Empowered by Hope
You want the best possible quality of life for your child regardless of diagnosis or prognosis. Raising a child with medical complexities is often lonely, scary and overwhelming. Join two parents of amazing children with rare medical complexities, Emily K. Whiting and Ashlyn Thompson, to get help and grow with them into empowered advocates for our kids. Here you’ll find a community of support, encouragement, education and resources, equipping you to navigate your child’s medical complexities with hope. To get more personal support, connect with us directly at www.ParentEmpowermentNetwork.org.
Episodes
76 episodes
The Silver Lining for Siblings: How Siblings of Medically Complex Kids Grow in Strength & Compassion
As parents of children with complex medical needs, our hearts often ache with worry about our other children. Are they getting enough attention? Will they feel less important? Do they resent their sibling's conditions? These questions haunt us ...
•
Episode 75
•
35:19
What Matters Most: A Medically Complex Adult Reflects on Childhood & Parental Love
Every parent of a medically complex child wonders: Will my child grow up knowing how deeply they are loved? Will they appreciate how hard I fought for them? In this episode, we bring you a powerful answer straight from someone who’s be...
•
Episode 74
•
48:19
ICU/NICU Survival: Mindset Tools from Coach & Medical Mom Leah Darrow
Leah Darrow, renowned public speaker and mindset coach, joins Emily Whiting on the Empowered by Hope podcast to share her inspiring journey from faith-based public speaking to impactful mindset coaching. As mothers with children facing complex ...
•
Episode 73
•
39:23
Feeding Matters: Jaclyn Pederson's Journey to Recognition and Support for Pediatric Feeding Disorders
Join us for an exploration of pediatric feeding challenges as we sit down with Jaclyn Pederson, the dynamic CEO of Feeding Matters. Through Jaclyn's personal journey and professional insights, we uncover the critical, yet often sidelined, issue...
•
Episode 72
•
32:44
Creating Compassionate and Accessible Healthcare Systems with Melissa Paige
Step into the empowering world of healthcare advocacy with us as we welcome the inspiring Melissa Paige, Co-CEO of the Healthcare Advocate Summit. A recognized expert in patient access programs and navigation, Melissa combines her extensive med...
•
Episode 68
•
35:34
Embracing the Unexpected: Transforming Birth Trauma into Parental Empowerment with Carleigh Joseph-Olivas
Today's guest is Carleigh Joseph-Olivas, a licensed perinatal social worker, full spectrum doula, maternal mental health therapist, and parenting coach. Her passion for supporting women and families through the profound transformations of...
•
1:20:09
A Tail of Joy: Transforming Shelter Dogs into Life Saving Heroes with Medical Mutts
What if a simple bark could bring a little holiday miracle into your life—alerting you to an impending health crisis faster than any device? In this special holiday episode of Empowered by Hope, we’re spreading the spirit of giving and...
•
Episode 70
•
18:36
Empowering Parents: Celebrating the Launch of the Parent Empowerment Network & Building a Supportive Community Together
Discover the journey behind the rebranding of our organization to the Parent Empowerment Network, where our mission to uplift caregivers of children with complex medical needs remains steadfast. In this episode, we reveal the thoughtful process...
•
Episode 69
•
11:51
Battling Caregiver Burnout: Finding Calm and Support in the Caregiving Storm
The ceaseless demands of caregiving could be captured in the powerful metaphor of "death by a thousand paper cuts." Join us as we open up about the raw emotions and daily challenges faced during National Family Caregiver Appreciation Month. Ash...
•
Episode 67
•
30:33
From Isolation to Empowerment: Jamie Olson's Journey in Building a Special Needs Community Through Uniquely You Magazine
Jamie Olson, publisher of "Uniquely You Magazine," joins us to share her transformative journey from isolation to empowerment. Her story begins with her raising her 12-year-old son with autism, epilepsy, and nonverbal communication, and her rel...
•
Episode 66
•
35:19
Considerations Before Launching a Nonprofit with Gabie Benson from Sprout Fundraising
We're thrilled to spotlight Gabie Benson, owner and founder of Sprout Fundraising, our insightful fundraising and leadership coach, who has been pivotal in elevating our nonprofit endeavors with h...
•
Episode 65
•
31:26
Your Child's Diagnosis: Why It's Not Your Fault and How to Move Forward
"What did I do wrong?" "How did I cause this?""Is this my fault?"Some form of this question is the first thing to cross the mind of almost every single parent at what we refer to as "the moment of impact" - the moment a par...
