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The possible outcomes for Keishera and Greg Joubert's baby, Cassian, with Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome (CHAOS) were grim. Doctors tried one option and failed, so in an act of faith surgeons tried a highly risky partial delivery to address the airway and then hoped for a chance at life as they awaited the second delivery, weeks later. This episode is as remarkable as the Joubert's and their son. If you need a dose of hope from parents who have "been there, done that," this one's for you.   💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok  |  Website   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links The Guardian: "Florida baby 'born twice' after elaborate surgery involving partial delivery" People magazine: "Baby with 'bleak' congenital disorder born twice after innovative surgery" ABC News: "Parents of baby boy who was 'born twice' speak out Word on Fire magazine: Born Twice: The Miracle of Baby Cassian   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

He loves babies, AND he's got dad jokes. While the NICU can be an intense, and often serious, place, neonatologist Dr. Gal Barbut believes that well-timed levity allows doctors, nurses and NICU professionals to better connect with NICU families. When we share the totality of our humanness - the highs and the lows - we can develop a deeper connection. It's that connection we explore in this week's episode. This one might make you laugh, and cry, as you feel seen in your humanity.   💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok  |  Website   💚 Connect with Dr. Gal Barbut Instagram  |  TikTok   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

September is NICU Awareness Month, making this an especially meaningful time to share Derick and Stacy's story. As part of its ongoing Little Fighters campaign, Huggies is continuing to spotlight the strength and resilience of NICU babies, including by renaming its Nano and Micro Preemie diapers from 'Little Snugglers' to 'Little Fighters.' Throughout the month of September, Huggies will also amplify the stories of real Little Fighters and encourage others to champion and support them by liking, commenting on and sharing stories at @NICULittleFighters. The more stories are seen and shared, the more support can be rallied for NICU families, helping them feel seen while also driving donations to the Derick Hall One Percent Foundation. As a 23-week micropreemie, born without a heartbeat, Derrick Hall was given a 1% chance of surviving. In 2026, he became an NFL Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13. No matter how dark the days were, his mom, Stacy Gooden-Crandle, never gave up on her son. Together, they're champions for NICU babies and families. In this week's interview, they share their story of resiliency and their partnership with Huggies and the "Little Fighters" campaign, benefitting Hall's One Percent Foundation that focuses on supporting premature babies and their families, combating food insecurity, and addressing childhood obesity in underserved communities.     💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok  |  Website   💚 Connect with Derick Hall & Stacy Gooden-Crandle Instagram (Derick)  |  X  |  Instagram (Stacy) |  One Percent Foundation  |  Website   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Huggies Little Fighters website Fox Business Medium Little Black Book   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Everybody has a story. And it's our stories that have the power to heal, educate and inspire. This season, we alternate between family stories and NICU professional stories. We reveal their experiences and then we dig a little deeper, giving honor to the diagnosis and highlighting the emotions, the feelings and the hope. Our guests include an NFL Super Bowl champion and his mom, couples, babies born twice, bereaved parents, neonatologists, maternal fetal medicine doctors, child life specialists and more. Nobody's NICU story, or outcome, is the same, but there are some things universal to the experience. IYKYK.This season is about the experience, the emotion, the outcome and the wisdom. It might be our favorite season yet!   💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker: Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok  |  Website   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, Lana shares the story of her daughter, Allie Reese, who was born with restrictive dermopathy and spent three precious weeks in the NICU before her death. She reflects on the profound impact of losing her daughter, the strain that grief placed on her marriage, and the eventual loss of that relationship as she and her husband grieved in different ways. Lana's honest and vulnerable conversation explores the complexities of mourning, healing after multiple losses, and finding support and connection through the bereavement community.    📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, Ben and Emilee Blackburn share the story of their daughter, Tatum, who was born prematurely and died shortly after birth. They reflect on the devastating grief that followed, the different ways they each processed their loss, and how their shared commitment to honoring Tatum's memory strengthened their family over time. Their conversation highlights the healing power of purpose and legacy as they offer hope to other bereaved parents navigating life after loss.    📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Book: Jantsen's Gift by Pam Cope    Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, Jennifer McDonald shares the story of her son, Winston, from a complicated pregnancy and early labor to his time in the NICU and the devastating experience of losing him. She reflects on the first year of grief after Winston's death, the ways loss transformed her perspective, and the ongoing process of honoring his memory. Jennifer's heartfelt conversation offers insight into the early stages of bereavement and how she channeled her love for her son.    📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death (MEND)   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, Anissa Scholes shares the story of her daughter, Elisabeth, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 before birth and lived for a year surrounded by love and celebration. Anissa reflects on parenting a child with a life-limiting diagnosis, cherishing milestones that many thought impossible, and navigating the profound grief that followed Elisabeth's death. Her moving story explores the deeply personal nature of grief, the importance of supporting bereaved families without judgment, and the challenge of grieving while continuing to care for other children at home.    📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Texas Childrens Hospital Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center SOFT TedX Talk: Beyond Closure Book: On Loss and Living Onward by Melissa Dalton-Bradford Book: Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff Poem: Separation by W.S. Merwin   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, neonatologist Dr. Terri Major-Kincade shares the role of palliative care in the NICU and how families can navigate difficult or life-limiting diagnoses. She discusses the language healthcare providers use when communicating with parents, the importance of compassionate decision-making, and key questions families can ask their medical team when facing uncertain outcomes. This thoughtful conversation offers guidance, clarity, and support for parents seeking to make informed choices while honoring their baby's life and legacy.    📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Dr. Terri Major-Kincade's Website Book: Early Arrival by Dr. Terri Major-Kincade   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, Claire and Charles George share the story of their son, Thomas, who was born with a congenital heart defect and passed away at the age of three. They candidly discuss the profound grief that followed his death, how they supported one another through loss, and the challenges of grieving as a couple. Their inspiring conversation highlights how they transformed their heartbreak into a legacy of service, channeling their grief into helping and supporting other families facing similar journeys.    📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Full Circle Grief Center Claire's Website Worden's Four Tasks of Mourning   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, Keira Sorrells shares her journey through infertility, a high-risk multiple pregnancy, life in the NICU with her triplets, and the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Zoe, at 14 months old. She reflects on navigating grief while parenting Zoe's surviving sisters, the impact of loss on her marriage, and the ways grief evolves over time. Keira's story is a powerful testament to enduring love, resilience, and finding purpose through advocacy and her work supporting other bereaved families.    📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Preemie Parent Alliance   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

