Send us a text, we want to hear from you! This open conversation between co-hosts, Emily & Ashlyn, offers clear language, practical insight, and zero judgment for parents, caregivers, and anyone walking the tightrope of medical advocacy and family life. What changes when the caregiver’s well-being becomes the foundation of the family—not an afterthought squeezed into the margins? We dig into the real-world difference between mental well-being (clear thinking, decision-making, stress manag...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! A powerful new anthem is available for parents walking the complex medical journey with their children. Emily Whiting sits down with singer-songwriter Gina Brooklyn to unveil "Through Every Storm," a song created specifically for the Parent Empowerment Network community that captures the heartache, hope, and profound love that defines raising a medically complex child. The song's journey began over a year ago when Gina, moved by the mission of suppor...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! When you’re caring for a medically complex child, you need help—but it’s overwhelming and exhausting to field the constant “Let me know how I can help,” “Just call me if you need anything,” or “What can I do for you?” messages. The decision fatigue for parents in crisis is grueling. We desperately need the help, but our supporters need a clear path that empowers them to actually be helpful. That’s why Ashlyn sat down with Jordan Arogeti, co-founder of...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! The journey of caring for a child with rare disease or complex medical needs often leaves parents and caregivers isolated in their experience. While friends and family genuinely want to help, many struggle with knowing how to truly support without overstepping or saying the wrong thing. Amy (Board) Bradford brings her decades of experience working with rare disease communities to share powerful, actionable strategies for supporting caregivers effecti...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Child Life Specialist, Brittany Luther, brings over twenty years of expertise to answer these questions in this emotionally powerful conversation. She explains how children naturally communicate their fears and process trauma through play—whether that's with specialized medical toys from organizations like The Butterfly Pig or simply through creative exploration with everyday items. Brittany introduces two transformative concepts parents can immediat...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! MaryJenner, a nurse with a creative heart, founded The Butterfly Pig after writing a children's book about embracing differences—a theme that would become central to her mission of transforming pediatric medical experiences through play. Her company creates realistic medical simulation tools that children can use with their favorite stuffed animals, helping them process everything from IV placements to ostomy care in a safe, empowering environment. T...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! How do you hold on to hope when you know your child is dying—and there’s no diagnosis, no cure, and no roadmap forward? Co-hosts, Ashlyn Thompson & Ashley Milbourne are joined by Dr. Tasha Faruqui—award-winning pediatrician, rare disease parent, and now debut author—who invites us into the heart of her story, which inspired her forthcoming memoir: Keep Your Head Up: A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief, releasing September 16, 202...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! As parents of children with complex medical needs, our hearts often ache with worry about our other children. Are they getting enough attention? Will they feel less important? Do they resent their sibling's conditions? These questions haunt us during late-night hospital stays and therapy appointments. What we rarely discuss, though, is the remarkable beauty that emerges in these siblings' lives. Through heartwarming stories like seven-year-old Nora p...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Every parent of a medically complex child wonders: Will my child grow up knowing how deeply they are loved? Will they appreciate how hard I fought for them? In this episode, we bring you a powerful answer straight from someone who’s been there. Annelise Frazier, born with a rare and complex medical condition, shares her story of growing up with surgeries, complications, and hospital stays—but more importantly, growing up surrounded by love. She reflec...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Leah Darrow, renowned public speaker and mindset coach, joins Emily Whiting on the Empowered by Hope podcast to share her inspiring journey from faith-based public speaking to impactful mindset coaching. As mothers with children facing complex medical challenges, Leah and I connect deeply over our shared experiences in balancing personal passions with the demands of family life. Through her programs like Power Made Perfect and Motivated Mompreneur, Le...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Join us for an exploration of pediatric feeding challenges as we sit down with Jaclyn Pederson, the dynamic CEO of Feeding Matters. Through Jaclyn's personal journey and professional insights, we uncover the critical, yet often sidelined, issue of pediatric feeding disorders. In a world where validation for these struggles was once elusive, Feeding Matters has championed the recognition of pediatric feeding disorder as a standalone diagnosis, bringing...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Step into the empowering world of healthcare advocacy with us as we welcome the inspiring Melissa Paige, Co-CEO of the Healthcare Advocate Summit. A recognized expert in patient access programs and navigation, Melissa combines her extensive medical knowledge, diverse pharmaceutical expertise, and leadership skills to drive process improvement and redesign workflows that enhance efficiencies in healthcare. Her unwavering passion for the well-being of p...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Today's guest is Carleigh Joseph-Olivas, a licensed perinatal social worker, full spectrum doula, maternal mental health therapist, and parenting coach. Her passion for supporting women and families through the profound transformations of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period makes her the perfect expert to guide us through today's topic. This two part episode focuses on the emotional journey of pregnancy, delivery,and postpartum, pa...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! What if a simple bark could bring a little holiday miracle into your life—alerting you to an impending health crisis faster than any device? In this special holiday episode of Empowered by Hope, we’re spreading the spirit of giving and hope as we explore the incredible work of Medical Mutts Service Dogs with Liz Boskovich, Director of Development. Discover how shelter dogs, once overlooked, are transformed into life-saving companions, delivering comfo...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Discover the journey behind the rebranding of our organization to the Parent Empowerment Network, where our mission to uplift caregivers of children with complex medical needs remains steadfast. In this episode, we reveal the thoughtful process of selecting a new name that truly reflects our dedication to supporting those in the parent role. Uncover the significance of our new logo, a beacon of empowerment and hope with sun rays symbolizing new beginn...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! The ceaseless demands of caregiving could be captured in the powerful metaphor of "death by a thousand paper cuts." Join us as we open up about the raw emotions and daily challenges faced during National Family Caregiver Appreciation Month. Ashlyn and Emily share their deeply personal stories, revealing the overwhelming cycle that comes with managing children’s return to school while juggling relentless caregiving tasks. Even amidst the chaos, there's...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Jamie Olson, publisher of "Uniquely You Magazine," joins us to share her transformative journey from isolation to empowerment. Her story begins with her raising her 12-year-old son with autism, epilepsy, and nonverbal communication, and her relentless quest to find community and resources. Dive into how her involvement with Purposeful Living Inc. not only healed her but also inspired her to create a lifeline for other parents through her magazine. As...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! We're thrilled to spotlight Gabie Benson, owner and founder of Sprout Fundraising, our insightful fundraising and leadership coach, who has been pivotal in elevating our nonprofit endeavors with her expert guidance and empathetic approach. Have you considered starting a nonprofit in honor of your journey with your child's medical challenges? If so, you aren't alone and that's why we invited Gabie to speak to you today. With over 20 years of nonprofit...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! "What did I do wrong?" "How did I cause this?" "Is this my fault?" Some form of this question is the first thing to cross the mind of almost every single parent at what we refer to as "the moment of impact" - the moment a parent learns their child is not ok and requires medical intervention. Take a trip back with us to our original episode of Empowered by Hope as we share our emotional journeys through parenting children with complex medical n...
Send us a text, we want to hear from you! Finding it hard to imagine your child transforming their fear of medical appointments into proud moments of bravery? This episode of Empowered by Hope illuminates that journey through the inspiring story of Charlotte, Emily’s daughter, who recently earned a bravery award for her courage. Navigating the complexities of medical procedures with your child is never easy, but preparation and self-care can make a world of difference. Ashlyn opens up ...