We Saved You a Seat

Better Hearing and Speech Month: Renee Powell, with Oklahoma Family Network

Each May, Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role so many play in providing life-altering treatment.  For 2021, the theme is "Building Connections."

 

Today, Oklahoma Family Network introduces one of their own, Renee Powell, through the podcast.  Renee shares her heart, her journey, and educates us on the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) goals and objectives, and how we can apply them throughout Oklahoma.

 

Renee shares her personal story and experience with her son Nolan, and their journey finding the right diagnosis surrounding hearing loss and finding the right resources for their family!

 

Resources Mentioned:

List of Accommodations - Hands & Voices:  https://handsandvoices.org/pdf/IEP_Checklist.pdf

Better Hearing and Speech Month:  https://www.asha.org/bhsm/

 

 

#EHDI #BetterHearingAndSpeechMonth #HearingLoss #EarlyHearingDetectionAndIntervention #Amplification #AmericanSignLanguage #SigningExactEnglish #ScreeningIsOutOfRange #IEPvs504

Stroke Awareness Month (Part Two): Stephanie Tachell

Welcome to part two of our podcast highlighting Stroke Awareness Month with Stephanie Tachell.  Today Stephanie shares about her typical day, highlights some resources, speaks about the relationship her son and Lynnex have, and so much more.

 

TEFRA (Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982):  https://oklahoma.gov/ohca/individuals/programs/tefra-children-overview-care-for-children-with-disabilities.html

 

 

#StrokeAwarenessMonth # PerintalStroke #TEFRA #SoonerCare #PrivateDutyNursing #DNR #FamilySupport #YouCanDoIt 

Stroke Awareness Month (Part One): Stephanie Tachell

We present another two part series podcast today, to help bring conversation, awareness, and education to the topic of strokes, specifically perinatal stroke, for stroke awareness month.  In today's podcast you will meet Stephanie Tachell, as she shares her powerful story and experience with two of her immediate family members having strokes, possibly hours apart.  

 

In part one of this conversation, you'll hear Stephanie share her birth story, NICU experience, and diagnosis.  Powerful words and experiences are shared as Stephanie gives us a glimpse into their world after their daughter, Lynnex, was born.  

 

Thank you Stephanie for sharing with us today!

 

#StrokeAwarenessMonth #PerinatalStrokeAwareness #NICUAwareness #PostPartumHemorrhage #PPHN #MeconiumAspiration 

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness: Part Two (Heather Ashwood & Megan Smith)

Today's podcast completes the conversation two moms (Heather Ashwood and Megan Smith) are having as they process the future for their young children, who have cystic fibrosis.  They share their thoughts about the possibility of of lung transplants, medications, what a day in their life looks like, education and their future plans as they integrate Cystic Fibrosis into their world and every day life.

 

Thank you Heather and Megan for sharing, bringing awareness, and educating many about cystic fibrosis and what your daily routine looks like.

 

#CFAwarenessMonth #CysticFibrosis #FacesOfCF #NICU #MeconiumIleus #65Roses #CFWarriors #AbigailsAdvocates #AidensArmy #CysticFibrosisAwarenessMonth

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness: Part One (Heather Ashwood & Megan Smith)

(Ashwood Family)

(Smith Family)

Cystic Fibrosis Facts courtesy of www.cff.org : 

• Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. 
• The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leader in search for a cure for cystic fibrosis.
• More than 30,000 people in the United States are living with cystic fibrosis.

Today we hear from two families who have children with cystic fibrosis and their stories of birth, diagnosis, and surviving the first few months of learning about Cystic Fibrosis.  

 

We desperately want to share today how Heather Ashwood and Megan Smith connected and bonded, because of their shared experience with cystic fibrosis, the NICU, and the cystic fibrosis community and hope others will get involved after hearing their stories.

 

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Cystic Fibrosis of Oklahoma (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Central/Western Oklahoma Chapter):  www.eff.org/okc

Oklahoma Family Network:  http://oklahomafamilynetwork.org/what-we-do/talk-with-another-family/

 

 

#CFAwarenessMonth #CysticFibrosis #FacesOfCF #NICU #MeconiumIleus #65Roses #CFWarrior #AbigailsAdvocates #AidensArmy #CFMomma

Women's Health Focus/Multiple Sclerosis Awareness with Desiree Curry

Happy Mother's Day Weekend to all the moms out there!!  Mom's health matters and we would like to take a moment and tell all the moms out there "thank you" and remind them how much they mean to the community they live in!!

 

Today's podcast highlights one mom's journey into motherhood and we hope you'll listen in as Desiree shares her journey with Multiple Sclerosis; accomplishing life goals in education, marriage, and motherhood, with the birth of her son Caleb at 25 weeks; and then shares openly about the challenges she faces day to day. 

