Beyond Brave

Make sure you listen right to the end, after my outro, Ashley and I keep chatting about self-care and share a heartfelt side conversation.In this powerful second episode of my Brave Mom Series on Beyond Brave, I talk with Ashley Hernandez from Kleefeld, Manitoba; a bereaved mom whose courage allows her to open up to me about her unimaginable loss. Ashley’s daughter, Aliyah, was diagnosed with an aggressive neuroblastoma just days after her 18-month birthday and passed away two months later, in March 2025. With honesty and grace, Ashley shares how she continues to carry Aliyah’s light through this life of grief & her and I connect over heart-breaking truths of losing our daughter's.💛 This episode is part of my Brave Mom series ,honouring mothers who continue to live bravely through heartbreak, healing, and endless love.✨ You can learn more about Ashley and her journey on Instagram at @ashley_Hernandez92.Connect with me on TikTok and Instagram @kylact, and on Facebook at Bella Brave.

Maria & Her Miracle Micro Preemie, GeorgeBorn at just 22 weeks, George’s story is one of pure resilience and his mom Maria shares it with beautiful honesty.What does it mean to raise a miracle? In this first episode of our Brave Mom Series, I sit down with fellow medical mama Maria Panayiotou , whose little boy George, born at just 22 weeks and 5 days, weighing only 1 pound, 4 ounces — has defied every odd in the book.Maria and I instantly connect through our shared experiences as moms who’ve lived inside hospital walls, fought through fear, and celebrated the smallest victories that mean everything.Maria shares George’s incredible fight for life, the strength it takes to parent through uncertainty, and the joy that comes from seeing your child thrive after so much pain. Together, we laugh, reflect, and honor the community of brave moms who carry both the heartbreak and the hope that comes with medically complex motherhood.Tune in for a heartfelt, honest, and uplifting conversation that reminds us: our kids are the bravest teachers we’ll ever have.Follow along:🎙️ Beyond Brave Host: @kylact on Instagram & TikTok | Facebook: Bella Brave💛 Guest: @maria_panayiotou & @george__10c

In this episode, Lyle & I are catching up on where we’re really at ... from health updates and kidney results to Kyla’s first mammogram experience. We also dive into the new trend of major coffee chains adding protein to their menus (and what that actually means for your health), plus a round of rapid-fire grief questions that get surprisingly real. I also share much about a recent fundraising walk I attended & spoke at this weekend, advocating for organ donation.

Most people don’t realize that palliative care isn’t just about end-of-life... it’s about helping medical families live better, right now. In this episode, I sit down with Kira Goodman, Project Director for Canada’s Pediatric Palliative Care Alliance, to talk about the launch of their brand-new Resource Hub designed to support families caring for seriously ill children. From navigating life at home to finding tools for caregivers and siblings, this hub is about Care for Every Short Life. Kira shares how the Alliance is creating national coordination, what families can expect to find, and why the campaign to Share Your Journey is so vital for building awareness and community. This is a conversation about resources, hope, and ensuring families across Canada receive the support they deserve. Instagram: @pedpallcarecaCourageous Parents Network: https://courageousparentsnetwork.org/Website: pediatricpalliativecare.caPodcast: The Sunflower - Palliative Care PodcastsMy IG Page: @kylact

A new health update.A bittersweet birthday.A wink from Bella in the most unexpected place.And a powerful new resource for medical families across Canada.In this solo episode of Beyond Brave, I open up about life after my stage 3 kidney failure diagnosis and what’s shifted since my last update. I share the mix of emotions that came with celebrating Waylon’s 7th birthday, how grief shows up even in joy, and a beautiful sign from Bella that reminded me she’s still close. Finally, I introduce you to an incredible Health Canada–funded initiative that will change the way families of seriously ill children access support and care.This one is heartfelt, raw, and filled with hope. Thank you for listening.

Well, if you haven’t been following my stage 3 kidney failure diagnosis… you are now. In this episode of Beyond Brave, we open up about the latest health updates, including what my recent bloodwork revealed and the questions I’m asking as I dig into it all. We also reflect on our nearly two-week US camping trip — Oregon Coast and all — and what it taught us about family, laughter, and resilience on the road. But the heart of today’s conversation is grief: how leaving home can stir tears, and how returning can feel even heavier, as memories and absence collide. We share Waylon’s honest reflections, the beautiful sign from Bella we received while traveling, and how we’re learning to carry both the joy and the ache wherever we go. If you’re navigating health struggles, family travel, or the complexities of grief, this one’s for you.

Lyle’s back on the mic! In this episode, we catch up on health updates (including our 36-hour fasts), answer your quick-fire Q&A from Instagram, and dive into what it’s like to keep Bella in our lives while moving forward. I also share about the 52 precious notes I recently lost, including journals since Bella’s passing, and why no one gets to dictate your grief. Plus, by the time you’re listening to this, we’ve already started our big two-week camping trip through the US and down to the Oregon Coast, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it! Follow along on my socials for current stories and adventures! @kylact on IG & TikTok. Bella Brave on Facebook. 

