NICU Alumni Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Elana Meyers Taylor! Elana is a six-time Olympic medalist, 2026 Olympic Gold Medalist, mother of two, and NICU mom. Her journey with her sons, Nico and Noah, has inspired a powerful story of faith, perseverance, and advocacy. More information and links to the resources we mentioned during the episode can be found here ! Let's stay in touch! You can find us on...

In this episode, we sit down with Cuyler Romeo, an Occupational Therapist and Pediatric Feeding Specialist, who brings awareness to one of the most common challenges NICU families face after discharge: feeding. More information and links to the resources we mentioned during the episode can be found here !   Let's stay in touch! You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website, www.ni...

Summary In this episode, we sit down with Jacquesta Michel, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in South Florida, whose own NICU experience informs the work she is doing today. More information and links to the resources we mentioned during the episode can be found here ! Let's stay in touch! You can find us on Instagram , Facebook , and our website, www.nicualumni.org . You can also supp...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, Andrea speaks with Samantha Vaquerano and Karen Rodriguez from Kids Lab Therapy about the importance of early intervention for children who have graduated from the NICU.   We discuss the various ways families can support their child's development, the significance of monitoring developmental milestones, and the role of advocacy in ensuring that pare...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, host Andrea Hickson is joined by co-authors Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel to talk about the lasting impact of NICU experiences on families. Together, they reflect on grief, healing, and how storywork can help parents process these experiences and emotions. The conversation highlights the duality of grief and gratitude, the importance of community suppor...

This is the first episode in a two-part podcast series, From Discharge to Home: Insights for Providers and Families , brought to you in collaboration with AngelEye Health . This series was created to provide insights for both healthcare providers and families navigating the NICU discharge process. Our goal is for the series to be educational, informative, and empowering; emphasizing how technology...

This is the first episode in a two-part podcast series, From Discharge to Home: Insights for Providers and Families , brought to you in collaboration with AngelEye Health . This series was created to provide insights for both healthcare providers and families navigating the NICU discharge process. Our goal is for the series to be educational, informative, and empowering; emphasizing how technology...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, we speak with Susan Reynolds, author of While I Breathe , about her journey as a NICU mom to her son Ryan, who was born prematurely and diagnosed with Down syndrome. Susan reflects on the lasting impact of their NICU experience and how Ryan’s life and his passing continue to shape her purpose and advocacy. Drawing from her background in pediatric medicin...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast , we welcome Jennifer Bernardo, author of Week 26 . Jennifer shares her story of having twins born at just 26 weeks and their four-month NICU stay. We explore the emotional toll of life in the NICU, the transition home, and the critical role of community support. Jennifer opens up about writing her memoir and including multiple perspectives to capture the...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, Andrea is joined by Dr. Jessica Allen, a gerontologist, and proud adoptive mama. Jessica shares her family’s NICU experience after her daughter was born prematurely with short bowel syndrome. She speaks about advocating for her daughter’s care, navigating life as a working parent, and learning to manage complex medical needs. This conversation is filled...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, host Andrea Hickson speaks with Jen Mansfield, a licensed professional counselor and mother, who shares her profound journey through the NICU and the loss of her son, Adam, born at 24 weeks. Jen reflects on the overwhelming experience of the NICU, the meaningful connections with the staff, and the support from her community. She discusses the challenges...

In this heartfelt episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, Misti Staley shares her profound journey as a mother who faced unimaginable challenges with her son Freeman, who spent significant time in the NICU and PICU.   After losing Freeman, Misti transformed her grief into advocacy, creating the Freeman Foundation and developing innovative solutions for families facing similar struggles. Our conversati...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, host Andrea Hickson speaks with Ashli Daly, a registered nurse and baby coach, about her journey from working in the NICU to supporting families as they transition home. Ashli shares her experience working in various NICUs, the importance of seeking help, and how her background informs her current practice as Ashli The Mama Coach . The discussion also co...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, host Andrea Hickson sits down with Chelsea Sams, MSN, RN, CPST, perinatal nurse educator, and founder of I Know Newborns .   With over eight years of NICU experience, Chelsea shares her journey from bedside care to empowering NICU families through education and advocacy. Together, they discuss the unique challenges NICU graduates face after discharge, in...

