The Mama Sisterhood – Détails, épisodes et analyse

This is an adoption story....but not just any adoption story. Today's mama, Kelly, was born with spina bifida and she met her husband, who also has spina bifida, when they were ten years old! After coming in and out of each others lives multiple times as they grew up, they eventually married and decided to adopt. They felt especially pulled to an agency who specialized in placing children with disabilities, and this is where they heard about a set of birth parents who were about to have a little girl with spina bifida. Kelly and her husband knew it was the right match and they adopted their daughter, Hadley. It hasn't been easy, though,and Kelly shares some heartbreaking stories of discrimination they faced when adopting their daughter. She also shares specific examples of how having the same disability as her daughter will help Hadley both now and in the future. This family is AMAZING, and it was such an honor to hear their story.

You can find out more about Kelly and her family here:

People Magazine article: https://people.com/indiana-couple-proves-to-be-perfect-parents-for-adopting-child-with-spina-bifida-8762440

Good News Network article: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/adoption-approved-for-couple-with-spina-bifida-who-lovingly-adopt-daughter-with-same-condition/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJYBJJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZOE4DHy7vG2iO0VHFnV8M_j1yIWAw7BtjfcRGU874ZS74Q_teP89_9f3w_aem_04tH1mXRcc3g-O1Pcz9ZkQ

Jess Ronne was brave enough to ask the question: what happens when the cute little boy with profound disabilities ... grows up? I found Jess on her podcast, Coffee with Caregivers, when she and her husband were exploring this question in regards to their teenage son, Lucas, who has profound autism. As if that wasn't enough, they were also raising seven other kids. Through a lot of hard work and prayer, they were able to create Hope Farm, a group home for Lucas and three other young adults, where they have 24-hour care, but also the independence that they need. Jess shares honestly about how Lucas's disability was affecting her marriage, her home, and her other children and how they can now breathe a little easier and truly enjoy their time with Lucas. Jess is a visionary and a strong advocate for respite for caregivers. She is an author, a podcast host, founder of a non-profit, and has been involved in two documentaries - and remember, she has done all this while having eight children! I am so thankful she agreed to talk today about this very important topic that is so often avoided. I encourage you all to check out her amazing content and resources below!

IG @jessplusthemess, FB at Jessplusthemess

www.jessplusthemess.com (Click on "Books" to learn more and order all 4 books!)

www.thelucasproject.org

Coffee with Caregivers Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jess-ronneUnseen documentary: https://caregiverdoc.com/

Anita Coyle was living the chaotic motherhood life many of us understand, juggling four children and work as a physical therapist, when one day, her very healthy husband went for a swim, went into the locker room, and died. Anita, whose children ranged between 2 and 12 years old at the time, was left as the solo parent, thrust into navigating this new life while also moving through her own grief journey. She shares the raw and real moments and gives advice for others going through devastating times. She also opens up about how training for triathlons was what kept her going during that time and how she had to advocate for herself to get this time for herself each day. Beyond this, she also joins a friend to host a podcast, helping others who are traversing through widowhood. Anita is one AMAZING mama and athlete, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for her!

Find her podcast, Widow We Do Now, at https://widowwedonow.com/ and on Apple and Spotify!

Five years ago, Catherine suffered an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) during the delivery of her second daughter leading to ECMO, DIC, a stroke, and an ICU stay followed by a long recovery process that continues today. She beat terriflyingly low odds of survival and has used her journey to help others by creating her own podcast focusing on perinatal trauma where mothers can share their stories and trauma around childbirth can be openly discussed. Her story will have you on the edge of your seat as she tells how she battled each day to live.

