Making Lemonade with Whit + Kels

Tara is our last guest for season 3, and her story is an incredible one to end on.  Tara speaks with us about losing her daughter, Taylor in a skiing accident.  Tara and her family were able to give the gift of life through donating Taylor's organs.  They then decided to help form a support group for families who grieve the death of a loved one and also educate about the importance of organ donation.  Tara and her husband founded their organization, Taylor's Gift.  Their slogan is - Outlive Yourself.  We found Tara to be inspiring and uplifting.  To go through the loss of a child and to continue to build from that loss is extraordinary.  We hope you love her episode!Make sure to check out Taylor's Gift to find out ways to support their organization.  Click this link to register to be an organ donor Support the show

Georgie, a widow who tragically lost her husband Steve to cancer, shares her heartfelt life journey with us. She recounts the beautiful story of how they met and the extraordinary life they built together. When Steve received his diagnosis, he urged them to "live life", and they truly embraced that mantra. Georgie reflects on their determination to live life to the fullest, and she continues to do so in loving memory of Steve. This episode is a touching tribute, radiating hope and inspiration. Georgie's warmth and wisdom shine through, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to record with her. We are eagerly looking forward to sharing her remarkable story with all of you. Steve's Obituary  https://www.ruddfuneralhome.com/obituaries/johnsteven-batis Facebook Group: Northern Utah Widower & Widow Warriors. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1372683523526125/?ref=share&mibextid=K8Wfd2Support the show

Anne and her spouse faced the challenges of miscarriages and infertility, which ultimately steered them towards the paths of adoption and foster care. Anne's story is truly remarkable, highlighting the importance of divine timing and the significance of persevering even when all seems lost. Anne has a genuine uplifting presence about her.  We sincerely believe that this beautiful episode will touch the hearts of all who listen to it, and we hope that you too will find it captivating and inspiring.Anne's Instagram Utah Foster CareThe Christmas Box Christmas box house in Ogden Utah is a shelter for foster children that do not have a home to go to.  Christmas time is an important time for people to donate and help make Christmas magical for the kids in that shelter.  The Bowers have taken in two kiddos from the Christmas box house and they truly need all the love and support they can get. Support the show

Listen to Mike's personal account of his experience with Montelukast, a medication he had been taking since he was 14 years old. He vividly describes the physical and mental struggles he endured until one day he discovered a black box warning associated with this drug. Being forced to abruptly stop taking it, Mike gradually realized that many of his ongoing physical issues were linked to his use of Montelukast.It's crucial to hear Mike's story and be aware of the potential side effects of this medication, including its ability to permeate the blood-brain barrier. In a previous episode, we also discussed the drug's impact on a guest's daughter. Remember, knowledge is power, and this is an episode you do not want to miss!Montelukast Facebook GroupSupport the show

AnneMoss shares with us how she tragically lost her 20 year old son to suicide and what her grief journey was like trying to move forward from that loss.  AnneMoss did such an amazing job at articulating her thoughts and feelings about what life has been like after going through such a tragedy.  She takes you a long on her journey as she describes the pain that she has felt and the questions that arose with losing her son.   AnneMoss is an incredible woman who has a story to tell so that she can help others, and we are honored to have her share her story on our platform. We hope you all enjoy this weeks episode.Connect with AnneMoss:Facebook: https://facebook.com/EmotionallyNaked Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemossrogers/Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneMossRogers YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/AnneMossRogers/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emotionallynaked/December 5th webinar: http://copingwithchildloss.com/Links & Resources:AnneMoss' website: https://mentalhealthawarenesseducation.com/AnneMoss' Emotionally Naked © blog: http://emotionallynaked.comAnneMoss' TEDx – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Xm7-MAwZ4AnneMoss' books: Diary of a Broken Mind: A Mother's Story, A Son's Suicide, and The Haunting Lyrics He Left Behind Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at RiskIndex cards for visuals (related to grief)https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2227640140718356&set=pcb.2227641330718237 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2227640277385009&set=pcb.2227641330718237 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2227640747384962&set=pcb.2227641330718237 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2227640550718315&set=pcb.2227641330718237https://photos.google.com/u/1/share/AF1QipP3KMz84ka4jWb8HOZgpf3DQzZjl2bYCmQ08uONfErQxO_1MLkNNyJyLh8v001R6Q/photo/AF1QipMTJdnAZ3VVXs9IvgWzw6xCehNO87dljMrwRCA?key=TEtDT2JlNGJzZ1hrTEo3SHRLdmpLRzF0WEQ0cVpR  Suicide Prevention Speaker for Colleges at Vincennes University in IndianaSupport the show

