The Mindful Haven Podcast

What happens behind hospital doors when a child receives a life-threatening diagnosis? For many families, the fear, confusion, and emotional overload can feel impossible to navigate. That’s where Child Life Specialists step in, not just to explain what’s happening, but to empower kids and families through every moment of the journey. In this episode of The Mindful Haven Podcast, host Lori Griffith...

When Charity DeLeon’s son Tobias was diagnosed with leukemia at just 18 months old, life as she knew it changed forever. What followed was 850 days of hospitals, chemotherapy, medical trauma, and the unthinkable: her son coding and needing to be resuscitated after total organ failure. In this deeply moving episode of The Mindful Haven Podcast, host Lori Griffith sits down with Charity to talk abou...

In this episode of The Mindful Haven Podcast, host Lori Griffith sits down with therapist & single adoptive mom Diana Gelfand for a deeply personal conversation about trauma, resilience, and what really happens to parents caring for medically complex children. Diana isn’t just a licensed therapist, she’s a warrior mom with lived experience. After adopting three children from the foster care sy...

When Alexis Bleiler’s son was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive tumor at just 18 months old, her world came to a halt. In this powerful episode, Alexis shares what it was like to process the diagnosis, uproot her life, and advocate fiercely through surgery, treatment, and recovery. From the raw moments in the hospital to the mental toll of constant caregiving, Alexis opens up about grief, survival...

What happens to your finances when your child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness? In this powerful episode of Mindful Haven, Lori sits down with Terra Brown – Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank and Chasin A Dream board member – to break down the real financial impact families face when a child becomes seriously ill or disabled. From hospital parking fees and out-of-network bi...