I’m so honored and excited to have Lauren Silver join me on the podcast! She is truly a Superwoman and her spirit and enthusiasm for helping others, all things running all the while fundraising for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society is an inspiration. Join Lauren and I, as we dive into all the things! She shares with us her survivor journey with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) when she was young. She shares with us how she’s raised thousands of dollars for LLS while taking part in running many marathons and half marathons with Team in Training over the past decade.  

She’s down to the final week of her fundraising for LLS Man & Women of the Year. Her team Breaking Barriers is striving to bring her to the finish line on June 11th with the title Women of the Year and she’s striving to earn that Women of the Year title by collecting the most funds for LLS research and family support.

Links:

https://www.lls.org/ 

https://www.mwoy.org/ 

https://www.teamintraining.org/ 

https://www.teamintraining.org/search-events 

Donate Directly to: https://pages.lls.org/mwoy/ma/ma21/lsilver 

Check out the Lauren’s Auction: https://www.32auctions.com/breakingbarriersforlls 

Connect with Lauren directly: 

https://www.instagram.com/laurenbsilver/

https://www.facebook.com/lauren.silver.106 

Clubhouse: https://www.joinclubhouse.com/ 

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

This week on the podcast my husband joins and we catch you guys up on Ollie’s end of oral treatment and how we celebrated with family far and near! We rave about Icing Smiles and how they made his 4th birthday party EXTRA special! And we touch upon some positive improvements now that our son is finished with his treatment. 

We hope you laugh with us as we navigate parenthood despite being sleep deprived, our love for online shopping, and how as a family we’re adjusting to life after our son’s treatment and all the emotions that go with it while keeping our sense of humor in the process. 

I felt it was important to document this part in our journey because I often flash back to the early days in our son’s treatment and the deep, dark feeling of hopelessness. This is the episode that I wish I had access to back then. My wish is that someone, somewhere finds this and it’s able to restore a glimmer of hope in their darkest hour. 

Links: 

https://www.icingsmiles.org/ 

https://www.instagram.com/icingsmiles/ 

https://www.instagram.com/lia.bakes/ 

https://www.hallmark.com/ornaments/keepsake-ornaments/cancer-survivors-bell-metal-ornament-benefitting-cancer-research-at-mayo-clinic-1999QHX4102.html 

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

I am so grateful to have met some amazing Momcologists during my son’s treatment. My next guest, Edit Keshishyan is a fellow Momcologist and an Occupational Therapist. We’ve known each other for the last year and a half. 

I was so happy when the stars aligned and she joined me on the podcast to talk about her amazing daughter, Emma, and how Edit was able to help her through some of the toughest times during her treatment for Leukemia. With over 10 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, Edit founded her company, Achieving Milestones Therapy, not too long ago. 

In this episode Edit shares with us Emma’s story and all the amazing things that OT can do to help children during treatment.  We talk about the many side effects of the chemotherapy our children had to take and we take a deep dive into the multiple facets of OT. 

So settle in as we unpack the multitude of ways to help your child during treatment. We touch upon everything from sensory play, to ways to strengthen muscles, increase your child’s gross motor skills (large muscles), their fine motor (smaller muscles) and strengthen their vision.  

We even get a special celebrity appearance from Emma as she drops in for a little bit to say “hi” and show me her missing teeth and wiggly tooth!  

Edit Keshisyan Aghazarian- Momcologist & Occupational Therapist

Find her on Instagram- @editkeshishyan @achievingmilestonestherapy

(Website in the works)

https://www.instagram.com/achievingmilestonestherapy/?hl=en 

Los Angeles, CA 

AchievingMilestonesTherapy@gmail.com

Phone: 818-288-3334

Recommended Links/Apps:

ABC Mouse

PBS Kids

Kidtopia

Dexteria VMI Visual-Motor Integration Skills 

Match it - Find the matching

Match 3D - Matching Puzzle Game

Sort It 3D

Tangle Master 3D

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

   This week I interviewed Tricia Campero, a fellow momcologist and a woman who has been by my side from the very beginning of my son’s diagnosis. Tricia’s son, Christian was diagnosed with T-Cell Leukemia when he was 5 years old. She shares with us all the ins and outs of his journey back to health. Everything from how she sensed something was not right, to his diagnosis, to his 3 years of treatment including radiation, and they’re experience with Make a Wish and annual family vacation at Hole in the Wall camp in Connecticut. She offers advice for families that are in treatment and takes us into what school was like for Christian coming off treatment. This episode is a special one because Christian joined us for a little bit too! There are no words to express how deeply I am appreciative of Tricia’s friendship. And I know we are connected for life! 