20 years ago Heidi lost her 5 year old daughter Alison, to a brain tumor.  She walks us through what life was like before Alison's diagnosis, and what happened throughout her life after Alison passed away.  Heidi is definitely making lemonade with her lemons.  She chose to keep moving forward and to honor Alison through living her own life and fulfilling what matters most to her.  Heidi has made some big changes in her career and location.  She worked in public affairs advising on health care policy in a variety of positions including the Idaho Director of Government Affairs for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.  8 years after losing her daughter and realizing she had some good tools & resources to share with others she founded 'Ohana Oasis' in hopes to help others work through their grief & loss through retreats.    Talking with Heidi was so uplifting.  We are so happy that she shared her story and wisdom on our podcast.  We hope that you guys love this episode as much as we did.Instagram: @heidichristinalow  http://heidilow.comhttp://ohanaoasis.orgSupport the show

A knock at Janica's door late one night in November 2016, changed her life forever. Her husband, Eric was a Utah State Trooper and was on duty when he was struck by a vehicle. She was a mom to 3 little boys, and suddenly faced life alone to raise them, as a young widow. She told us her story in today's podcast, and what life looked like as she navigated this sudden loss. The support she had from her community and from her law enforcement family, and what life looks like now for her. Thank you Janica for sharing your story with us!Support the show

Leah chats with us today about how going through her divorce really drove her into this path of financial freedom.  Leah became a parent of three overnight, went through a divorce, and then built her business from the ground up.Leah Hadley is the Founder and CEO of Great Lakes Divorce Financial Solutions, where she is on a mission to provide women financial guidance before, during, and after a divorce, to help them secure financial confidence and independence.  This episode is so informative and we loved having Leah come on to share her knowledge with all of our listeners.Leah has a free Facebook group where you can ask her financial questions.  https://www.facebook.com/watchherthriveYou can find more about Leah and her business at : http://www.greatlakesdfs.comShe is also on Instagram, Facebook, & LinkedIn

Alexandra Wyman is our guest on this week's episode.  She tells us her story about losing her husband to suicide and walking that journey as a single mom with a young child.  One of our favorite things about this episode is that Alexandra is trying to change the stigma that is placed around suicide.  She was so willing to come on our podcast and share with you all, what she has come to learn through the aftermath of losing her husband.Alexandra wrote a book called, The Suicide Club.   If you are going through something similar that may be a great resource for you.  You can also find Alexandra & many more amazing resources through her website at: http://www.forwardtojoy.com/We hope that you enjoy this week's episode.

We're thrilled to be back, and we have an absolutely amazing story to share with all of you!Dan Davis is an extraordinary individual who has faced significant challenges in his life. We were incredibly honored when he graciously accepted our invitation to join us on our podcast to share his inspiring journey. What sets him apart as a guest is that he is involved in a very similar line of work as us here at Making Lemonade, yet in a video format. Dan is the proud owner of Stiry, and during our conversation, he opens up about the origin of Stiry and also shares his own health struggles.As Dan takes us through his story, you'll hear him talk about the small hints and clues that guided him towards his next steps. He shares how he battled health issues for years and how a fortunate encounter led him to a doctor who could finally shed light on his mysterious symptoms.Dan is the creator of, Breaking Into Beautiful, the documentary about Kim White and her journey through her battle with cancer.  He also has worked with Imagine Dragons, The Emily Effect, Tia Stokes, and another beautiful guest of ours, Tessie Freidli. Recording this episode was an incredible experience, and we genuinely hope that you enjoy it just as much. We kindly ask you to leave a comment for Dan. Your feedback means the world to our guests, and it also helps boost our visibility in the algorithm, enabling us to reach more listeners.Once again, we want to express our gratitude for your presence here - we truly appreciate you all. We adore our audience!ResourcesIf you want help in discovering your story,  Dan & the Stiry team have created a book that you can buy hereIf anyone would like to produce their own story with Stiry, or their business/nonprofit story, here is where they can go to get in contact with Stiry: https://www.stiry.com/contact

Brooke talks with us today about her daughter Korrie who was diagnosed with a rare disease, Rett Syndrome. Rett Syndrome is a rare genetic mutation affecting the development of the brain.  Rett Syndrome is rarely inherited.  Brooke tells us about the ups and downs of getting Korrie's diagnosis.  She gives us a little insight into their family dynamic and how special Korrie is.  This is such an informative and beautiful episode.  We hope you enjoy it. 

This week's guest, Mandi tells us about her son, Tate who passed away a couple of years ago.  Tate was a talented, smart, brave, and very busy boy who seemed to excel at many things in life.  Tate unfortunately left this world too soon, and Mandi does a beautiful job at sharing her experiences through the grief and mourning of her son.   We love when you guys leave comments for our guests.  Thank you for listening to our episodes.  We love you guys! 

