Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast

When treatment ends, families might expect life to return to normal. But, while treatment may have an end date, the late effects of serious illness are less defined. This means life does not always go back to what it was before treatment started. In this episode, host Mark Brown and expert Jeanette Lavecchia talk with parent Carla Wyatt about the late effects of her son Brett’s treatment. Carla sh...

When a child is facing a serious illness, being asked to consider a clinical trial can feel overwhelming. This episode of Caregivers SHARE continues our 2-part series on clinical trials by focusing on the real questions, emotions, and decisions caregivers face.  Carina Richardson shares her family’s experience enrolling her son in a clinical trial. Seth Karol, MD, shares insights from a doctor’s p...

Clinical trials are research studies that look at ways to improve care for serious illnesses. For many families, the terms “clinical trial” or “clinical research” may be unfamiliar or overwhelming. In this episode of Caregivers SHARE, listeners will learn what clinical trials are, how they work, and how they differ from standard medical care. Host Clay Culp, LCSW, is joined by  Seth Karol, MD , an...

When a child’s condition changes or they are nearing the end of life, caregivers face hard choices. It can help to focus on comfort, quality of life, and what matters most to the child. In this episode, Tekeima Townsend‑Billups talks with parents Tasha and Dean Ives about caring for their daughter, Sydney, in her final months of life. They describe how their advocacy changed as Sydney’s health dec...

Communicating with the care team can feel overwhelming, especially when your child is going through a serious illness and you are facing big decisions. In this episode, Tekeima Townsend-Billups talks with caregivers Tasha and Dean Ives, as well as patient family-centered care expert Brittany Barnett, about how to ask questions and advocate for your child. Tekeima describes advocacy as a “sacred pr...

A healthy social life and relationships are important when going through cancer or another serious illness. In this episode, Clay Culp and Elyse Heidelberg talk with caregiver Polly Fulford and her college-aged son Taze about friendships and dating while you have cancer. Polly and Taze share how he balanced spending time with friends and his girlfriend while listening to his care team’s advice. El...

When a child is diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness, caregivers focus so much on their child’s needs that they may forget to care for themselves. Practicing self-compassion and seeking support are essential parts of the journey. In this episode, host Erica Sirrine talks with parent Stacie Eirich and social worker Anna Shelley Johnson about the challenges caregivers face and the import...

When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, families are faced with emotions, daily changes, and the challenge of finding light in the midst of darkness. In this episode, subject matter expert Erica Sirrine talks with Shane and Ashley Timmons about their daughter Ophie’s journey with a brain tumor and the realities of caregiving through uncertainty.  Shane and Ashley share what it was like t...

Emotional wellbeing involves being present, having courage, and focusing on what’s important—even in tough times. But emotional health may look different when a child has a serious illness, especially if emotional health needs were there before diagnosis.    In this episode, Clay Culp and Kendra Parris talk with caregiver Patricia LeBlanc and her daughter Sophie about emotional health while Sophie...

Some treatments for serious illness can affect a patient’s ability to have biological children later in life, but there are ways to protect fertility. When a child is seriously ill, fertility preservation is a tough but important topic to address. In this episode, Mark Brown and Kari Bjornard talk with Evan Moore about fertility preservation when he was going through treatment. An elite NCAA track...

Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that affects patients physically, emotionally, and socially. Even though sickle cell research and treatment have improved over the last several years, many are still learning about how this condition impacts the body and daily life. In this episode, parents Audrey Davis and Quenton Mullins talk with Tekeima Townsend-Billups and Jerlym Porter about going thro...

Sleep can be hard for both the patient and family when a child is sick.  Sleep problems  are common in children with serious illnesses. Trouble sleeping could be caused by treatment, medicines, or the effects of illness. But getting sleep is very important for healing and recovery. In this episode, Erica Sirrine and Valerie Crabtree talk with parents Andy and Caitlin about how they managed to get...

What does resilience mean when a child is sick? Clay Culp, Janet Sellers, and parent Sara Lohse talk about resilience, or the ability to bounce back, when a child has a serious illness. Sara says “resilient” is the last thing she felt as her family navigated her daughter Madi’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. She shares one of the hardest moments their family experienced. The group talks about how...

We're happy to present season 3 of Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast. Hear from families and health care providers as they share personal stories and offer support to those caring for a child with a serious illness. At St. Jude, we understand the challenges that families face during this difficult time, and we are committed to providing resources to help. Each episode of the podcast focuses on...

In this episode, Brenda Stephens and Erica Sirrine talk about loss and keeping memories alive. Brenda’s daughter Emily died of cancer at age 23. Brenda discusses navigating the first year after Emily died, the ways her family keeps Emily’s light alive, and being mentored by other parents through the journey. Brenda and Erica emphasize the importance of allowing oneself to feel, creating new tradit...

In this episode, Carol Bailey and her daughter Katie talk with child life specialist Heather Haluska about going through cancer during the teen years. Katie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia when she was a senior in high school. She continues to deal with chronic health conditions related to her diagnosis. Katie shares how she handled missing out on teenage experiences, used creativity as...

Elnora Lee describes her 17-year journey with 3 school-age daughters navigating cancer. She talks with Randy Thompson of the St. Jude Imagine Academy about learning challenges, relationship challenges, and the importance of having compassion and empathy. She offers tips for helping a school-age child retain multiplication facts and turning trips to the store into learning experiences. Elnora empha...

In this episode, Ela Molina talks with Jen Harman about Ela’s daughter’s experience with cancer. Isa Molina was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 22 months old. Jen was Ela and Isa’s psychologist at St. Jude while Isa went through treatment. Ela and Jen reflect on that time. They offer tips for using play, setting limits, keeping a routine, and using positive reinforcement with young...

ShaQuitta McGhee and Jessica Watts reflect on how they supported their other children while their child was sick. ShaQuitta discusses how she relied on family and a counselor. She admits she didn’t always get it right when parenting her daughter, Reign Bella, and her sons at the same time. Jessica sheds light on how she found ways to include her younger son in family activities when he couldn’t be...

In this episode, Wes and Kady Shell talk about how they kept their marriage strong and remained close while their daughter Hattie went through an extended ICU stay. Wes and Cady discuss how they learned to let go, meet their spouse where they were, and check in often. One is an early riser and one of them is a night owl. This fact that used to irritate them became key in taking shifts in the ICU....

We are happy to present season 2 of Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast. Hear from families and health care providers as they share personal stories and offer support to those caring for a child with a serious illness. At St. Jude, we understand the challenges that families face during this difficult time, and we are committed to providing resources to help. Each episode of the podcast focuses on...

St. Jude Director of Spiritual Care Services Mark Brown talks with caregiver Nikole Sullivan. Listeners will learn how her family managed the holidays with a child in the hospital, created new memories, and embraced simple joys together. Nikole shares how she let go of the pressure that comes with the holiday season and navigated being apart from family members. A special thank you to Mark Brown a...

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...