Medical Trauma Support

Medical mistakes are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and many are preventable. In this episode, critical care physician and pulmonologist Dr. Gerardo Garza shares how to protect yourself and your loved ones, from finding the right doctor to preparing for appointments, asking better questions, and navigating a safe hospital discharge. We also talk about post-intensive care syndrome (...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, Sarah Stasica sits down with Ingrid Nishimoto, LCSW a certified EMDR therapist who also lives with a genetic cancer condition diagnosed at 17. Together they explore what EMDR actually is, how it helps shift the felt sense of powerlessness after a frightening medical experience, and why grief, collapse, and the long “in-between” after treatment...

Most ICU survivors are sent home and told they're lucky to be alive. But for millions of people, that's where the real struggle begins. Kali Dayton, nurse practitioner and ICU consultant, joins me to talk about Post-ICU Syndrome (PICS): the physical, cognitive, and psychological aftermath of critical illness that almost no one is warned about. We talk about why medically induced comas caus...

You know your body. You've lived in it your whole life. So what happens when you're experiencing 23 different symptoms — some of them truly bizarre — and your doctor looks you in the eye and says, "There is nothing medically wrong with you"? In this episode, I sit down with Pam, who experienced serious, life-altering adverse effects following her COVID vaccines. What followed was...

Medical trauma is real. Millions of people are living with it. And most of them don't even have a name for it yet. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Dr. Jim Jackson, neuropsychologist at Vanderbilt University and author of Reclaiming Your Life from Medical Trauma , for a deeply human conversation about what medical trauma actually looks like, why avoidance is so much more dangerous than we...

Have you ever been dismissed by a doctor, told your pain wasn't real, or watched the people you love begin to doubt you? You are not alone — and this episode is for you. Sarah sits down with Deborah Weed, founder of the Self Worth Initiative, author, artist, and creator of the upcoming musical Paisley: The Fashion Forest — a story born directly out of her own experience with medical trauma. De...

If you've ever left a doctor's appointment feeling worse than when you walked in — not from the news you received, but from how you were treated — this episode is for you. I sat down with Casey Berna, licensed clinical social worker, endometriosis advocate, and author of Endometriosis: From Harm to Hope, A Chronic Illness Guide , for a deeply honest conversation about medical trauma, the n...

In this episode, I talk with family nurse practitioner Alec Bradbury about compassionate care, chronic pain, street medicine, and what it really means to make patients feel heard. We talk about the power of simple human connection in healthcare — eye contact, listening, validation, and even saying something as simple as, “I’m proud of you for coming in today.” If you have experienced medical traum...

Disclaimer - This episode shares one individual’s personal medical experience. It is not intended as medical advice. The goal of this conversation is to explore the human experience of illness and the importance of compassionate care within healthcare systems. In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, Sarah speaks with family nurse practitioner Shaun Barcavage about what happens when...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, I’m joined by licensed clinical social worker Ellie Vincent, founder of Manna Moments conversation cards. Ellie shares how working with patients and families facing end-of-life moments inspired her to create prompts that help people talk about grief, legacy, values, and gratitude — before it’s too late. Together, we walk through three powerful...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Sarah Stasica sits down with Kim Black, founder of Scarred and Fabulous , to talk honestly about healing after medical trauma and surgery. Kim shares her story of childhood surgery, nervous system survival responses, and the long journey of learning how to feel safe in her body again. Together, Sarah and Kim explore why medical experiences can feel t...

When a child experiences medical trauma, parents are often overlooked—but their role is powerful. In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , I’m joined by neuropsychologist and founder of Parenting Kids with CHD, Dawn Ilardi, who has spent over 16 years working in pediatric healthcare. Together, we explore how parents’ nervous systems, emotional responses, and sense of agency directly...