Links:

Meet Christian and Tricia- https://www.facebook.com/christiancourage2012

https://www.holeinthewallgang.org/

https://wish.org/

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

What does a Social Worker do? How can they help now? What resources are available to my family and my child? These are all very common questions.

I’m delighted to have Molly Hanson, our hospital social worker on the podcast this week. She provides valuable insight into what a typical day looks like for her. We talk all about her role and how she assists families to get them connected to various organizations and nonprofits. And she gives us a handful of websites to help get your family and child the support they need during treatment and beyond.

Links: 

https://www.mass.gov/pediatric-palliative-care-network-ppcn 

https://whyme.org/ 

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-for-children-youth-with-special-health-needs 

https://anddit.com/hope-portal 

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

Welcome back to Part 2 of my conversation with my good friend Tara Geraghty! If you haven't had a chance listen to part 1. Stop this now and go back to part 1 so you can learn all about Clubhouse, Pediatric Playground and how to connect with others. 

As I mentioned in part 1, Tara and I talked about so much I had to break it into 2 parts! 

In this second half of the podcast, Tara shares with us her experience raising her daughter Emily, while she was undergoing treatment for Stage 4 High Risk Childhood Cancer. 

Stay tuned to the end of this for a special message about how you can join Clubhouse and start connecting with other parents, medical workers and caregivers. 

Links:

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

Ok so if you’re still listening it means that you are now ready to join me on Clubhouse! Sent me a message on Instagram or on Facebook for a Clubhouse invitation. I still have some left. Or go to https://www.joinclubhouse.com/ to get on the waitlist.  

Once you’re on the app, join the Pediatric Playground by tapping on the magnifying glass in the upper left corner. Then select “Clubs” and search for Pediatric Playground.  

Make sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 20th 9pm-10PM EST as I cohost a room with Tara herself and my friend Rosaria Kozar. Rosaria is the creator of Living with Scanxiety podcast, and we talk all about Tips & Tricks for Organization while caring for your child with a medical diagnosis. I can’t wait to talk with you! 

Links:

Connect with Tara here: 

https://www.heygirlyoucan.com/pages/

https://www.instagram.com/tarasvoiceig/ 

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/

https://linktr.ee/makingcancerfun 

https://www.instagram.com/makingcancerfun/ 

Order Tara’s book here & join us in the Making Cancer Fun Community- https://www.makingcancerfun.com/ 

https://tinyurl.com/MakingCancerFunYoutube 

Connect with Jackie directly, voice behind A.L.L. Mamma Care:

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

Caring for a loved one during a cancer treatment is often isolating. You’re on call 24/7 and often don’t have the time to connect with others.  

What if I told you there is a way for you to connect with other caregivers in real time?  to ask for advice, get questions answered and create lasting friendships well beyond treatment? What if I told you there was a way to connect with other parents, nurses, doctors, child life specialists, child psychologists, cancer survivors and anyone helping support children in the medical world? 

Better yet, what if I told you these conversations were happening on demand? 

Well my friend, I’d like to introduce you to a new app called Clubhouse. Tara Geraghty rejoins me on the podcast this week and we talk all about her new club called “Pediatric Playground” and how to keep the conversation going wherever you may be.

My time with Tara was chalked full of so many topics that I had to break this into TWO episodes. Make sure to hit “subscribe” so you’ll be notified when part 2 airs and you can hear more about Tara’s story and her book “Making Cancer Fun”.  

Links:

Connect with Tara here: 

https://www.heygirlyoucan.com/pages/

https://www.instagram.com/tarasvoiceig/ 

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/

https://linktr.ee/makingcancerfun 

https://www.instagram.com/makingcancerfun/ 

Order Tara’s book here & join us in the Making Cancer Fun Community- https://www.makingcancerfun.com/ 

https://tinyurl.com/MakingCancerFunYoutube 

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE

It was an honor to have Beecher Grogan, Lucy’s Mom and Executive Director of Lucy’s Love Bus in Amesbury, Massachusetts. I want to preface this episode that our conversation is focused around End of Life. Beecher was inspired to write her new book titled “Together” after witnessing first hand how important it is to provide space for children to talk and be heard. 

This is a very sensitive topic and so please use your best judgement when deciding to listen to it. If you want to learn more about Beecher or Lucy’s Love Bus check out the links in the show notes.

https://lucyslovebus.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/LucysLoveBus/ 

https://twitter.com/lucyslovebus 

https://www.instagram.com/lucys_love_bus/ 

https://www.blurb.com/b/5487023-a-lion-inside 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/together-a-book-for-dying-children

https://www.allmammacare.com/

A.L.L. Mamma Care Private Facebook Group

Instagram: @A.L.L.MAMMACARE