This episode was such a great one to record because we learned so much from Aubrey.  Talk about a person who persevered through her set backs in life and continues to thrive.  Aubrey has memories from back in Kindergarten where she experienced being kept in her classroom while the other kids went out for recess.  Her teacher was trying to get her to write her A's correctly, and Aubrey was trying so hard to do it "the right way".  Neither her nor her teacher realized that the reason Aubrey was struggling was because she was showing signs of dyslexia.  Now, Aubrey is a teacher who has so much empathy for her students.  She knows what it is like to struggle and shows her students so much love and compassion through teaching.  This episode was so informative and Aubrey did such an amazing job at describing her life while living with dyslexia.  We loved recording with Aubrey and know that you'll enjoy this episode!

Summer is our guest for this week's episode.  Summer's husband was snowmobiling, which he had been doing his whole life, when he was caught in an avalanche that took his life.  Summer walks us through that horrific day while describing her thoughts and feelings when she found out what had happened. Summer lost her husband, and her 3 young children lost their father that day.  Because of the circumstances, Summer turned something horrific into helping others with education, resources and the correct gear to use and wear while snowmobiling.  She started a non-profit called the Adam Anderson Avalanche Project, where all proceeds will be used to provide free rentals of avalanche preparedness kits to snowmobilers in Island Park, Idaho.  You can find out more information here: https://www.adamandersen.org/?fbclid=PAAabSaUeewfykrTUIEoaljxJJaKPxCBpLVp1fQejTbs5B8xbUd8PYNgKizEgMost recently Summer has started a podcast called, Find Me in the Daisies.  It is a podcast about finding joy in the journey.  We love that we get to share a small part of Summer and her story with all of you.  She is an incredible woman who is doing amazing things in spite of what lemons life has thrown her.  Make sure to check out her podcast and leave a sweet comment for Summer!

You guys, we have such an amazing guest to share with you this week.  Karen tells us her story about her son Kyle passing away.  She walks us through what he was like growing up.  The trials he had gone through in life and what he had to overcome.  His love for football, and how much the game meant to him.  Karen tells us about the days leading up to Kyle's passing, and what life was like after.  We loved hearing Karen talk about the amazing person that Kyle was and how he loved big, and lived big.  As Karen spoke about Kyle, you could feel the love that she had for him.  She was meant to tell his story, and we love that we get to share it with all of you.  In honor of Kyle,LOVE BIGLIVE BIG

This week we are dropping another episode from season 1.   We feel that we have so many important and amazing episodes, and we hope to bring in traffic through these re-releases.  So help us out and share Jordin'  episode, it is a powerful one!XOXO - Whit + KelsDecember 2018 changed Jordin's life forever. She was traveling with her daughter Lyla and her husband, Devin, to see some Christmas lights when a drowsy driver hit them. Unfortunately, Devin didn't make it, and Jordin has been living with grief ever since. Becoming a widow and a single mom at such a young age hasn't been easy, but Jordin has done an incredible job. She is strong, resilient, and has done everything she can to make sure Lyla will always know how much her daddy loves her. Thank you, Jordin, for telling us your story!

Hey friends!  We have been talking about how we have so many good episodes from amazingly brave people and we have decided it is time to re-release a few!  For this week's episode we are dropping Tessie's story from season 1!  If you missed her episode, or are new to this podcast, make sure to listen to this one!Tessie is an incredible woman who tells us about the trials she has been through since becoming a wife and mom. Her husband, Zach went blind shortly after having their first child, and just as they were learning to navigate a new normal..the unthinkable happened.  At two years old, their son, Dakota, was in an accident and received a traumatic brain injury. Tessie tells us about the whole experience, and how their new normal, changed again. Tessie is the perfect example of someone that has endured everything life has thrown at her, and has made some pretty awesome lemonade out of her lemons. We are so glad we get to share her story, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

We are so lucky to have Andrea come and talk to us about her liver transplant because April is Organ Donation Awareness month.  Andrea tells her story so gracefully while sharing the highs and lows of needing an organ, and living with a transplant.  Andrea works closely with Donor Connect in Utah.  Andrea and Whitney go speak with schools to teach children about the importance if being an Organ Donor. We loved having Andrea on this week's podcast and we hope you enjoy her episode!  

Suzanne's episode is such a beautiful story.  You can feel the love that she has for her parents and she tells us about losing both of them within a few years of each other.  Suzanne's relationship that she had with her parents is one that many people dream of.  We love that we get to have her tell her story through our podcast.Suzanne's father had a heart attack and while he was in the hospital recovering, her mother wasn't feeling very well and went into the doctor to see what was going on.  Her mother was then diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and passed away shortly after.  Her father went on to live a few more years before he passed away as well.  Suzanne also went through more trauma while miscarrying her youngest baby and almost losing her life in the process.  From everything that she has endured she has also battled deep depression which led her to getting professional help.  She has been working very hard throughout the years to help heal herself through all of life's lemons.  We loved speaking with Suzanne and really loved what she had to offer while telling her story.  We know that her story will resonate with others and be healing for people to hear.  Thank you for listening and make sure to leave a comment for Suzanne.

