US 2

Being diagnosed at 18 years of age with a debilitating disease would devastate most. Playing the victim role would be easy to do, especially when someone tells you that you can't do something you really feel called to do! In this episode, Kurt B. exposes his strong will and desire to become what he, by textbook, can't. Listen as he shares how he transformed from the trainer to the competitor. What a cool adventure he lives. *(Please check out our website US2podcast.com to participate in Kurt's fundraiser)

Navigating the way through the educational process for a child with different learning abilities presents numerous challenges. While educators understand the benchmarks of teaching and learning, parents understand the entire child. In an ideal world, both sides would collaborate on the education but we know it doesn't always happen. In this episode, Robin James shares her journey with her now adult son. She describes her loneliness in the battle, and how it shaped and molded not only her son, but her own career. She now finds herself fiercely advocating for him after graduating from high school....stuck in the "now what" and the "from here to where?". Listen as Robin weaves her child's real life story, while she fabricates fiction of her own to make it all happen.

Every parent handles "the news" in their own way. One may retreat in fear of the future, while another may throw themselves into a life of advocacy. There's no right or wrong way to process a life of caring for a child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (or any other disability for that matter). This ugly disease affects the entire family. Listen, as Dana Sachs-Edwards shares how she and her family choose to face DMD. While her burden is heavy, she has invented the "perfect lift" to carry the weight. God bless the families living with Duchenne.

Taking a break from the outside world is a great thing, and totally necessary. But, sometimes we are forced to adapt, mold and navigate "new" circumstances and use more creative ways to get the job done! It makes us better at our craft, but man, is it ever hard! Listen as Heather and Buffy share summer stories that made Heather "go with the flow" (all pun intended), and Buffy realize...everything comes back to Heather. Welcome to season 2 of US2.

Ever feel like people are staring at you? Or act like your child with special needs is invisible? It can be hurtful...especially when coming from the health care community. In this episode, Mary B. relays how she uses these opportunities for good, by educating others with compassion. Listen, as this sweet mom shares her advocacy for her son who was born with Q18- Syndrome. Change how you see...

Protect? Don't protect? Enable? Empower? It's so trying to navigate how to raise a child with special needs. Dallas K. and his mom, Diana D. share their life story of the "get busy living or get busy dying" attitude from day one! Listen, as this cool young man of 24 years gives us an inside look of the good, the ugly and the adventures he's experienced living with Cerebral Palsy. And how his biggest advocate has empowered him to be who he was meant to be.

After losing a baby to premature birth, this mom was singing the praises when she learned she was pregnant again!  And then....In this episode Jody H. shares her heart for her sons struggles and victories with Coffin-Lowry Syndrome.  Listen as this funny mom turns grief and trial into laughter, gets real and explains how she balances work and life so she doesn't lose her sh*t.  Please know this episode contains SEVERAL sentence enhancers including the "F bomb"....multiple times!

Any parent of a child with special needs understands stress.  Raising TWINS with special needs, ASD and spastic quadriplegia CP, may grow anxiety to epic proportions.  In this episode, Jes K.D. discloses her struggles through depression, fueled by guilt, while caring for her children.  Listen, as this vulnerable mom breaks her silence and shares her personal journey through anxiety and depression and how it affects her daily life.

Preparing, waiting, hoping.  Hoping the experts have it all wrong about your unborn daughter with a fatal type of Osteogenesis Imperfecta.  Waiting for her to enter this world only to take her last breath, but she doesn't.  Preparing to lose the baby you've longed for, but you don't.  In this episode, Dustin L. scripts every detail of the dad side of living with and providing for his sweet daughter, Aurora.  Listen, as this honest dad shares his heart about parenting special needs.  

Learning motherhood is a challenging journey.  Learning motherhood at 19 AND of a child with SMA, a fatal disease, takes learning to an entirely new level.  At age 19, Emma P. asked herself, "am I too young for this?"  But life experiences shape us, mature us, grow us.  Listen, as this young mom shares her maturity through staggering life circumstances and how she and her daughter are beating the odds.  Maybe she's not too young for this.  Maybe she's just right for this.  Be moved by this single mom's transition from teenager to super mom.

Knowing that your unborn baby will have chromosomal anomaly is tough to understand.  In this episode, Ashley L. shares her story of her son's rough beginning and how a tragic event changed their lives in the blink of an eye.  Listen, as this awesome mom explains her feelings of guilt, acceptance and purpose.

Imagine...you are standing on the edge of a cliff...your view is amazing.  And then, you feel a hand touch your back and you fear the inevitable.  In this episode, Jessica B. explains what keeps her from falling off.  Listen, as this AMAZING mom connects Down Syndrome to adoption, flight to fight, and despair to hope while standing on the edge of unknowns.  You can't help but feel inspired by her story.

One in 59 children is affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (CDC). While so much research is happening around us, there is still so much we do not know about ASD.  In this episode, Sarah W. tells us how she will go to the end of the earth (literally) to find ways to help her son, Jonah. Listen, as this mom explains why alternative therapies bring hope to her family.

Who doesn't love a great vacation? We pack, prepare and plan for every little detail, especially when traveling with special needs.  And then, life throws a curve ball...and we find ourselves rethinking what vacation really means.  This episode will make you laugh and remind you that you are not alone in your struggle.  It will put you back on "track".

Caring for a child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy changes your entire life and the expectations of a "normal" childhood.  Though the challenges are great, Carsen and his mom Leslie face them with teamwork, bravery and a bond that will never be broken. Listen as Leslie and Carsen get real about the disease; what it has taken from them and what it has brought them.

Being a new mother is difficult on its own, but when your baby is diagnosed with a disability or illness a parent is faced with even more challenges.  In this episode, Heather O. shares her story of 18 month old daughter Abby, who was diagnosed with Microcephaly at 8 months.

Sometimes raising a child with a disabilities can feel isolating and like a bowl full of lemons.  This episode exposes real conversation about those "lemons" and how they can turn to lemonade.  A look at real life situations and how to laugh, even when faced with the most devastating circumstances.