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Danielle Ford, who opens up about a life-altering medical crisis: after an MS diagnosis and years on a high-efficacy disease-modifying treatment, Danielle developed a “run-of-the-mill” infection that rapidly became life-threatening—resulting in 97 days in the ICU , 12 surgeries , months of wounds and recovery, and a permanent colostomy . Together, we explore w...

What happens when healthcare providers are truly supported—and how does that ripple out to patient care? In this powerful and deeply human conversation, I’m joined by three heart failure nurses from Christ Hospital Health Network who are quietly transforming what compassionate, trauma-informed care can look like from the inside of the system. Together, we talk about: Why medical trauma can occur e...

What happens when the place that caused trauma is also the place you must return to for care? In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , Sarah Stasica is joined by Irish psychotherapist and former emergency department nurse Emma Tynan for a deeply compassionate conversation about medical trauma, chronic illness, and the nervous system . Emma shares her journey from working in emergenc...

In this episode, I’m joined by Seantae Jackson, speaker and co-founder of the Sandal Blue Foundation, who shares the life-changing story of the catastrophic car accident that reshaped her family’s world — and how that moment led to the creation of a nonprofit supporting survivors after severe crashes. We talk about: • Navigating medical trauma and long-term recovery • Parenting a child with a seve...

In this episode, Sarah sits down with therapist and founder Shakira (Kira) O’Garro to talk about her powerful journey through endometriosis, medical gaslighting, and reclaiming trust in her body. Together, they explore how trauma responses like shutdown and fawning show up in medical settings, the importance of somatic healing, and the transformative power of community and faith. Whether you’ve ex...

Many kids feel anxious or afraid during medical visits — and parents often feel helpless watching it happen. In this powerful conversation, Sarah talks with Mary A. Jenner, pediatric nurse and founder of The Butterfly Pig, about how medical play can help children feel safe, brave, and confident during medical care. They explore how fear, anxiety, and even trauma can develop from medical experience...

Many children experience medical procedures that leave lasting emotional wounds — even when everyone involved had the best intentions. In this episode, Sarah talks with Christina Gonzalez, MSW, who wrote her graduate thesis on childhood medical trauma. Christina shares her own story of growing up chronically ill and what her research revealed about how forced procedures, lack of informed consent,...

In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah sits down with licensed professional counselor and chronic illness therapist Destiny Davis to explore what happens when medical systems fail to see, believe, or support you. Together, they unpack the layers of medical trauma, chronic illness, and the emotional toll of being dismissed or disbelieved. Destiny shares her lived experience growing up with parents w...

In this powerful episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , Sarah Stasica is joined by Dr. Laura Vater, oncologist, writer, and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered care. Dr. Vater shares her journey into medicine, the personal story that inspired her to become a physician, and her work to bring humanity back into healthcare. Together, they explore: The impact of medical trauma on pat...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, Sarah speaks with Lauren Isbell and Whitney Casal from Nevis Outreach, a patient advocacy organization focused on Congenital Melanocytic Nevi (CMN). They discuss their personal connections to CMN, the challenges families face when navigating medical decisions, and the importance of community support. The conversation highlights the medical ris...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support podcast, Sarah talks about what Befriending Your Body really means. She also responds to the question, "how can I become friends with a body I am disconnected from or a body that I hate?". And the answer is that it isn't an overnight process, it is a slow, gentle way of being with yourself after learning about your nervous system and buil...

In this deeply moving episode, we bring together patient Vanessa Abraham and her ICU doctor, Dr. Jared Rosen, for an honest, tender conversation about what it means to show up with humanity in medicine. Vanessa shares how Dr. Rosen’s attunement, compassion, and presence helped her through one of the scariest moments of her life. Dr. Rosen opens up about how this experience shaped his entire medica...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support podcast, Sarah speaks to Vanessa Abraham, a mother and medical trauma survivor, about the untold impact of ICU hospitalization, medical PTSD, and parenting during and after illness. From the shock of sudden critical illness to the emotional pain of being separated from her young daughter and the worry that she would not live to raise her daughter, Vane...