Our guest on this weeks episode is Syna.  Syna tells us about her and her husbands journey through infertility and what eventually led them to the adoption of their son Mika.  She talks about the dead ends that they had to push through for Mika.  After adopting Mika and feeling like life couldn't get any better, Mika contracted botulism.  Syna does such a great job at telling her story and we are excited to share it with all of you.Syna, her husband Joel, and Mika are looking to grow their family.  They are hoping to adopt again.  You can find out more about their journey through the links below.Adoption Pagehttps://adoption.com/profiles/SynaHarris  Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/hoping.to.adopt.again/https://www.instagram.com/synaharris/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/Joel.Syna.Mika/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@SynaHarris

Kylee was gracious enough to come on our podcast this week and share the story of her little boy, McKrae. Kylee and her husband, Kale were so excited in March of 2022 to bring a new baby into their family. What they didn't know, was that they were delivering a baby with down syndrome into a hospital that didn't have the staff or a NICU to give them the right kind of care.McKrae's health was also put to the test during his first few months of life, when he started to have unexplained seizures. Kylee tells us about how she recognized what his seizures were, and how they have been working with doctors to make sure his health continues to improve.Every year in the US, 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome. It's a genetic condition when a baby is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. It can be diagnosed through prenatal screenings, and can also be diagnosed after birth with a physical exam, and a blood test.McKrae is going to be one year old this month, and we couldn't help but share his story with all of our listeners. His diagnosis doesn't change how perfect and special he is, and Kylee won't let it hold him back from accomplishing anything he wants to!

Chris and Ashley share their story with us about their daughter, Genevieve.  Genevieve left this world 15 months ago, which also left a lot of unanswered questions for her parents.  As Chris and Ashley have sifted through journals and Genevieve's phone, they have discovered a lot, which led to even more questions.  In this episode, Chris and Ashley share with us so many things about suicide and what kids are going through at such young ages.  They also share a medication that Genevieve was using for asthma called Montelukast (Singulair).  Like every medication, there are side effects, but one of the side effects of Montelukast (Singulair) is suicide ideation.  This is a new side effect that has just been made public by the Black Box Warning issued by the FDA.  At the time of Genevieve's passing, they had no idea that this was a side effect.  It is not on the box, you have to do some digging to find ALL of the side effects of this medicine. Chris and Ashley are on a mission to educate while bringing awareness and love to those suffering.  We are so proud and feel so honored to be able to share their story with all of you.  Resources: Facebook support group for Montelukast (Singulair) Side Effects https://www.facebook.com/groups/40378158644/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT Facebook support group 'Parents who have lost a child to suicide https://www.facebook.com/groups/53437786878/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition https://www.cachecounty.org/fairgrounds/live-on.htmlLive On Utah https://liveonutah.org/ Boxed warning about mental side effects for Singular https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requires-boxed-warning-about-serious-mental-health-side-effects-asthma-and-allergy-drug

Our guest this week is Jessica Swift.  Jessica tells us her story of losing her husband in 2018.  At the time they had a toddler and were pregnant with their 2nd child.  Soon after her husband passed away she found that rainbows carried a form of symbolism for her husband.  She began to paint beautiful rainbows.  The first 40 that she painted went to close friends and family of theirs.  She continued to paint and use that as a form of therapy.  Throughout her story you'll hear Jessica talk about what helped her move forward after such a tragedy.  Jessica is beyond talented.  She recently wrote a book that is being released on March 21st.  Her book is called, Radiant Rainbows: Messages of Hope, Healing, and Comfort.  You can find her book here:  https://jessicaswift.com/products/radiant-rainbows-book On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Radiant-Rainbows-Messages-Healing-Comfort/dp/1423663632/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=radiant+rainbows+jessica+swift&qid=1676315701&sprefix=radiant+rain%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1 Jessica's links are: Website: https://www.jessicaswift.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaswift Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicagswift We hope you enjoy her episode.

Brynne is our guest today and she tells us about her experience when her 6 year old son, Brig was diagnosed with Leukemia. We loved hearing about little Brig! How tough he was and his experience going through treatments, how finding the positive helped them get through it, and then finding out that he had relapsed. Brynne did a great job of sharing all the ups and downs, and we are so glad that Brig is now doing great and cancer free. Thank you for listening!

