Stronger Every Day: For Parents of Children with Rare Diseases

PODCAST · kids

Stronger Every Day: For Parents of Children with Rare Diseases

This show tells stories about life with Tess, age 15, who has a rare genetic disorder called Hao-Fountain syndrome, Bo Bigelow is Tess's father and primary caretaker. Her disorder causes nonverbal autism, communication disorders, and epilepsy. Bo is an award-winning speaker, writer, filmmaker, and advocate for people with disabilities. He is also a practicing disability-rights attorney. Bo is a co-founder of DISORDER: The Rare Disease Film Festival and The Disorder Channel.Over the years, he's told Tess's story to NPR, NBC News, ABC News, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.

  1. 597

    SED 591: What Happens When the Pastry Department Never Opens

    This week, there's a bakery inside your body, and Tess's bakery has a staffing problem.

  2. 596

    SED 590: A Hitch in Her Step

    This week, a mysterious hitch in Tess's step has us thinking of a rough time from long ago. 

  3. 595

    SED 589: IEP Meeting - All About the Coffee part 2

    This week, the long-awaited part two about Tess's IEP for this year.

  4. 594

    SED 588: Beach Plus Pica

    This week, Tess goes somewhere she hasn't been in many years, a place we've avoided for a very good reason.

  5. 593

    SED 587: You Answered - A Project Centauri Update

    This week, I called, you answered. An update on Project Centauri, our effort to get 100 new families on Matrix.

  6. 592

    SED 586: A Critical Mistake

    This week, a critical mistake lands Tess back in the emergency room.

  7. 591

    SED 585: How We're Using AI to Help Cure our Rare Disease

    This week, I want to tell you about how I'm using AI to help with our foundation's work in our quest for a cure or treatment for Hao-Fountain syndrome. 

  8. 590

    SED 584: Tuning In

    This week, we're delighted as Tess expands her video library into uncharted territory.

  9. 589

    SED 583: Project Centauri

    This week, we're launching a new initiative that's gonna make our Hao-Fountain crew a million times stronger. 

  10. 588

    SED 582: Tess Skips Breakfast

    This week, it's an earth metal, a chemical element, a thing you can use when making fireworks. And hey, maybe we should drink it.

  11. 587

    SED 581: IEP Meeting - All About the Coffee part 1

    This week, the three letters that have often invoked dread in many a parent are instead making me feel positively gleeful about our girl. 

  12. 586

    SED 580: Mystery Tess

    This week, we're working hard to manage some new factors in Tess's life.

  13. 585

    SED 579: Get On Matrix Already

    This week, we know what we need in order to get to a cure or treatment for Hao-Fountain syndrome. And you can help. Get started with Matrix:  https://usp7x.acrossmatrix.com/en-US/#/user-request

  14. 584

    SED 578: Get Well Soon

    This week, a couple fun updates about Tess's re-entry after her seizure.

  15. 583

    SED 577: Many Moons

    This week, Tess has had a life-threatening event, at a time when we're very far from the closest medical facility. Part 5 of 5.

  16. 582

    SED 576: A New Record

    This week, Tess has had a life-threatening event, at a time when we're very far from the closest medical facility. Part 4 of 5.

  17. 581

    SED 575: Shark Fins

    This week, Tess has had a life-threatening event, at a time when we're very far from the closest medical facility. Part 3 of 5. 

  18. 580

    SED 574: The Woods

    This week, Tess has had a life-threatening event, at a time when we're very far from the closest medical facility.

  19. 579

    SED 573: Into the Woods

    This week, Tess has a life-threatening event, at a time when we're very far from the closest medical facility.

  20. 578

    SED 572: Holiday Break

    This week, we're away on a ski vacation as a family. Let's check in with Tess.  

  21. 577

    SED 571: Waiting

    This week, we're on pins and needles, waiting for a very special milestone. 

  22. 576

    SED 570: Still Ill

    This week, the illness continues, believe it or not. We'll check in on our girl. 

  23. 575

    SED 569: The Cup Is Already Broken

    This week, someone in our house is considerably under the weather.

  24. 574

    SED 568: Never Get a Car from GM and Other True Stories

    This week, got a few fun stories for ya. Vignettes, if you will.

  25. 573

    SED 567: Thankful for Empatica and the Epimonitor

    This week, a nifty tech device gets strapped to Tess's wrist.

  26. 572

    SED 566: Riding the Waves of Life

    This week, an emerging artist in Maine works with multiple media and begins an exhibition at a local gallery.