July is National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. Twice a week, we are re-releasing past podcast episodes honoring a variety of families and circumstances in their grief. Trigger warning: this episode centers on infant loss and grief. In this episode, we visit with grief counselor Becca Van Tassel about the challenging work of navigating grief after the loss of a baby. We explore why grief can be so painful, how it differs from depression, and practical ways families can support one another through mourning, including coping with guilt, honoring a child's memory, and helping siblings process loss. Grounded in Worden's Four Tasks of Mourning, this conversation offers compassionate guidance and hope for bereaved NICU families seeking to understand and move through their grief.   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Austin Center for Grief & Loss Worden's Four Tasks of Mourning Book: On Grief & Grieving by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler Book: On Death & Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and Ira Byock   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Lynn Harris is a retired U.S. Army veteran and longtime volunteer at St. David's Medical Center in Austin. For more than a decade, he has served in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as a "baby cuddler," providing comfort and gentle care to premature and medically fragile newborns. In this episode, Lynn encourages others, especially men, to consider what he considers to be "the most fun job I've ever had."   💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website   💚 Connect with St. David's Austin Medical Center Facebook  |  X  |  YouTube  |  Website   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links People magazine Texas Monthly magazine   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Everything was normal, until it wasn't. Lucas Manring's first baby was born via emergency c-section at 25 weeks and he found himself plunged into fatherhood faster than he imagined. Lucas shares how a strong community of men, physical fitness and honest communication with his wife enabled him to walk out of the NICU with confidence, purpose and deep gratitude.   💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website   💚 Connect with Lucas Manring LinkedIn   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Matt Bialkowski is a two-time NICU dad and bereaved father. His first stint in the NICU left him struggling and seeking purpose, but over the course of their four-month NICU stay, Matt found renewed purpose. After their second pregnancy ended in loss and then another baby placed them back in the NICU, he walked in, and out, a different man. Today, Matt's heart is with other men as he shares important conversations in his podcast, Dads of the NICU, helping NICU dads in Australia, and around the world, find healthy ways to cope with a premature birth.   💚 Connect with Kathryn Whitaker Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website   💚 Connect with Matt Bialkowski Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Podcast   📺Socials 📺 Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest   🔗Links Podcast, Healthy Habits as a NICU Dad  Miracle Babies Foundation Life's Little Treasures   Music Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license