Seantae, her husband and 2 of their children survived a very horrific car accident on their way to a backpacking trip.  They were hit head on while traveling a 2 lane road.  The vehicle that hit into them was passing a semi truck and failed to see them.  Seantae does a beautiful job at describing their accident, the aftermath and what they are doing now to help other victims and the family of victims of motor vehicle accidents.  She talks about the miracles that happened that day, and what role everyone played in helping them survive.  This episode is full of inspiration.  Not only has Seantae and her family been through such a horrific accident, they now help others who have also experienced a motor vehicle accident.  Their organization, Sandal Blue Foundation provides financial and informational resources to help others who have gone through a similar situation like theirs.  Click the link to contact Seantae directly to get help for accident survivors, get support, or book a speaking event.   seantae.jackson@sandalbluefoundation.org Resources:Sandal Blue Foundation - WebsiteSandal Blue Foundation - FacebookSandal Blue Foundation - InstagramSandal Blue Foundation - YouTubeSandal Blue Foundation - TikTok

Andrew is our guest on this weeks episode.  Andrew is 61 years young and had been on dialysis for a very long time.  Andrew not only is on dialysis but he doesn't have any kidneys at the moment.   He gives us some insight into his life being on the transplant list, battling cancer, and going to dialysis 3 days a week.  His life isn't easy but he has such a positive attitude.   We hope you enjoy listening to this episode!

Our guest Tammie is an incredible woman.  She has been through so much heartbreak in her life and is here today to tell us what she has learned through it some of it. Tammie had been a nurse for 30 years and currently works in the ICU where she sometimes has to take care of patients with addiction - which coincidently is what her daughter has battled with for the past 13 years.  Tammie first discovered her daughters addiction when she found her lifeless body in their home.  Tammie is such an advocate for treating anyone and everyone as an important human being.  No matter what the story is behind the reason for someone's struggles.   Tammie works with the homeless as well and teaches us a few things about their lifestyle, which was such good knowledge! Tammie and her husband have started a woodworking business, where some of the proceeds from each beautiful handmade cutting board that is sold, go to help fund and assist addicts in their recovery.  For more information about their business go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/WasatchArtisan

Brittany is our guest on this weeks episode and she tells us a little bit about her journey in recognizing the signs & symptoms of anxiety & depression coming into her life.One of my favorite things that Brittany has said is that she wants to help others to not feel so alone, and I think throughout her episode she does such a great job at telling her story and we know that it'll help validate someone else who is on a similarjourney. She says that the biggest thing she is learning right now is to own her story and love herself in the process; accepting herself while looking for ways to heal. I feel that is so relatable in most of our journey's through life. Throughout Brittany's episode she gives what sounds like simple tools to help combat negative thoughts and to implement positive talk into our daily lives. As easy as it sounds it can still be so hard to remember. Having someone or something to remind us is so important!Brittany has done a lot of research herself in finding helpful forms of therapy. She has a list of helpful resources so make sure to look that over.Thank you Brittany for being brave and sharing your story on our platform.Daring greatly; Pema Chodron"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's arelationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well, can we bepresent with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognizeour shared humanity."Resources:• The Emily Effect-www.theemilyeffect.org•Brene Brown -Daring Greatly•Elder Jeffery R Holland - October 2013 Like a Broken Vessel• Brene Brown - The Gifts of Imperfection • Brene Brown - Atlas of the Heart•Dr. Thomas Phelan- The Manager Mom Epidemic, The Best Moms Don't Do It All •Kristin Neff-Fierce Self Compassion• Gary Chapman - 5 Love Languages

Jodi is this weeks guest and she talks to us about her journey that led her to a spiritual awakening.  Jodi shares about getting diagnosed with childhood cancer and 2 weeks later her mom also received a cancer diagnosis.   She shares about her past marriage that led to divorce.  Jodi also shares the moment when her mother got diagnosed with cancer for a 2nd time and how that was such a pivotal moment in her journey.  If you are looking for little nuggets of wisdom, Jodi is one of those people who really found herself in this life and helps others to also find a purpose.  She has an amazing business and if you are interested in learning more from her you can find her on Instagram @jodinelsoncoaching Jodi has an upcoming seminar located in Utah, but she also works with people virtually.  So if you interested in connecting with her, send her a DM. As always, leave a kind comment for our guest, and let us know what you think about this weeks episode.  

Our guest this week is Sue, and we were so lucky to have her record with us and to share not only her story, but her wisdom as well.  Sue suffered with an eating disorder most of her life and she was able to cure her eating disorder with EMDR therapy.  Sue shares her journey and experiences and you won't want to miss this episode.  We are so lucky to share her story through this platform.  Resources:https://www.emdr.com/https://www.emdria.org/EMDR therapists for Cache County Utah - recommended by local police officer's:Jodi Morgan 435-213-7736 Tonya Pirtle 435-770-4287Janae Sorensen 435-512-4923 Make sure to show Sue some love by leaving a comment!  Thanks for listening, and have a great week!