  27. 571

    SED 565: Backseat Driver

    This week, in the backseat of a car in Maine, someone had something to say.

  28. 570

    SED 564: Sixteen

    This week, this very day in fact, Tess is celebrating a special birthday. This is sixteen.

  29. 569

    SED 563: Tess the Freshman

    This week, we're talking about Tess's high school experience. She's been a freshman for about 8 weeks now, so I'll tell you how it's been for her so far.

  30. 568

    SED 562: The Big Four

    There are four little things you can do as a Hao-Fountain patient to move things forward in a huge way. I'm gonna tell you how these 4 went for Tess and why it matters.

  31. 567

    SED 561: We Interrupt this Party to Bring You A Special Bulletin

    Tess wanted something recently, and she used all her abilities to let me know what it was.

  32. 566

    SED 560: Up the Hearts

    We took Tess on a special outing, somewhere she'd never been before.  

  33. 565

    SED 559: Nashville Part 2 of 2

    It's that time of year, and we just held our annual Hao-Fountain conference. Hao-Fountain patients and families:  please SIGN UP for our October 2nd Zoom about MATRIX, where we can help you sign up for Matrix and answer your questions. Sign up here:  https://usp7.salsalabs.org/MatrixSignupandQA 

  34. 564

    SED 558: Nashville Part 1 of 2

    It's that time of year, and we just held our annual Hao-Fountain conference.

  35. 563

    SED 557: Social Eyes

    Tess got invited to a birthday party and she was pleased as punch.

  36. 562

    SED 556: Tess in the ER and ICU - Part 2 of 2

    Recently Tess had a seizure and went to the ER, so I want to tell you more about it.

  37. 561

    SED 555: Tess in the ER and ICU

    Recently Tess had a seizure and went to the ER, so I want to tell you about it. 

  38. 560

    SED 554: Coffee Break

    Today I'll be telling you the second part of our recent trip to Syracuse.

  39. 559

    SED 553: Find a Way to Entertain Yourself

    Today I'll be telling you the first part of our recent trip to Syracuse.

  40. 558

    SED 552: Where to Go

    Today I'll be telling you about some locations that Tess enjoys.

  41. 557

    SED 551: The Tess Schedule

    Today I'll be telling you about Tess's schedule on a typical day. I wrote about Tess's special diet on my blog here and made a two-part Stronger Every Day podcast episode you can find here and here.  

  42. 556

    SED 550: Radar

    Today I'll be sharing about a certain radar that Tess likes to use.

  43. 555

    SED 549: What's Working So Far This Summer

    Today I'll be sharing about summer and what's working for me so far.   Super Focus: Flow State Music - Alpha Binaural Beats, Study Music for Focus and Concentration https://youtu.be/p2_zDvtPQ-g?si=vINWreezp6K2tp5M

  44. 554

    SED 548: Helping Tess with MRELD

    Today I'll be sharing a bit about Tess's progress when it comes to spoken language.  She has a language deficit called Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder. 

  45. 553

    SED 547: Tess Tunes In

    Today I'll be sharing a bit about Tess's favorite thing to watch.

  46. 552

    SED 546: Melatonin, or Travels in Iceland

    Today I'll be sharing a bit about our family's recent trip to Iceland.

  47. 551

    SED 545: Sensory Issues Deep Dive - Part 2 of 2

    Today we're doing part two of our deep dive about Tess's sensory issues.

  48. 550

    SED 544: Sensory Issues Deep Dive - Part 1 of 2

    Today we're doing a deep dive about Tess's sensory issues.

  49. 549

    SED 543: Sensory Issues and Things that Go Bump in the Night

    Today we're talking about something that's been keeping Tess up at night. Literally.

  50. 548

    SED 542: What Tess Carries with Her

    Today we're talking about a few of Tess's favorite objects.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

This show tells stories about life with Tess, age 15, who has a rare genetic disorder called Hao-Fountain syndrome, Bo Bigelow is Tess's father and primary caretaker. Her disorder causes nonverbal autism, communication disorders, and epilepsy. Bo is an award-winning speaker, writer, filmmaker, and advocate for people with disabilities. He is also a practicing disability-rights attorney. Bo is a co-founder of DISORDER: The Rare Disease Film Festival and The Disorder Channel.Over the years, he's told Tess's story to NPR, NBC News, ABC News, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.

HOSTED BY

Bo Bigelow

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