In this episode, Crystal Griffith shares her journey as a medical mom warrior, discussing the complexities of caring for children with medical needs. She emphasizes the importance of self-care for caregivers, the power of community support, and the need for advocacy. Crystal also introduces her initiative to create a shared database for medical moms to share their experiences and resources, highlighting the significance of hope and healing stories in their journeys. The discussion touches on the challenges ofnavigating medical systems, the value of educational dreams, and the vision for co-living models to support young adults with special needs.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Medical Mom Warriors

06:24 The Importance of Self-Care for Caregivers

11:30 Leveraging Community and Shared Experiences

16:37 Overcoming Medical Challenges and Misdiagnoses

19:18 Celebrating Small Victories and Individual Journeys

20:53 Living Legacy and Purpose

21:49 Journey Through Adversity

24:27 Health Challenges and Advocacy

27:14 Understanding Medical Misdiagnosis

29:49 Connecting the Dots: Diagnosis and Healing

32:27 The Role of Intuition in Healthcare

34:59 Miracles and Medical Journeys

37:28 Empowerment Through Shared Stories

39:56 Launching the Resilience Roadmap

41:32 Building Community and Resources for Special NeedsParents

44:24 Innovative Co-Living Solutions for Independence

46:59 Connecting with Resources and Support Networks

49:44 The Emotional Toll of Caregiving

53:14 Finding Humor and Resilience in Challenges

58:58 The Loneliness of Parenting a Special Needs Child

01:00:03 The Depth of Parental Pain

01:00:31 Navigating Multiple Diagnoses

01:01:33 The Reality of Outliving Your Child

01:02:07 The Importance of Community Support

01:03:26 The Role of Siblings in Caregiving

01:04:34 The Burden of Caregiving

01:05:58 Aspirations and Scholarships for the Future

01:07:52 Finding Hope Through Music and Community

01:09:05 Advice for Special Needs Parents

About the podcast guest:

K Crystal Griffith is a Jesus-loving, sweet tea-drinking, renaissance woman empowering Medical Mom Warriors with health, healing, and hope, advocating for them and their medically complex kids to thrive.

Crystal walks with clients through deployments,life-threatening allergies, autoimmune diseases, cancer, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, marriage difficulties, abuse, PTSD, reactive attachment disorders, generational traumas, spectrum disorders, and all the things that gobump in the night. These and more have influenced Crystal's life directly as well.

She is a Certified Heart Healing Practitioner, BusinessCoach, and Medical Advocate supporting medical mommas to advance their reach through their personal experiences. Crystal, her beautifully creative, humorous, horse-loving daughter, and her service dog Otter, recently flew thecoop from the Rockies to the Virginia Coastline. With them, there’s always an adventure waiting just around the bend. For a free gift, bring your tea and visit with her at https://linktr.ee/kcrystalgriffith.com or https://stan.store/MedicalMomWarriors

About the podcast host:

Dr. Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is a speaker, coach, special needs parent, podcaster, author, and strategy lecturer. She runs the Special Needs Parent Podcast to help special needs parents feel valued, connected, and supported. Please let her know topics you'd like the podcast to address.

Join the free Special Needs Parent Space at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/specialneedsparentspace⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get Marcia's Amazon bestselling book, Lighting the Path, at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://books2read.com/lightingthepath⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Find Marcia (and many resources to support your journey) on Facebook at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MarciaNB8/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and on Instagram @specialneedsparentjourney.

She shares resources and trainings through her Facebookprofile and group, and you'd be welcome to come join.