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, Andrea Hickson speaks with Vanessa de la Llama, a licensed mental health counselor, about the complexities of navigating insurance and healthcare for families with NICU graduates.  They discuss the importance of being proactive in seeking appointments, understanding insurance coverage, and the necessity of mental health support for parents. Vanessa empha...

Nicole Nyberg is the proud mother of a former 23-weeker and a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. With her unique perspective as both a clinical expert and a micropreemie mom, she’s dedicated to sharing her knowledge and experience. Nicole is the Founder and CEO of Empowering NICU Parents, providing education, support, and empowerment for parents and clinicians, focusing on how parental involvement in th...

Cristal Grogan shares her experience of her son's NICU stay overseas in Spain and the challenges they faced. She discusses the language barriers, socialized medicine, and lack of family-centered care in the NICU. Cristal emphasizes the importance of parent advocacy and education, as well as long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. She also highlights the need for support and resources for famil...

Dr. Danielle A. Cierak and Flor Tena discuss their work in the NICU and the challenges families face after leaving the hospital. They developed the Baby Steps transition of care model to support NICU patients and families during the difficult period after discharge. The Baby Steps program provides support to families after their NICU stay, helping them transition to home and navigate the challenge...

In this conversation, Andrea and Rita discuss their experiences with the NICU and the challenges they faced. They talk about the emotional impact of the NICU stay, the difficulties of bonding and providing care in the NICU, and the feeding challenges they encountered. They also discuss the importance of celebrating milestones and how their children have connected with their NICU experiences as the...

Darla Vazquez shares her journey as a NICU parent and the challenges she faced raising her son, who was born prematurely and spent 203 days in the NICU. She discusses the importance of advocacy and the need for support in navigating the medical system. Darla also talks about her work in helping families transition their children from G-tube feeding to oral eating, providing resources and guidance...

We had the best conversation with Ashley and Martha of Dear NICU Mama! Vilma shares how she became connected to DNM and then later went on to become a founding board member of NICU Alumni. Quick Takeaways from the Episode: Dear NICU Mama is rooted in the desire to connect with others who are also going through the NICU journey so that they know they are not alone and are part of the shared sisterh...

Bricen Urquidi is a stay at home mom of 3 kids. She has been involved with ICU baby (a local nonprofit in Miami that is very near and dear to us at NICU Alumni) for over 8 years and is a volunteer at her children's school and other organizations in Miami. Her NICU journey began with her first born Ila and that experience lead to helping others in need.  Ila is a 9th grader at a local school i...

After giving birth to triplets at just 25 weeks 5 days gestation and losing one of her daughters at 14 months old, Keira Sorrells was propelled into maternal-infant health out of a deep-seated desire to ensure no parent experiences the trauma of preterm birth or loss alone. Together, with a dedicated team of NICU Parent Leaders, Keira has grown the @NICUParentNetwork to be a sought-after resource...

Dr. Marta Grisel Galarza is a Board Certified Lactation Specialist as well as a Neonatologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and she has worked at Holtz Children’s hospital since 1997. She is the Medical Director of the Intermediate Care NICU, a 70-bed unit. More recently she developed a Neonatal/Antenatal specific Palliative Care Program for the Division of Neonatology.   Sh...

Alexa Marsellos, a board-certified music therapist and music educator joins us to discuss how she implements adaptive music lessons for students of all ages and abilities. In 2023, she founded Neurobeat Music Therapy ( @neurobeatmusictherapy ), a practice dedicated to fostering growth, improving lives, and advocating for the transformative power of music therapy. Quick Takeaways from the Episode:...