Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast

The transition off therapy can be socially and psychosocially challenging. Caregivers can have feelings of release and relief, but they can also be confused and overwhelmed. How can you take care of your mental health while ensuring the health of your child? LaChaka and Darick explore returning to work, managing finances, asking for help, and navigating strained relationships. They emphasize the i...

When your child transitions off therapy, how do you know when to send them back to school? Emily, Darick, and LaChaka discuss how to confidently make that decision, as well as what accommodations might be needed, such as IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) or 504 plans. They speak about the importance of communicating openly with the care team, child life specialists, social workers, and school...

The transition from a hospital care team to a local care team comes with its challenges. LaChaka and Darick map out the medical journey each of them took with their children’s treatment. LaChaka outlines how she kept her home pediatrician in the loop so that the transition went smoothly. Both caregivers offer tips on organizing medical records and teaching a child to take an active role in their o...

When it’s time to transition off therapy, what happens next? While it might seem like an exciting time, the transition off therapy can come with anxiety and fear. Parents LaChaka and Darick share how they handled the emotional aspect of leaving the safety net of the hospital. They talk about the time required to process the experience and how they’ve been humbled by it. LaChaka and Darick reflect...

Paula and Jason explore ways to find support during treatment, whether from the medical team, social workers, or others. They share the importance of advocating for yourself and your child and how important it is to speak up when you know something is not right. Jason and Paula explain how they responded to unsolicited medical advice during treatment, and when to ask for help from someone outside...

How does a caregiver handle day-to-day logistics at home when their child has a serious illness? Paula and Jason share how they were able to ask for much-needed help from friends and loved ones, even with mundane tasks like yard work and oil changes. They discovered that sometimes coping means focusing on a calendar or a to-do list. They also learned that it’s OK to realize you can’t do it all on...

How does it feel to first receive a child’s diagnosis of a serious illness? Paula shares her initial feelings of having the rug pulled out from under her. Jason reflects on feeling out of control and exhausted. In the fog of a new diagnosis, how do you keep a clear head to make key health decisions for your child? Jason and Paula discuss the small losses and changes along the way. They also discus...

A child’s diagnosis of a serious illness can be difficult. Families, guardians, and loved ones feel a range of emotions and need support related to their child’s treatment. Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast, is a place for family caregivers to hear advice, reflection, encouragement, and real stories from families and hospital staff. SHARE stands for Support, Honor, Advise, Reflect, and Encourag...