You can find her website here: https://www.birthtraumastories.com

Check out her podcast here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ke/podcast/birth-trauma-stories-formerly-the-twinky-chronicles/id1616407391

You can find her on IG: @birthtraumastoriespodcast

Jennifer could never have expected how her life would change when her daugther, Allison, sprained her ankle. Doctors and physical therapists became alarmed when after 8 weeks, Allison had not improved and in fact, her foot was contracted and would no longer move. From here, Jennifer and Allison began a journey that eventually led to genetic testing and a diagnosis of dystonia, follwed by brain surgery that had a complication, leaving Allison's speech and movement more impaired. Not willing to collapse under the weight of all that had changed, both Jennifer and Allison dove in to every treatment and therapy they could find, and they have hope for improvement in the future. Jennifer shares honestly about the challenges of being disappointed in people she thought were her friends and how Allison has turned her situation around to educate and help others.

This is a POWERFUL one with a lot of lessons for all of us as we move into 2025.

Check out these links!

Allison's GoFund me to help get a wheelchair-accessible van:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Pallisons-journey?utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link

Allison's Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/pallisonscreations/?etsrc=sdt&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaam4MviL_eOyJfhRQNE2BA0KO8z1VtXx99dU2YE0DuKsY1AG-RSAB-FTgo_aem_XAMHRxu-6cn01oVIvSUhlQ

Allison's Amazon Wish List:

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/10Y5WKJUO9LPV

Billy Footwear Link: https://billyfootwear.com/?ref=PALLISONS_JOURNEY

Allison's merch!

https://www.bonfire.com/store/pallisons-journey/

Allison's IG:

@pallisons_journey

Karyn checked her 8-year-old daughter, Jordyn, in for a quick, 30-minute surgery: having her tonsils and adenoids removed. Little did they know there would be a complication, leading to Jordyn ending up on ECMO, a machine doing the work of her heart and lungs, in the ICU. What was supposed to be a simple procedure left Jordyn fighting for her life and Karyn fighting for Jordyn. This story is terrifying, engaging, inspirational ... and the ending will have you cheering for Jordyn and her amazing mama.

Today's story is one of strength and perseverence during one of the hardest situations I can imagine. Britt McCabe is here to share her pregnancy and postpartum journey. She became sick around 35 weeks pregnant, which progressed to becoming fully paralyzed due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Her son, Ollie, was delivered by c-section, and she was immediately taken to the ICU where she stayed for several weeks, unable to move on her own. Britt spent months in hospitals and rehab, all with the goal of learning to stand and walk again so she could care for her son. To say Britt's story is inspiring is an understatement, and I'm so excited to bring it to our listeners today!

Follow Britt's journey on IG @cidpwithbritt

I had the amazing opportunity to chat with Josie about her motherhood experience. Her daughter, Journey, is 8 years old and has a rare disease called Prader-Willi syndrome. Among other symptoms, this syndrome affects Journey in that she never feels full which has led her mom and family to have to make very specific rules around mealtimes and food. Josie shares about:

- Getting her daughter's diagnosis

- Modifications she has had to make as a mom around food

- The challenges of school and learning about IEP's/504's

- The importance of inclusion and how she and her husband have created a football and cheer program that focuses on including all kids who want to join, despite any special needs or financial status

Today is the much-anticipated part TWO of Angela Diven's story about her son Layton, and his journey with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 3. Today, she takes us through toddlerhood with a child prone to fractures, what it was like sending him to school for the first time, how he has overcome major injury, and how he has excelled in life, including in baseball and track/field.

Follow Angela and Layton on IG @superlaytondiven

Today's story is unbelievable, and I can't wait to share it with you all today. Angela Diven joins us for the first episode of this 2-part series about her journey raising her son, Layton, who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 3. OI is a collagen disorder that affects his entire body, leading to bones that easily fracture. In Part 1, we chat about pregnancy, Layton's birth and his diagnosis afterward, and what it was like having a baby who could so easily fracture, even during a simple diaper change. She also bravely shares how this affected her mental health and how medication, the help of certain healthcare professionals, and finding an OI specialty center across the country helped her move through these dark times. Angela's bravery, openness, and incredible fight to advocate for her son will leave you on the edge of your seat, ready to for Part 2 which will come out one week from today.

Follow Angela and Layton on IG @superlaytondiven