Once Upon A Gene
As a new parent of a child with a rare genetic syndrome, I was lost. There was no guide. There was no rulebook. This was not what I had imagined. As I navigated my way through this new reality, I realized something that should have been simple, but was not. A truth that had always been there, but that I had lost sight of for a time - I am not alone. And neither are you. These are the stories of my family, and of families like ours. These are the stories of how we have persevered, cried, bonded, and grown. These are the stories of children who have been told that they cannot, and that have proved the world wrong.
Show episodes
Navigating the Complexities of Grief: How One Mother’s Grief Birthed a Supportive Community with, Heather Straughter.
In this heartfelt conversation, Heather Straughter shares her profound journey through grief after the loss of her son, Jake. She discusses the pivotal moments that shaped her path, the importance of community support, and the ongoing nature of grief. Heather reflects on the complexities of acknowledging loss, the unex
Reimagining Pediatric Care with Imagine Pediatrics For families of medically complex kids, the healthcare system often feels broken—long hospital stays, insurance battles for basic needs, and constant caregiving without real support. But what if there was a better way? In this episode, I’m joined by Taylor Beery, co-fo
How a Service Dog Helped a Child with CACNA1C-Related Disorder (Timothy Syndrome) Gain Independence – with Sue Bresnahan
Service dogs are often associated with guiding the blind or assisting with mobility, but their impact goes far beyond traditional roles. In this episode, I’m joined by Sue Bresnahan, a pediatric nurse and rare mom, whose son has CACNA1C-related disorder (Timothy Syndrome). When they welcomed Yammy, his service dog, int
Unlocking Rare Disease Diagnoses with PacBio’s Long-Read Sequencing – A Conversation with CEO Christian Henry
I’m joined by Christian Henry, CEO of PacBio, a company leading the way in high-accuracy long-read sequencing. We break down what that means in simple terms, how this technology is helping families solve their diagnostic odyssey, and why some genetic tests miss key information that PacBio can detect. Plus, if you've al
As caregivers, we give everything to our kids—but where does that leave us? Burnt out, exhausted, and running on fumes. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t even know where to start when it comes to your own health, this episode is for you. I’m talking with Fraser Bridgeman, a fellow CTNNB1 mom and a functional integrati
Breaking the Silence: Growing Up with Sickle Cell, Facing Pain, and Finding Strength Through Advocacy with James Griffin
In this powerful episode of Once Upon a Gene, I sit down with James Griffin, author of Breaking Silence: Living With Sickle Cell Anemia. Diagnosed at just two years old, James spent much of his life keeping his condition a secret, fearing how others would perceive him. He faced excruciating pain, hospitalizations, and