 

We hope her words will inspire and touch your heart as she brings awareness and education surrounding Multiple Sclerosis, prematurity, placental abruption. and so much more.

 

#HappyMothersDay #MultipleSclerosis #Prematurity #PlacentalAbruption #NICUAwareness #HealthyMoms #MothersDay #MomsMindsMatter #25Weeker #NICU 

Maternal Mental Health: Emily Clark Shares Her Story

As we prepare to welcome the month of May, we know it will bring us flowers, sun, warmer temps, but please don't miss out on the special focus it provides for Mental Health and specifically today, we honor Maternal Mental Health.

 

Please help me welcome Emily Clark to the podcast as she shares candidly about the mental health crisis experience she had during pregnancy and postpartum. Perinatal Mood  and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) can be a hard topic to openly engage others about and sometimes new moms find it hard to seek support for fear of judgement and harsh ridicule.

 

Knowing where to go, who can help, or what to do when perinatal or postpartum depression or anxiety begin to creep in is key.  Listen in today and take notes as Emily shares ideas on how to help or what to do next when faced with unfamiliar emotions about motherhood.

 

Resources:

Climb Out of The Darkness Walk: https://cotd-2021.causevox.com/team/climb-out-of-the-darkness-team-okc

Oklahoma State Department of Health Maternal-Child Health: https://oklahoma.gov/health/family-health/improving-infant-outcomes/maternal-mental-health.html

The Blue Dot Project: https://www.thebluedotproject.org/

 

#PSI #PerinatalSupportInternational #MomsMindMatters #MMHweek2021 #PMADs #PPD #PostPartumHealth #MaternalMentalHealth 

Autism Awareness Month: Angela Donley with Oklahoma Family Network

As we continue to provide awareness and education around the topic of autism, we welcome Angela Donley, with Oklahoma Family Network, to the podcast.  Angela shares a few pieces of autism puzzle with us and her journey with her son Jackson surrounding their real-world-experiences around Jackson’s diagnosis of autism.

 

One of Angela's favorite quotes is by Joseph Campbell, “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us” and has actively applied these words to her life.

 

Oklahoma Family Network is thankful for the leadership and experience (personal and professional) Angela provides.  Angela and Steve are amazing parents to Jackson and love to share their wisdom with others, advocate, and create awareness around the topic of autism.

 

To learn more about some of the resources Angela mentions:

SoonerStart:  https://sde.ok.gov/soonerstart

Early Foundations:  https://www.autismcenterok.org/early-foundations/

Oklahoma Family Network Support Parent: http://oklahomafamilynetwork.org/what-we-do/talk-with-another-family/

 

#AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAwareness #AutismSupport #SoonerStart #EarlyFoundations

Autism Awareness Month: Kodey Toney with Pervasive Parenting Center

 

Welcome to April 2021 and welcome Autism Awareness Month.  Today’s podcast is highlighting the Pervasive Parenting Center. The Pervasive Parenting Center serves families in rural, Eastern Oklahoma and Director Kodey Toney visits with us about how they started, what they do to serve families in Eastern Oklahoma, and the incredible investments they are making in the community.

Kodey brings personal knowledge, professional experience and a big side of fun and humor to the table when he meets with others or shares his story.  He advocates, educates and spreads autism awareness everywhere he goes.

Oklahoma Family Network is thankful for the partnership we have with Kodey and the Pervasive Parenting Center.

 

To learn more about Pervasive Parenting Center:  http://www.pervasiveparentingcenter.org/

 

Additional Resources Mentioned:

Sibshops:  https://soonersuccess.ouhsc.edu/Services-Programs/Sibshops

SoonerStart:  https://sde.ok.gov/soonerstart

Oklahoma Autism Center: https://www.autismcenterok.org/

Developmental Disability Council of Oklahoma:  https://okddc.ok.gov/

Oklahoma Disability Law Center:  http://okdlc.org/

Oklahoma Parents Center: https://oklahomaparentscenter.org/

 

Kodey Toney’s Book:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TTKFL5V/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

 

#AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAwareness #AutismSupport #SibsShops #PervasiveParentingCenter #SocialGroup #DDCO #RuralEasternOklahoma #BigFoot

Two Babies, 20 Months Apart: NICU vs. COVID

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Where were you? Listen in today as one mother shares her journey of delivery, when hospitals were trying to figure out what was going on and how to keep families, mothers and babies safe/healthy.

Brie Medaris and her husband have two incredible baby boys, River and Ronin, with two very different delivery experiences.  Listen in as Brie shares a little about her NICU journey and the emotional toll it took on her, as well as the struggles COVID presented, as she sought support, help, and therapies in the midst of a pandemic.

#MomsMindsMatter #GlobalPandemicDelivery #NICU #NICUvsCOVID