SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In Episode 11, we’re privileged to welcome Dr. George Mazariegos, Chief of Pediatric Transplantation at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Mazariegos has had the unique distinction of overseeing and participating in over 1,000 pediatric transplants throughout the years. He’s literally a life-changing leader and skilled surgeon. Even with such phenomenal experience and expertise, he’s one of the most humble and insightful leaders you’ll meet. In this conversation with Richie Reeder, Dr. George discusses his personal call to medicine, the evolution of pediatric transplant surgery over the past several decades, and the importance of long-term care for his patients. The conversation highlights the influence of Dr. Thomas Starzl, whom Mazariegos trained under in the late 1980’s. Dr. Mazariegos shares personal anecdotes about his family and faith, as well as insights on the future of pediatric transplantation, the role of patient-centered outcomes, and the importance of perseverance for families navigating the transplant journey. Don’t miss this personal and unique interview!

Links & Resources:

• https://starzlnetwork.org

• https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/starzlnetwork

• https://www.chp.edu/our-services/transplant

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In Episode 10, we welcome Katherine Sikma Wadsworth to share about her inspiring journey of perseverance here in October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Katherine shares her entire journey of diagnosis, long grueling hours of chemo, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery. We cover topics like what it feels like to hear the word cancer in your mid thirties, how she befriended her body during this time, and how friends and family can hold space for you in a helpful way while you battle cancer.  This is such a helpful and vulnerable conversation you're not going to want to miss!

Links & Resources:

Podcast: "You Gotta Try This!" Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-gotta-try-this/id1707020928

Book: "Just Get Me Through This!" by Deborah Cohen, Robert Gelfand https://www.amazon.com/Just-Get-Through-This-Practical/dp/0758269536

Circle of Grief: https://psychcentral.com/health/circle-of-grief-ring-theory#how-to-support-those-grieving

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In Episode 9, we welcome Melissa McQueen, the president and co-founder of Transplant Families. After her youngest son received a heart transplant in 2009, Melissa found herself searching for a support that was devoted solely to pediatric transplant families and that was accessible to all who needed it. When she didn’t find the resources she was seeking, she brought together fellow caregivers to build the community they wanted to have.

Listen in as Melissa recounts the emotional challenges of discovering her son Dylan's need for a heart transplant. Through her story, she offers a raw and honest glimpse into the emotional and logistical hurdles faced by families navigating the complex world of pediatric organ transplantation. We talk through the pivotal moments, including the family's decision-making process in choosing a transplant center and the life-altering call about a donor heart. Melissa opens up about the impact of the transplant on family dynamics, finances, and mental health, highlighting the critical role of medical professionals and loved ones. Her passion for advocacy shines through, as she shares stories of how parental voices can influence medical advancements and policies. Join us as we celebrate the resilience of families, like the McQueen’s, who are navigating the transplant journey!

Links & Resources: www.TransplantFamilies.org / www.COTA.org

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In episode 8 of the Pressing On Podcast, we hear from Clay and Lauren Buckwalter! The Buckwalters have experienced several difficult trials personally, including seeing their daughter spend nearly a week in the NICU at West Penn Hospital when she was born. Their experience has led them to partnering with Pressing On in creative ways, including using Clay’s upcoming Pittsburgh Marathon to care for hospitalized families. They both talk through their family's hospital experience, share how they navigated the NICU and why they're using Clay's Run to support the work that Pressing On does with hospitalized families. Listen in to this inspiring episode!

Clay is a Personal Trainer & Health Coach, with a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Lauren earned her teaching degree from Liberty University and currently teaches Middle School Science virtually for CCA. The Buckwalters have been married for 8 years and reside in Irwin, PA with their two kids, Roby and Blake.

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In this episode, we sit down with Jay & Rachel Mitlo as they share their family’s journey of dealing with the tragic effects of pediatric cancer. In a very real and vulnerable way, they give personal perspective and encouraging hope to parents that have lost a child. Their youngest son, Trey (nicknamed “Young Warrior”), completed his battle with cancer on November 5th, 2014. During our talk, they discuss what they learned from Trey’s life, how they intentionally leaned on their community during the many hospitalizations, how they championed the emotional needs of their other children during this difficult time, and how they’ve celebrated their child’s life as they heal over time.

Jay is the Pastor at Faith Community Church In Penn Hills, PA and Rachel serves as a Paraprofessional at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and together they’ll reach their silver anniversary here in 2024, having been married for 25 years.

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In this podcast episode, we talk with Rick Lofgren, President & CEO of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), as he shares his passion for serving families on the journey of pediatric transplant. Rick’s relational leadership style is contagious and it was a joy to hear him share numerous stories of persevering transplant families that he’s built relationships with over the years. During our talk, he describes the ins & outs of fundraising for a major surgery and how important it is to have supportive friends and loved ones with you on the journey. If you or someone you know is affected by a pediatric transplant, this is a must-listen episode!

