Andrea shares her traumatic pregnancy complications and the early birth of her daughter, Sienna, at just 24 weeks.

Sienna, battled extremely severe BPD (Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia) due to her underdeveloped lungs from being born prematurely. Sienna’s perseverance and strength carried her through challenge after challenge, all while keeping a smile on her face. She truly was a medical mystery and miracle.

Andrea, a college instructor, is a great resource to the podcast. Her expertise is in public health, BPD, trach/vent care, grief, and child loss. Our listeners will learn so much from her insights and ability to speak so openly about these tough topics.

The main takeaway? Hold on to hope and cherish the beautiful moments, even in the toughest times. 💛

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Tori, whose son Elias spent 21 months in the hospital after being born at 25 weeks and 6 days, battling severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), a heptoblastoma, and being vent- and trach-dependent. But Tori’s journey didn’t start in the NICU—it began with a rare and life-threatening complication called HELLP syndrome, which led to Elias’s early birth at just 26 weeks.

Tori shares the traumatic experience of surviving HELLP syndrome while also feeling immense excitement about bringing her baby into the world under the most challenging circumstances. Despite her severe illness, her mindset was incredibly brave. She explains her thoughts before undergoing surgery:

“It’s hard to describe the calm and clarity I had of just, ‘Okay, let’s do this. And if I come out of this, okay. If I don’t, okay. But I know Elias and Caleb are going to be fine no matter what happens. There will be heartache and trials, but it’ll be okay. And I had so much joy and was so excited to be having my baby. It was scary, but I’m still having a baby. I was going to see his face and touch his hands. I didn’t know what it meant to have a preemie.’”

Tori’s storytelling ability paints a vivid picture of the emotional and physical impact of surviving a traumatic pregnancy, giving birth to a micropreemie, and navigating life in the ICU. Elias is now 2 years old, thriving, and continuing to defy odds every day.

Tori’s been passionate about this project and shared this about being on the podcast:

“It would be so easy for us to just be like, ‘Oh, I’m never thinking about all that ever again. Those were the worst and most traumatic years of my life.’ But it’s so important to remember. We’re not the same people we were before we had our sons, but look at all the things we are capable of and accomplished. And look how strong we are—our husbands and kids included. To be on the other side and be able to look back and talk about it with such hope. Because when you’re in it, everything feels so disparaged and heavy all the time. But then to look back and think, ‘Oh my gosh, we survived that… we did that.’ that’s an incredible feeling.”

I’m so grateful to Tori for her positive and hopeful insight. She’s been a huge help in getting this podcast off the ground and has encouraged me along the way.

In this episode of Trauma Mamas, we meet Kelsey, a first-time mom who never expected her journey into motherhood to look like this. At just 23 weeks and 1 day, Kelsey gave birth to her daughter Baylor, weighing only 1 pound, 2 ounces. What followed was 143 days of uncertainty, fear, and the relentless fight to bring her tiny girl home from the NICU.

In this episode, Kelsey opens up about the emotions of waking up not knowing if she had a baby, the surreal experience of seeing her daughter’s name on an incubator before meeting her, and the unwavering love and dedication that kept her going through every challenge. From the overwhelming first days in the NICU to celebrating the small victories, Kelsey and Baylor's story is a testament to hope and resilience

Tune in to hear their journey through 143 days in the NICU and how she and her family found strength in the most difficult of circumstances. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the uncertainty of the NICU or looking for a powerful reminder of what hope and love can accomplish.