We're back, and boy do we have such an amazing episode for our season 3 opener!! Courtney is our guest and she shares her story about her past, and very tumultuous marriage.  Court shares her story to help others see the red flags that she had once missed.  Recording with Court was such an amazing experience.   She is a beautiful and strong woman who won't let her past break her down anymore.  She has definitely learned how to turn her lemons into lemonade and we are so proud to share her story with all of you. We love when you guys show us your thoughts by commenting.  Let us know what you think about today's episode.

You guys!!!  Today's episode is the last one for season 2.  We were struggling when trying to decide if we should release one or two more, but we decided we'd let you guys catch up and get ready for season 3!! This season has been amazing.  We have got to meet some of the most amazing people and we feel so honored that we get to use our platform to share their incredible stories with all of you. Today we talk a little bit about our Foundation's and our goals for their future.  We also share a little bit about grief through the holidays. We share our personal stories of grief and traditions through the holidays in hopes to help some of you dealing with the same emotions, to not feel so alone. Things change so much after a big life "event" like death.  Just know that we are here and are always willing to listen with open ears and loving hearts.  Please reach out to us if you ever need to talk.  We know how incredibly important that is.  We were once there, and still are at times. We are seriously so lucky to have all of you amazing listeners, and we cannot thank you enough for all of your support.  Get ready for season 3 coming in January! XOXO ~ Whit + Kels

This week we are taking a deep dive into our host, Kelsey! Kels is just one of those people that has so much to offer this world. Her insight, love, compassion, understanding, and generosity to others is unmatched! She is always so full of wisdom, and I always look forward to discussions with her, because I always take away so much! I truely have loved learning from her, and I really wanted to have an opportunity for the world to see her heart the way those that are closest see it. She opens up to us about her grief journey, life after loss, and how her life has been affected by losing her son. We also get to learn some fun things like her favorite things, and if she would rather live on the beach or in the mountains!I am so lucky to be able to have a front row seat in life with Kelsey, and this journey we have embarked on together. I know you guys will love learning about her, just as much as I did!

On today's episode we got the pleasure of speaking with Ashlei whose son, Colton was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 11.  Colton is 17 now.  Something special that they do is go get donuts every year on his diaversary (diagnosis day).We loved recording with Ashlei!  She is the definition of a momma bear who is here to protect her children at all costs.  She tells us about Colton and his diagnosis and she also shares about his alert dog, Runner.  Ashlei shares some very interesting stories about Runner and how amazing he is at alerting Colton.  These alert dogs are astounding, and I love listening to their stories.   Colton was Talki Foundation's person of the year in 2021.  This episode will conclude our recordings with the Talki Foundation.   We have loved spotlighting them through November since November is Diabetes Awareness month.   A big thank you to the Talki Foundation for sharing their stories with the world through our platform. We hope you guys take the time to listen and learn.  These are incredible stories of amazing people who don't let a diagnosis stop them from living.  Thank you for listening.  Make sure to like and subscribe to our podcast.  Thank you for sharing with your family and friends.   We love you guys!!! 

Dominique is Talki Foundation's person of the year, and we got the privilege to record with her and to share her story with all of you. Dominique tells her story about getting diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2016 due to a DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) episode.  Dominique  didn't let that slow her down for too long.  She quickly figured out how to live with this diagnosis, and how to care for herself correctly so she could continue doing the things that she loves.   Dominique is a soccer player, coach, and also plays football for the WNFC Atlanta Phoenix.  Sports has been a huge part of her life.  It is inspiring to listen to her talk about continuing to do what she loves and not letting her diagnosis keep her down. Dominique also tells us about her alert dog Bowie and how he had been so accurate at alerting her when her levels are off.  We loved recording this episode with Dominique.  She is an inspiration and an amazing woman.   I'll end this with a quote from her mother.