This week on Beyond Brave, I’m sharing a lot; signs from Bella, my health struggles that have me drained and I open up about a painful betrayal that’s tested my faith and the inner battle between calling someone out or choosing peace. I also reflect on recent heartbreaking losses in the medical mom community and share how I’m preparing for an upcoming trip. Stick around for the listener Q&A at the end,  this solo episode covers a lot!

Join me in a deeply heartfelt conversation with Benny and Dr. Nick Capaul, the empathetic identical twins who co‑host Let’s Talk About Death With the Capaul Twins. Benny, a funeral director following his family’s legacy, offers grounded, professional insight; while Dr. Nick, a psychologist, explores the emotional and healing dimensions of loss  .In this special joint episode, I open up about my daughter Bella, sharing moments of grief, resilience, and love. Producer Kelley described our discussion as “their best episode they’ve ever done,” and credited us for the deeper connection and authenticity brought to the mic. She believes Bella must have been smiling down, proud of her amazing mama.This conversation isn’t just testimony, it’s an invitation. If you’re navigating grief, or simply seeking a genuine space for healing, you’re not alone. The twins’ compassion and professional insights combine to uplift and guide, packing real emotional resonance and practical wisdom.  Be sure to check out the Let’s Talk About Death podcast — available on all major podcast platforms. You can also find more of my story, our family’s journey, and all things Bella Brave on my socials:@KylaCT on Instagram and TikTok, and Bella Brave on Facebook.And as always, you can watch this episode on YouTube, just search KylaCT to find my channel. 

In Part 2 of this deeply personal two-part episode, we continue sharing the story we’ve held closest to our hearts: the week our daughter Bella died. If Part 1 opened the door to those final days, Part 2 walks you through them. From the hospital room to Bella’s final moments, we recount the raw reality of saying goodbye, the sacredness of our time together, and the weight of decisions no parent should ever have to make.We speak openly about what it felt like to hold her hand through the unknown, and how those last hours continue to shape every part of who we are now. It’s painful. It’s real. And it’s filled with a love so deep, we had to share it, not just for Bella, but for every family walking a similar road.This episode is for those who need to know they’re not alone in their grief… and for those trying to understand what it truly means to survive the unthinkable.As always, we invite you to come closer , follow along with us on Instagram and TikTok: @kylact and @lylemt. And if you’d prefer to watch rather than listen, the Beyond Brave podcast is also available on my YouTube channel: @KylaCT.

In this deeply personal two-part episode, we’re opening up about something we’ve never shared before: the week our daughter Bella died. As we mark one year without her, we take you back to those final days , what they looked like, what we felt, and the moments that changed us forever. In Part 1, we ease into the conversation with a touching story from Bella’s school before diving into a vulnerable discussion about how others acknowledge, or avoid , the grief of a parent. Lyle and I explore our very different perspectives on what it means when someone says nothing at all. This episode is for every grieving parent, and for anyone who wants to better understand what it means to carry the love and the loss forward. As always, Lyle and I invite you to take a closer look into our lives from our socials: @kylact and @lylemt on Instagram & TikTok. If you'd like to watch our episodes instead of just listen, you can find our Beyond Brave podcast on my YouTube channel: @KylaCT as well.

In this heartfelt conversation, Kyla sits down with Laura Lawrence , the founder of Youth Matter Canada, speaker, author, and host of the HeartTalk Podcast. Together, they explore Laura’s powerful journey through motherhood, grief, and mental health advocacy. From the raw truths in her memoir Behind Closed Doors, to the comforting wisdom in her children’s grief books, Laura’s mission to support struggling youth and families shines through. They also share a personal connection rooted in loss and resilience and look ahead to the Youth Matter Fall Symposium, where Kyla will speak. This episode is a reminder that even in deep pain, purpose can rise. You can find Laura and learn more about her books and advocacy on her Instagram page: @itslauralawrence

In this tender, unfiltered conversation, Lyle opens up about navigating grief as a dad, the quiet heaviness, the unexpected moments of connection, and the signs that Bella is still close. From a mysterious golden orb caught on camera to a Killdeer returning to their yard, Kyla and Lyle share stories that are equal parts heartbreaking and hope-filled. Also: bird drama, pie miracles, and some laugh-worthy “dad truths” you won’t want to miss.

In this solo episode, Kyla shares deeply personal stories about her daughter Bella. Many precious moments and life lessons she’s never shared on Beyond Brave until now. A heartfelt conversation about grief, memory, and keeping love alive through story. > You can follow along with the Thomsons' daily life on Kyla's Instagram @kylact, where they continue to honour and carry forward their daughter Bella's brave legacy. > You can support the Bella Brave Legacy Project and help carry Bella's brave spirit forward by purchasing Bella Brave merch at Bella-Brave.com. ~With gratiitude from the Thomsons'.

In this epsiode of Beyond Brave, I finally got Lyle back in the Brave Cave studio with me as we dive into your powerful listener questions. We talk about everything from when we flew home without Bella to the first transplant call that didn't go through. We also chat about the upcomming Golf For Wishes tournoment, share laughs and tears reflecting on recent signs from Bella and a lot more. Thanks for being here, your support means the world in carrying on our Brave Bella's legacy.