•
Episode 64
•
41:33
Transforming Fear into Courage: Empowering Children Through Medical Procedures
Finding it hard to imagine your child transforming their fear of medical appointments into proud moments of bravery? This episode of Empowered by Hope illuminates that journey through the inspiring story of Charlotte, Emily’s daughter, who rece...
•
Episode 63
•
35:26
Facing a Rare Diagnosis: Finding Hope & Community
Receiving a life-altering diagnosis for your child reshapes everything. In this episode, Emily shares the emotional journey of discovering Charlotte’s rare condition—Hardikar Syndrome, a diagnosis with only nine documented cases worldwide at th...
•
Episode 62
•
23:08
Bringing Hope Home: A Mother's Journey to Secure Life-Changing Surgery for Her Child & Bring It to America for More Families
Imagine discovering that the best medical treatment for your child's rare condition is halfway across the globe. Join us, Ashlyn and Emily, as we recount the incredible journey of Ashlyn's daughter, Emery, who was born with bladder exstrophy. A...
•
Episode 61
•
28:13
Empowering Parents: Navigating School Preparation for Children with Complex Medical Needs
Imagine facing the overwhelming task of preparing your child with complex medical needs for school. Emily knows this journey all too well with her daughter Charlotte, and in this heartfelt episode of Empowered by Hope, she shares her invaluable...
•
Episode 60
•
22:05
Courageous Parenting: Advocating for Your Child's Health and Wellbeing while Managing Your Fears
Imagine the fear gripping you as you hear your child’s complex medical diagnosis for the first time. It’s a fear Ashlyn Thompson and Emily Whiting deeply understand and tackle head-on in this episode of Empowered by Hope. Join us as we explore ...
•
Episode 59
•
20:20
Practical Strategies for Balancing Chaos: Prioritizing Tasks and Finding Sanity in Special Needs Parenthood
Imagine creating an eight-page care document for your in-laws just to ensure your child's complex medical needs are met. That's the reality many parents face, and it's exactly the kind of challenge we're tackling in this episode of Empowered by...
•
Episode 58
•
28:08
Mindful Parenting: Navigating Complex Medical Needs and Finding Joy in the Moment
Discover the transformative power of living in the moment as we navigate the intricate world of parenting children with complex medical needs. You'll hear Ashlyn's heartfelt account of her daughter Emery's remarkable journey through a tough pos...
•
Episode 57
•
25:15
Understanding Trauma in Pediatric Care: Insights from Sarah Curry on Fostering Resilience and Compassion
Discover the transformative power of understanding trauma with the expertly insightful Sarah Curry, communication manager for Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House and a certified trauma and resilience specialist. Sarah guides us through the compl...
•
Episode 56
•
39:48
Navigating Post-Surgery Challenges Surgeons Don't Understand: Empowering Parents with Pracitcal Strategies
How do you navigate the daily challenges of your child's post-surgery recovery when the experts can only provide clinical advice? Join us on Empowered by Hope as Emily and Ashlyn share their heartfelt journeys, illustrating the real-world strug...
•
Episode 55
•
20:40
Introducing a New Era of Empowered by Hope: Bite-Sized Episodes for Caregivers on the Go
Ever wish you had a quick, powerful resource to tackle your biggest pediatric caregiving challenges? We promise to make every minute count as we unveil our refreshed, streamlined podcast format designed just for you! Join Ashlyn Thompson and Em...
•
Episode 54
•
10:09
Stirring Souls and Supporting Families at the Upcoming Celebration of Hope Gala
Embark on a journey of hope and celebration with us, as Emily Whiting and Ashlyn Thompson unveil the grandeur of the upcoming Celebration of Hope Gala. This episode of Empowered by Hope is about painting the town with the vibrancy of giving, wh...
•
Episode 52
•
14:58
Gain the Confidence to Secure the Financial Support Your Child with Special Needs Deserves with Advocacy Abby
"Feeling lost in the maze of funding options for your child's needs? My proven system can help. I'll guide you through a clear, step-by-step process to identify grants and foundations that match your child's needs. Stop wasting time on d...
•
Episode 51
•
40:33
Embracing Life's Detours: A Mother's Journey of Hope and Kindness in Raising a Child with Special Needs
Imagine being 21 years old, newly married, in the middle of dental school and excited to start a family, then finding yourself in the NICU with your newborn for four months, completely unexpected. When life presented Leah Crum with the surprise...
•
Episode 50
•
55:24