Charlie - Founder of Talki Foundation, comes on the podcast to raise awareness for Diabetes.  Charlie is one of the most passionate people I have met.  He found his calling in life and strives to share his knowledge with others.  He teaches us about diabetic alert dogs and how smart and consistent they are for the diabetic community. www.talkifoundation.org will be live worldwide by December 1st, 2022.  Make sure to support this foundation and check out their website! November is Diabetes Awareness month and we are grateful that we get to do our part in raising awareness.   Our next two episodes are about other diabetics also, and they are amazing stories that are uplifting and inspiring.   Make sure to check those out as well when they are live. Thanks for being here.  Make sure to save and subscribe to our podcast.  It helps us to reach more people!  Also we would love it if you shared your favorite episode on social media.  That helps too! XOXO Whit + Kels

Diane Nienas is our guest on this week's episode, and she is an incredible woman who has gone through losing 2 children in different ways. At age 2 her son Leo was diagnosed with leukodystrophy.  He went from happy and healthy to quickly losing the functioning of his body.Her son, Trent was diagnosed with Glioblastoma at the age of 26.  Another devastating outcome for their family.Because of Diane's experiences she has written 2 books.  A memoir entitled, "I see Jesus", and a children's book, "Living Life With Leo."You can find more information about Diane at her website, www.thebreathoflight.comWe loved recording with Diane, and feel lucky that she shared her story on our podcast so we could share it with the world.  Thank you, Diane. We hope you enjoy this episode.

LeeAnn tells her story on this week's episode.  She shares her journey through infertility issues, to getting diagnosed at 28 week's with pre-eclampsia.  Her situation went from confusion to scary very fast.  LeeAnn was rushed to a specialty hospital to deliver her sweet 2 lb 3 oz baby, Kamry.  She shares her journey of delivering a very pre-term baby and what life was like for their 10 week stay in the NICU. According to the WHO, 15 million babies are born pre-term every year.  That is 1 in 10 babies.  LeeAnn's delivery was considered a "very preterm" baby.   The subcategories are: • Extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks) • Very preterm (28-32 weeks) • moderate to late preterm (32-37 weeks) Knowing the signs and symptoms of seeing pre-eclampsia in your loved one might just save their life! Thank you LeeAnn for sharing your story and helping to raise awareness.Healthy Lifestyle Solutions with Maya AcostaAre you ready to upgrade your health to a new level and do so by learning from experts...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Amy is a 2 time breast cancer survivor with a story that will help bring awareness to having regular body examinations.  Amy has such a beautiful and positive perspective about life, and you can feel her positivity as she tells her story. We are so honored that she was willing to come on and record with us.  We hope you all enjoy her episode!Healthy Lifestyle Solutions with Maya AcostaAre you ready to upgrade your health to a new level and do so by learning from experts...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Angie is our guest on this week's episode.  Angie became a widow just a few short years ago and she tells us her story of loss and having to find herself again.  At the time of her late-husbands passing, they had just become empty nesters - so trying to navigate loss during an already new chapter was tough, and Angie teaches us about what she learned during that time.  Angie is an incredible soul with an amazing heart.  We loved recording this episode with her.  We hope you guys love it too.Show Angie some love by leaving a comment.

We feel very honored and grateful that we get to share this week's story with you all.  Shaylee is 21 years old, and wise beyond her years.  The kind of wise that comes through hardships.  The kind that is learned from pulling yourself out of darkness. When Shaylee was 14 years old she was contemplating suicide and had a plan in place.  Luckily her friend was aware and was able to help get Shaylee the help she needed.  Shaylee has worked hard and continues to work hard every day to keep her mental health and awareness in check.  She shares with us the tools that she uses, and also what her 14 year old self could have used years ago.  Leave Shaylee a comment below and share her episode with your friends and family.  We know her story will resonate with the ones who need it.

Kendyl and Charlie are our guests for this week's episode.   They are two young ladies who lost their mother and have come to share their story.  These two have been through other trauma and trials as well.  Instead of writing about it I am going to let these amazing girls tell you all about it in their episode.  I am inspired by their desire to keep going in spite of the losses that they have been through.  We hope you enjoy this episode, and make sure to leave a comment for Kendyl & Charlie. See you next week!Healthy Lifestyle Solutions with Maya AcostaAre you ready to upgrade your health to a new level and do so by learning from experts...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify HOW MY PARENTS RAISED ME Healing Childhood TraumaIf you struggle with mental health, join me for these deeply healing conversations.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

This week's guest is Samie.  Samie joins us today and shares her story about her sweet son, Drayke who took his own life earlier this year.  Drayke was only 12.  He was getting bullied by another boy his age.  Samie says that Drayke was compassionate, sweet, and funny.  He actually tried to befriend the bully hoping that this boy just needed a friend.  What an example of compassion Drayke was.  Their family's world was shattered the moment Drayke was gone.  Samie and her husband have started a national campaign #bagsagainstbullies.  She talks about what it's all about on this episode.  You can also find out more information @  https://bagsagainstbullies.com/ Samie, thank you for sharing your story on our podcast.  It was an honor to record with you.  We hope we can do your story justice and make Drayke proud. 

