Trauma Mamas
Trauma Mamas is a podcast dedicated to the incredible families who navigate the ICU and raise children with medical complexities. These parents have faced the unimaginable—from premature births and life-saving surgeries to chronic illnesses, long ICU stays, and child loss. Each episode shares their stories of unwavering love and tireless advocacy, even when all hope seems lost. These powerful, inspiring stories deserve to be heard and celebrated. Trauma Mamas also provides resources, hope, and a sense of community for those who need it most. Through shared experiences and meaningful conversations, we aim to support parents who are fighting for their children’s health and well-being.
Episodes
14 episodes
#14: You Weren't Expecting Your Baby to Develop Severe BPD (Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia): With Tori
This episode is all about bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) — not from a medical textbook, but from two moms who’ve been living it for over two years. Tori and I share how we’ve come to understand our sons’ diagnoses of severe BPD: what it is, h...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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59:57
#13: You Weren't Expecting to Live in a Ronald Mcdonald House-With Kate and Abby from RMHC of Central Ohio
When your child is hospitalized—especially far from home—everything changes. Whether your stay is just a few days or nearly 700, you need more than a bed. You need care, consistency, and people who understand what you’re going through. That’s e...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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51:27
#12: You Weren't Expecting Your Trach Baby to Become TikTok Famous
This week, I’m joined by Nicole from The Daily Vent Podcast! We talk hurricane prep, hospital life, in-home nursing, and why we started sharing our stories online. This is a laid back conversation about so many things. Our sons have...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:22:56
Thank You to Our Listeners and Co-Hosts! Brand New Episode April 15th
In this special episode, we’re wrapping up the first 10 episodes of Trauma Mamas: Stories from the ICU and Having Medically Complex Kids. I’ll be taking a short break from posting new episodes until April 15, during this time I’ll be w...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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21:37
#10: You Weren't Expecting to Learn so Much From Nick and Leslie: You Are Not Defined by Cerebral Palsy or Other Diagnoses
Wow!! Episode 10! I had just met Leslie for the first time doing this episode. She is just so easy to talk to and get to know. After discovering our podcast through Tori, Leslie reached out, excited about the community we’re building—a communit...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:16:08
#9: You Weren't Expecting Your Baby to Need a Kidney Transplant: with Ariana
When Ariana learned at 20 weeks pregnant that her son Hudson had severe kidney issues, her world changed. With one kidney non-functional and the other working at only 10%, Ariana faced a challenging journey of managing Hudson’s care — including...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:12:34
#8: You Weren't Expecting 10/10 to Mean So Much: with Kim
Kim shares her experience of having periviable preemie twins at just 22 weeks. She tells the story of her daughters: Amelia, who was stillborn, and Quinn, who was a fighter from the start, letting out a scream at birth, something almost unheard...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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54:43
#7: You Weren't Expecting to Know That It’s Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month: with Kaylee
When you’re expecting a baby, you don't think you’ll become an expert in congenital heart defects (CHDs). But for Kaylee Berner, that became her reality when her son, Bennett, was born with Tricuspid Atresia, Transposed Great Arteries, and Pulm...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:03:23
#6: You Werent Expecting to Co-Parent with an ICU Nurse: with Sammie
I’m joined by ICU nurse Sammie, who made a lasting impact while caring for my son. We discuss how parents and medical teams can work together in the high-stress ICU environment, focusing on communication, mutual trust, and making tough decision...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:10:20
#5: You Weren't Expecting to Have a Micropreemie in the NICU: with Tori
Episode Title: You Weren’t Expecting to Have a Micropreemie in the NICUIn this episode, Tori and I share our personal stories of navigating the NICU with a micropreemie—complete with some comedic relief! We talk about how to face ...
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1:08:48
#4: 421 Days of Smiley Sienna: with Andrea
Andrea shares her traumatic pregnancy complications and the early birth of her daughter, Sienna, at just 24 weeks. Sienna, battled extremely severe BPD (Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia) due to her underdeveloped lungs from being born pre...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:09:24
#3: You Weren't Expecting to Survive HELLP Syndrome or Have a 26-Weeker: With Tori
In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Tori, whose son Elias spent 21 months in the hospital after being born at 25 weeks and 6 days, battling severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), a heptoblastoma, and being vent- and trach-dependent. But ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:02:06
#2: You Weren't Expecting to Have a 23-Weeker: Kelsey's 143 Days in the NICU
In this episode of Trauma Mamas, we meet Kelsey, a first-time mom who never expected her journey into motherhood to look like this. At just 23 weeks and 1 day, Kelsey gave birth to her daughter Baylor, weighing only 1 pound, 2 ounces. What foll...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:03:13
Episode 1: You Weren't Expecting to Meet Us
In this introductory episode of Trauma Mamas: Stories from the ICU & Raising Medically Complex Children, host Alison shares her personal journey of raising her son Donny, who spent 697 days in the ICU after being born prematurely at 28 week...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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9:30