The Pressing On Podcast
by Pressing On
At PressingOn.org, our mission is to uplift, resource and coach hospitalized families. The purpose behind the PRESSING ON PODCAST is very similar - to amplify voices of perseverance and highlight the amazing journey of hospitalized families, so that everyone who listens will be encouraged to “press on” through tough times holistically!
Episodes
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Episode 16: REGAN REEDER | “Celebrating the Holidays with a Medically-Fragile Child”
In this holiday-themed episode 16, we welcome Regan Reeder back to the podcast to discuss the complexities of celebrating the holidays with a medically fragile child. She recounts their many holiday experiences with her daughter, Myka, and covers practical tips for traveling with special medical...
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Episode 15: GARRET & TARA WELSH | “Navigating a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Diagnosis during Covid”
In Episode 15, Garret and Tara Welsh share about their journey of resilience as they faced the challenges of their son Theo's diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The conversation delves into their personal backgrounds, the emotional impact of…
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Episode 14: MIKE & CHARITY MCKINNEY | “Embracing the Challenges of Propionic Acidemia”
In Episode 14, Charity and Mike McKinney share their heartfelt journey as parents navigating the challenges of pediatric transplant for their daughter Annabelle, who was born with propionic acidemia. They discuss their early struggles with infertility, the shock of Annabelle's diagnosis, and the...
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Episode 13: JEN LAU | “Finding Grace in the Challenges of Biliary Atresia”
In Episode 13 we welcome Jen Lau, a dedicated advocate and mother who shares her journey navigating the complexities of her son Nathan's diagnosis of biliary atresia. After Nathan's diagnosis, he underwent a life-saving liver transplant at nine months from a living donor. Jen recounts the...
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Episode 12: SARAH VARGAS | “Moving Across the Country for a 2nd Pediatric Liver Transplant”
In Episode 12, we chat with transplant parent Sarah Vargas, whose daughter Rosie was born with a rare metabolic condition called Maple Syrup Urine Disease, a sometimes fatal condition in which the body is unable to process certain proteins. Sarah and her husband Tony have navigated two pediatric...
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Episode 11: DR. GEORGE MAZARIEGOS | “The Humble Leader and Skilled Surgeon behind 1,000 Pediatric Transplants”
In Episode 11, we’re privileged to welcome Dr. George Mazariegos, Chief of Pediatric Transplantation at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Mazariegos has had the unique distinction of overseeing and participating in over 1,000 pediatric transplants throughout the years. He’s literally a...
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Episode 10: KATHERINE SIKMA WADSWORTH | “Battling Breast Cancer with Perseverance & Hope"
In Episode 10, we welcome Katherine Sikma Wadsworth to share about her inspiring journey of perseverance here in October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Katherine shares her entire journey of diagnosis, long grueling hours of chemo, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery. We cover...
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Episode 9: Melissa McQueen | “The Heart behind Advocacy: Establishing the Transplant Families community”
In Episode 9, we welcome Melissa McQueen, the president and co-founder of Transplant Families. After her youngest son received a heart transplant in 2009, Melissa found herself searching for a support that was devoted solely to pediatric transplant families and that was accessible to all who…
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Episode 8: Clay & Lauren Buckwalter - “An Unexpected NICU stay leads to a Marathon”
In episode 8 of the Pressing On Podcast, we hear from Clay and Lauren Buckwalter! The Buckwalters have experienced several difficult trials personally, including seeing their daughter spend nearly a week in the NICU at West Penn Hospital when she was born. Their experience has led them to...
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Episode 7: Jay & Rachel Mitlo - "Hope & Healing in the midst of losing a child to cancer
In this episode, we sit down with Jay & Rachel Mitlo as they share their family’s journey of dealing with the tragic effects of pediatric cancer. In a very real and vulnerable way, they give personal perspective and encouraging hope to parents that have lost a child. Their youngest son, Trey...
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Episode 6: Rick Lofgren, COTA - "Supporting Pediatric Transplant Families for a Lifetime"
In this podcast episode, we talk with Rick Lofgren, President & CEO of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), as he shares his passion for serving families on the journey of pediatric transplant. Rick’s relational leadership style is contagious and it was a joy to hear him share...
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Episode 5: Korbin Diggs - "Persevering through Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnoses with 2 Children"
In this podcast episode, we talk with Korbin Diggs as she shares her family’s traumatic healthcare experience of having not one, but two of her children diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma within a span of two years. Korbin gets vulnerable about what hospital life feels like as a parent and how she...
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Episode 4: Brittany & Pat Smith - "Navigating Transplant during a Global Pandemic"
In this episode, we chat with Pat and Brittany Smith, as they share their family's story of navigating the challenging waters of pediatric transplant in a very unique season: during the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. Pat and Brittany share the challenges of managing their child's disease, how and…
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Episode 3: Jim Barnard - "Suffering well in the Expectation Gap"
In this episode, Jim Barnard discusses how medical trauma and physical suffering affects the whole family. Jim is a coach, author, pastor and speaker who enjoys helping people explore their hurts and the "expectation gap" in their lives – between what they envisioned and what they’ve experienced....
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Episode 2: Timotheus & Kendra Pope - "Deeply rooted Faith in the midst of FIRES"
In Episode 2, we speak with Timoethus and Kendra Pope about the traumatic healthcare journey that they have walked with their precious son, Judah, who has an unknown and currently untreatable condition called FIRES. Their realness and vulnerability is refreshing as they dive into topics like: how...
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Episode 1: Regan Reeder - "Enduring the long road of Pediatric Liver Transplant"
In this inaugural episode of the Pressing On podcast, we speak with Regan Reeder. She's a co-founder of Pressing On and currently a K-12 Cyber Special Education Facilitator. As a medical momma who’s experienced her daughter’s long road to recovery from liver transplant, Regan’s passionate about...
About this show
At PressingOn.org, our mission is to uplift, resource and coach hospitalized families. The purpose behind the PRESSING ON PODCAST is very similar - to amplify voices of perseverance and highlight the amazing journey of hospitalized families, so that everyone who listens will be encouraged to “press on” through tough times holistically!
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Pressing On
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