Inside the Children's Hospital

In today's episode, we sat down with Kristen Cowan, a teacher, and mom of Rylen and Corbin. In 2017, Rylen was only 13 months old when he woke up with a fever that turned out to be bacterial meningitis. Rylen was in the hospital for about 9 days before he unfortunately passed away from the illness.  
Kristen shares her journey of being in the hospital with Rylen, and how she was able to provide a new hope for other families through organ donation. Throughout the episode, Kristen unpacks how she is able to cope with the loss of Rylen by creating a legacy through the Smilin' Rylen Foundation. The foundation was made to honor Rylen by raising awareness about organ donation and assisting families in crisis by offering to pay for hospital parking passes.
 
Time Stamps 
1:32 - Introduction to Kristen
4:29 - The Journey of Loss and Grief
9:30 - Hospital Experiences and Medical Challenges
19:30 - The Decision of Organ Donation 
24:29 - Creating a Legacy 
32:21 - Understanding Rylen's Health Challenges
38:08 - Finding Purpose Through Grief
41:26 - The Significance of Orange 
44:15 - The Parking Pass Program 
49:27 - Growing the Foundation's Impact 
52:14 - Celebrating Rylen's Impact
 
Resources
https://www.smilinrylenfoundation.org/
https://www.facebook.com/SmilinRylenFoundation/

 
To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care.
The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

For this week's episode, Katie is talking with fellow child-life specialist, Annie "Sunshine" Gunning. For 25 years, Annie has helped adapt typical playtime into something that everyone with different needs, such as children who are nonverbal or wheelchair bound, can enjoy. 
Annie gives us insight into how playing through medical experiences like going to a therapy appointment is important for children to understand the world around them. Similarly, Annie leads us into the hospital setting, detailing how play inside the hospital can create positive environments for children, especially for children who are staying for a longer period of time. 
 
Timestamps 
1:44 - Intro to Child Life and Play
3:20 - Adapting Play for Children with Disabilities 
6:57 - Sibling Interaction and Play
9:03 - Play in Hospital Setting 
12:42 - Creative Play for Hospitalized Children
17:45 - The Importance of Play in Medical Experiences
 
Resources
Annie's Company
Hope for HIE
Annie's Instagram
 
To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care.
The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

During this week's episode, Katie sits down with Ryan Solieau, an LSU Alum, and dad to a Henry who was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. Aplastic Anemia is a rare blood disorder where bone marrow stops making new red blood cells, which appeared in Henry as a heart rate of 250. 
Ryan takes us through the experience of learning a new reality during all phases of Henry's diagnoses, from learning how to navigate Henry's initial hospital stay, all the way to supporting Henry emotionally during his monthly transfusions. In the episode, we also learn from Ryan how crucial it is to take care of oneself in order to be the best advocate for Henry.  
 
Timestamps
1:37 - Intro to Ryan 
3:38 - The Hospital Experience: A Second Family
6:24 - The Diagnosis: A Life-Changing Moment
9:38 - Navigating the Medical System
13:49 - Understanding Aplastic Anemia
15:27 - The Roles of Fathers in Caregiving
18:12 - Building Relationships with Hospital Staff
20:44 - Recognizing Emotional Needs
26:40 - Advice for Parents: Seeking Help and Support
35:08 - Fatherhood and Personal Growth
42:01 Navigating Medical Challenges and Triumphs   
Resources
https://www.instagram.com/rsoile6 

 
To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care.
The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

Pediatric nurse and mom Brigid shares how her family navigated her son's neuroblastoma diagnosis—with practical guidance on preparing kids for care, accepting support, and finding hope.
Key Topics:
The symptoms that led to Brigid's son's neuroblastoma diagnosis

Going from pediatric nurse to parent receiving life-changing medical news

Using medical play to prepare young children for procedures

Giving children choices and control during repeated medical care

Why slowing down can sometimes make procedures easier

Supporting siblings through a cancer diagnosis

Caring for yourself while caring for a seriously ill child

Asking for and accepting practical support from others

Resources including Beads of Courage, Connecting Champions, and neuroblastoma-specific preparation tools

Timestamps
00:00 - Finding support through childhood cancer stories
01:11 - Brigid introduces her family
01:38 - Penn State THON and supporting families facing cancer
03:21 - The first sign: a persistent limp
04:55 - Night sweats, an ER visit, and the diagnosis
05:18 - Understanding neuroblastoma and treatment
06:31 - Receiving serious news in the hospital where Brigid works
10:28 - Being both mom and medical translator
11:32 - Why preparing children for procedures matters
12:52 - Medical play and repeated procedures
14:08 - Choices, breaks, and helping kids feel more in control
15:09 - Practicing dressing changes through play
16:49 - Why faster isn't always easier for kids
18:34 - The hard days and emotional toll of treatment
20:36 - Stem cell transplant and the hardest phase of treatment
21:34 - Prayer, gratitude, and staying grounded
25:31 - Simple medical play using things you already have
27:58 - Explaining cancer to siblings
28:28 - Bringing support into a sibling's school
31:12 - Child life tools that can help with procedures
34:09 - Taking cancer treatment one hurdle at a time
35:22 - What asking for help looked like for Brigid's family
39:36 - Connecting Champions and identity beyond cancer
41:00 - Beads of Courage
42:01 - Neuroblastoma resources and medical play tools
43:32 - What Brigid learned about control, patience, and time
To listen to more episodes, head to insidethechildrenshospital.com
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care.
The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.

As we begin to close out NICU Awareness Month, Katie sits down with Matilda "Tilly" Aldridge, a content marketer and mom. During a normal morning, Adelaide, her oldest child, was rushed to the hospital after Tilly and her husband heard Adelaide screaming from her room. She was given a CT scan, and a large tumor was found in her brain. 
Tilly recounts her experience not only dealing with the sudden occurrence of Adelaide's medical emergency, but also how Adelaide herself was able to overcome the trauma she suffered. Together, Tilly and Katie dig into what advocating for answers can entail, and finding joy in the aftermath. 
Timestamps 
1:40 - Introduction to Tilly's Journey
4:28 - Navigating Parenthood During COVID
7:21 - Impact of Postpartum Depression 
10:41 - Life-Altering Medical Emergency
13:18 - Understanding AVIM 
16:10 - The Road to Recovery 
22:13 - Managing Anxiety in Children 
25:17 - Empowering Children Through Choices
32:04 - The Impact of Medical Trauma 
37:00 - The Search for Answers 
43:57 - The Fight for Medical Attention 
49:07 - The Joys of Motherhood Post-Trauma
Resources
What is AVM
What is AVF
Medical information shared in this episode is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your healthcare team for guidance specific to your child and family.