Lyndsey's story is one that you won't want to miss!  Whit and I know that we will be sharing her story with all of our family and friends for many reasons.  Lyndsey's story is about her son who was speeding while driving with his best friend.  Her storing is heartbreaking, but she is courageous for telling it.  She talks about survivor's guilt, and how that has impacted her family.  She talks about changes that she wish she could make and gives advice to us parents who have teen drivers now, and in the future.  I personally learned so much from her and her words.   As hard as it is for her to tell her story, I know it will impact someone else for the better.  Link for Lyndsey's Zero Fatalities Campaignhttps://youtu.be/BECn80uRnRQFit, Healthy & Happy Podcast Welcome to the Fit, Healthy and Happy Podcast hosted by Josh and Kyle from Colossus...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Ashley is our guest on this week's episode.  Ashley tells about her son, Cash who contracted Adenovirus at just 10 days old.  If it wasn't for Ashley's intuition & courage, she wouldn't have found out as soon as she did that Cash was sick.  Ashley's story is heartbreaking and frustrating to say the least.  I hope her story can reach the ones who need to hear it.  Thanks Ashley for sharing your story. 

We've missed you guys! We are ready to be back, and be better than ever. Lots of new guests headed your way. We just wanted to pop on, say hi, and we will catch you next week!XOXOWhit + Kels

You guys won't want to miss this episode! Our guest, Holly Jo is a wife, and a mother of 4.  Holly tells us her story of her son Easten getting diagnosed with Biliary Atresia and eventually needing a transplant.  She talks about what life was like while Easten was sick, and the emotional rollercoaster of being on a transplant list.  Holly then talks about life after transplant.  There are so many ups and downs to her story.  I am so grateful for Holly and the bravery that she shows as she raises awareness for organ donation, & talking about how it deeply impacted her family.  She did an amazing job, and we hope you enjoy this episode.  ❤️Menders: Love & Leadership in Health SystemsMenders reimagine what is possible in healthcare to creatively address structural...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Haley and McKinsey are our guests for this week's episode.  They both have stories about postpartum depression, and want to share how different their situations were, between the two of them.  Haley & McKinsey's goals for sharing their stories was to show how different perinatal health looks for different people, & to get rid of the shame surrounding mental health.  They also shared their perspectives on some ways that we can help someone who might be going through some difficult times.  These ladies also talk about what helped them to heal, and their lives now while they continue to work on themselves and their mental health. Make sure to check out the resources they shared, below.  We hope you enjoy this episode. •Fighting Forward by Hannah Brencher •Come Matter Here by Hannah Brencher •Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mother's by Karen Kleiman • postpartum.net   They have a text help line in English and in Spanish, resources about group therapy, & a lot of educational resources. Help for mom's, dad's, grandparents, etc.  Online support groups.  Phone calls with a licensed therapist, & can be anonymous. •The Anya Project -  Instagram, Light Keeper's membership, biannual retreatsMenders: Love & Leadership in Health SystemsMenders reimagine what is possible in healthcare to creatively address structural...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Our guest today is someone so near and dear to our hearts. Jessica is the mom of 3 beautiful children. Her oldest son, Dylan, is the little boy who received Tayzli's heart. She tells us her story today, about being given Dylan's diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome,  while she was pregnant with him. Not knowing what the future would look like with her little baby, Jessica and her husband JP held onto the hope of having their little baby for as long as possible. She told us about the surgeries and procedures they endured, being put on the transplant list, and all the unknowns of waiting for a heart while watching their little boy get sicker and sicker. Jessica also talked about learning about Tayzli and being able to meet her family and the feelings and emotions that happen with organ donation. It was such an honor to talk with Jessica and to hear her side, hear about the struggles Dylan had, and how they are doing now. Thank you Jess for being so vulnerable and sharing your story with us all. We love you!!XOXOWhit + Kels

Heather Ford is our guest on this weeks episode.  Heather is a widow and a mother of 2.  She spoke with us about the sudden & unexpected passing of her husband in 2017 due to a genetic cirrhosis of the liver. Heather tells us her timeline of losing her husband, and learning to navigate her grief, along with their 2 daughters. Heather is a grief coach who is doing wonderful things for the grief community.  She teaches the tools that will help you navigate any type of loss.  Death, divorce, friendship, etc. You can find Heather on Facebook where she teaches an 8 week course called the Grief Recovery Method.  She also does one on one coaching.  You can email her at heatherfordgriefcoach@gmail.com You can also find her on Instagram @fordgriefcoach

Today we have our amazing children on this episode!   We thought we would change it up and let them tell the listeners their thoughts about losing a sibling.  We are very proud of how brave they were to get in front of the mic and tell us their views and emotions about sibling grief.  We even learned a little something new from them!  So we hope you enjoy this episode and maybe it will be helpful, and/or insightful for some.  Leave our kids some love in the comments below.