICU family relationships* Caregiver stress and burnout* Parenting a medically complex child* Family resilience* Trauma and the nervous system* Sibling support during medical crises* Grandparent and extended family dynamics* Chronic illness and family relationships* Special needs caregivingWarm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

NICU Rise SeriesMom guilt doesn’t start when you leave the NICU… and it doesn’t end when your baby comes home.In this deeply honest episode, we talk about the many layers of guilt medical moms carry — from not bonding the way you imagined, to pumping exhaustion, comparison, medical decisions, identity shifts, and the quiet guilt of just wanting the hard season to end.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing enough?” — this episode is for you.You’ll hear reassurance from both a NICU nurse and medical mom perspective, plus gentle reminders that doing all you can is enough.This episode speaks to NICU parents, medical moms, foster/adoptive moms, and any mother navigating unexpected motherhood journeys.✨ Topics include:​NICU bonding guilt​Pumping guilt & feeding pressure​Comparison & decision guilt​Leaving the bedside guilt​Identity shift from nurse brain → mom brain​Finding peace in impossible seasonsYou are not failing.You are rising.🎙 Holyoaks Rise Podcast — Stories of Rising Through the UnexpectedWarm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

NICU Rise SeriesWhen your baby is in the NICU, suddenly there are a dozen specialists involved in their care. Neonatology. Cardiology. Neurology. Gastroenterology. Ophthalmology. Genetics.It can feel overwhelming fast.In this episode of Holyoaks Rise, NICU nurse Amanda Holyoak walks families through the many All the Ologies™ involved in caring for babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and explains what each specialist is watching for and why.You’ll learn:​What a neonatologist actually does​Why cardiology may evaluate heart murmurs and pulmonary hypertension​What neurology looks for in brain development, tone, reflexes, and seizures​Why gastroenterology monitors feeding tolerance, weight gain, and NEC​When genetics becomes involved in chromosomal or metabolic concerns​How infectious disease helps manage sepsis and line infections​Why ophthalmology watches retinal vessel growth and ROPUnderstanding the All the Ologies™ involved in your baby’s care can make the NICU feel less overwhelming and more understandable.Because when you know what each specialist is watching for, the journey becomes clearer.Topics discussed: NICU specialists, neonatology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric neurology, gastroenterology, genetics, infectious disease, ophthalmology, NEC, ROP, NICU care teams, medical motherhood, medically complex infants, and understanding life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 🎙 Part of the Steady Through the NICU series on the Holyoaks Rise Podcast.

NICU Rise SeriesWhat should you expect in the NICU? What actually happens in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)? And what does a typical NICU day really look like?If your baby has just been admitted to the NICU — or you’re preparing for a possible NICU stay — this episode walks you through what to expect from the first 24 hours to the daily rhythm of care.As a NICU nurse and a medical mom, I explain:​Why babies are admitted to the NICU​What happens on the first day in the NICU​What the monitors and alarms mean​Who the NICU doctors, nurses, and specialists are​What “rounds” look like​How feeding, oxygen support, and growth are monitored​What progress really looks like in the NICU​And how to find your footing as a parent in a medical environmentThe NICU can feel overwhelming — with wires, equipment, medical terminology, and constant beeping. But understanding what is happening and why can make the experience less frightening and more manageable.This episode is your calm, honest guide to navigating life in the NICU.Topics discussed: NICU admission, what to expect in the NICU, NICU first day, premature babies, NICU monitors and alarms, NICU nurses, NICU doctors, oxygen support, feeding challenges, medical motherhood, NICU parent support, and navigating life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.You are not behind.You are not failing.You are learning a new world.