Rick has a bachelor’s degree from Spring Arbor University, an MBA from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a Master of Science in administration from Central Michigan University.  Rick and his wife, Lisa, have two married children and three grandkids.  They are avid cyclists and gardeners, as well.

WEBSITE: https://cota.org/

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In this podcast episode, we talk with Korbin Diggs as she shares her family’s traumatic healthcare experience of having not one, but two of her children diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma within a span of two years.  Korbin gets vulnerable about what hospital life feels like as a parent and how she walked the isolating road of caring for her children in and out of the hospital, supported by her strong faith.  Korbin shares graciously about topics like the effects of chemotherapy, how to coach your support system on what is helpful when you’re in the hospital, how perseverance in prayer gave her strength and the amazing care her family received from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Oncology team.   Korbin serves as the Administrative Director at Reclamation Church and is a former Marketing & Training Director for Chick-fil-A.  She has a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University and has now lived in Pittsburgh for 34 years.  She’s been married to her husband Reno for 26 years and has three adult children, Evan, Ross and Gillian.

MUSIC: https://www.bensound.com

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In this inaugural episode of the Pressing On podcast, we speak with Regan Reeder. She's a co-founder of Pressing On and currently a K-12 Cyber Special Education Facilitator. As a medical momma who’s experienced her daughter’s long road to recovery from liver transplant, Regan’s passionate about connecting with transplant families, providing helpful resources and encouraging them in the midst of their pain. In her spare time, she can be found reading Jan Karon’s Mitford Series, watching the Hallmark Channel and enjoying time with her husband (Richie) and girls (Alivia and Myka). Listen in as Regan shares her background, the story of Myka's transplant, what she's learned about mental health and how she encourages other parents through their medical trauma!

MUSIC: https://www.bensound.com

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In Episode 2, we speak with Timoethus and Kendra Pope about the traumatic healthcare journey that they have walked with their precious son, Judah, who has an unknown and currently untreatable condition called FIRES. Their realness and vulnerability is refreshing as they dive into topics like: how to establish routine at the hospital, how to intentionally engage medical staff, how parents are not defined by their child's condition, how to keep your child's diagnosis in perspective and how to lean on deep faith in God through it all!

TPope and Kendra are a dynamic duo who have been married since 2006. They reside in Rector, PA with their eight children. Timotheus Pope is the President/CEO of Citikidz, a Christian Sports Camp impacting urban youth and adults, while Kendra Pope is a Writer, Speaker, Coach, Jesus follower, Hope giver and Bridge Builder who blogs at WhenHopeIsReal.com.

Recommended Resources & Links:

• https://whenhopeisreal.com⁠⁠

• https://www.citikidz.org

• "⁠The Hiding Place⁠" by: Corrie Ten Boom

• "⁠Suffer Strong⁠" by: Katherine & Jay Wolf

MUSIC: https://www.bensound.com

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In this episode, Jim Barnard discusses how medical trauma and physical suffering affects the whole family. Jim is a coach, author, pastor and speaker who enjoys helping people explore their hurts and the "expectation gap" in their lives – between what they envisioned and what they’ve experienced. In his unique and vulnerable way, Jim shares Alisha's medical journey with ⁠Ehlers-Danlos Syndrone⁠, how we can all address the "⁠expectation gap⁠" in our lives and parenting tips during a medical crisis. Jim and his wife Alisha got married in 2006 and within 3 months, Alisha got terribly sick. Her health took a dramatic turn when she could no longer keep any food down. Just months after being married, they made their way to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where Alisha was ultimately diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Jim chronicles Alisha's illness and their difficult medical journey in his book ⁠"The Suffering Guy"⁠ where he combines vulnerability with wit in an inspirational way. Jim & Alisha Barnard have been married for 17 years and they reside in Denver, CO with their 13-year old son, Anderson.

Recommended Resources & Links:

• Buy the Book! “The Suffering Guy”⁠⁠

• Connect with Jim! https://www.tillercoaching.org/

MUSIC: https://www.bensound.com

SPONSOR: The Pressing On Podcast is sponsored by the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

In this episode, we chat with Pat and Brittany Smith, as they share their family's story of navigating the challenging waters of pediatric transplant in a very unique season: during the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. Pat and Brittany share the challenges of managing their child's disease, how and when they decided to opt for transplant, the pros / cons of spending so much time in the hospital during Covid, how to harness the power or your relationships during healthcare trauma and how their faith shaped their journey. Pat and Brittany Smith have been married for 13 years and they have 3 children: Mia (their oldest, who’s 10) and their twins, Emma and Owen who are both 8. They reside in New Wilmington, PA where Brittany is an educator as a 5th Grade Teacher and Pat is the Head Swimming & Diving coach at Westminster College. Their family has collectively shown resilience in the face of a critical illness and facing the long journey of pediatric transplant for their daughter Emma.

MUSIC: https://www.bensound.com