NICU Rise SeriesWhen your baby is in the NICU, some fears never fully leave your mind.Will my baby have long-term problems? What will life after the NICU look like? Will they meet their milestones? Will our family ever feel normal again?Even after survival feels certain, many parents enter a new season of fear—the fear of the unknown.In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, I talk honestly about the worries NICU parents carry long after discharge. As a NICU nurse and medical mom, I discuss the emotional transition from surviving the NICU to navigating life at home with a premature baby or medically complex child.We talk about:• Life after the NICU• NICU discharge and the transition home• Fear of developmental delays• Premature baby milestones and follow-up appointments• Living in the “wait and see” season• Anxiety about the future• Grieving the pregnancy and parenting experience you expected• Parenting through uncertainty• Medical motherhood and caregiver stress• Learning how peace returns after medical traumaWhether your baby was born premature, spent time in the NICU, or continues to have complex medical needs, this episode offers encouragement for parents wondering what comes next.If you’re struggling with NICU anxiety, fear about developmental outcomes, follow-up appointments, therapies, or the uncertainty of life after discharge, you are not alone.Topics discussed: NICU life, NICU discharge, life after the NICU, prematurity, premature babies, developmental delays, medical motherhood, medically complex children, caregiver support, family resilience, and navigating uncertainty after medical trauma.Because healing after the NICU doesn’t happen all at once.It happens slowly, quietly, as families learn to rise.

Sometimes the signs are quiet before they are loud.Sometimes the story begins long before we know what we’re looking at.In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, I share our daughter’s journey with pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), liver disease, and the long road to finding answers. What began as seemingly unrelated symptoms eventually led us through specialist appointments, testing, advocacy, and a diagnosis that changed our family’s life.We gently walk through:• Early signs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in children• Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC)• Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation• Urinary symptoms as an early warning sign• The “sensitive neighbor” bladder explanation• Abnormal liver labs and liver involvement• Autoimmune liver diseases including Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) and Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH)• Parenting a child with chronic illness• Medical motherhood, advocacy, and navigating complex diagnoses• Supporting a child through ongoing medical careIf you are navigating pediatric IBD, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, liver disease, PSC, AIH, autoimmune conditions, chronic illness, or life with a medically complex child, you are not alone.This episode offers encouragement, practical perspective, and hope for families facing uncertainty while learning to advocate for their children and trust the process one step at a time.This is our “Tough Cookie” rise story—not rushed, not dramatic, just honest, steady, and anchored in hope.Topics discussed: Pediatric IBD, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, liver disease, autoimmune disease, chronic illness, medical motherhood, medically complex children, patient advocacy, caregiver support, and family resilience.Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

I met “Busy Bee” as her NICU nurse.At the time, I had no idea I was meeting my future daughter.In this episode of Holyoaks Rise: Stories of Rising Through the Unexpected, I share the journey from NICU nurse to foster parent to adoptive mother. What began as caring for a premature baby in the NICU became a life-changing story of foster care, adoption, medical motherhood, and learning to navigate a world filled with diagnoses, specialists, therapies, and “all the ologies.”This is more than an adoption story. It is a story about parenting a medically complex child, advocating through uncertainty, and finding hope when life takes an unexpected turn.We discuss:​ Foster care and adoption​ NICU life and prematurity​ Medical motherhood​ Parenting a medically complex child​ Navigating diagnoses and specialists​ Family resilience and advocacy​ Life on both sides of the hospital cribWhether you’re walking through the NICU, considering foster care or adoption, raising a child with complex medical needs, navigating a rare diagnosis, or searching for encouragement during a difficult season, this episode is for you.It’s a story about rising above fear, embracing the unexpected, and discovering that some of life’s greatest gifts arrive in ways we never could have planned.Because difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations—and when we share our stories, we rise together.Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

In this first episode of Holyoaks Rise, I share my journey from NICU nurse to medical mom. From navigating my daughter’s NICU stay to managing a chronic pediatric GI condition with my older child, I found myself experiencing healthcare from both sides of the hospital crib.This episode is for parents navigating medical complexity, pediatric chronic illness, special needs parenting, and the uncertainty that comes with a child’s diagnosis. I share how professional experience and personal challenges shaped my perspective and inspired the creation of this podcast.Whether you’re caring for a medically complex child, adjusting to life after a NICU stay, advocating for your child through appointments and therapies, or simply trying to stay anchored through medical uncertainty, you’ll find encouragement and support here.In this episode, you’ll learn what to expect from future conversations about medical motherhood, caregiver support, rare and chronic conditions, resilience, and rising through life’s unexpected challenges.Because difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations—and when we share our stories, we rise together.Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonAttribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/