Hello friends 👋 This week, Leah sits down with Betsy Pilon, Executive Director of Hope for HIE, the global nonprofit dedicated to supporting families impacted by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Betsy shares her personal journey as a NICU parent, from the frightening moments before Max's birth to navigating cooling, an uncertain MRI, and a discharge with almost no guidance. Together, they explore what families need most during each phase of the HIE experience, the groundbrea

Hello friends 👋 Amber and Andrew Vassell navigated two NICU stays with faith, advocacy, and what they call bubbling. From Austin, born at 25 weeks and one pound one ounce, to Aaliyah at 26 weeks, the Vassells built relationships with care teams, requested meetings, asked hard questions, and chose joy in the most uncertain moments. Now they are channeling that experience into Neo Haven and the NICU Journey Guide, designed to help every NICU family navigate with clarity, confi

Hello friends 👋 Victoria Varela-Hefty, director of programs at ICU Baby and mother of James, a 28-weeker born in 2024, shares her NICU journey with honesty and grace. From a high-risk pregnancy complicated by Sjögren's syndrome and preeclampsia to an emergency classical C-section, inadequate postoperative pain management, and a cardiac complication that kept her hospitalized for eight days — Victoria reflects on what it felt like to navigate her own medical crisis while her

Hello friends 👋 In this special double episode of Beyond the Beeps, we're marking ROP Awareness Week with a full look at Retinopathy of Prematurity — from the medical side to the deeply human side. First, Dr. Faizah Bhatti walks us through what ROP is, its causes, risk factors, stages, and treatment options, while emphasizing why parental advocacy and regular follow-ups are so critical for premature infants. Then, Leah MG Jayanetti sits down with Tyronza Williams, who share

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah MG Jayanetti discusses the unique challenges faced by families in the NICU during the holiday season. Joined by Alena Costume, a two-time NICU mother, they explore the emotional rollercoaster of having a baby in the NICU, the importance of community support, and strategies for coping with stress. Alena shares her personal experiences, highlighting the significance of parental presence and the impact of healthcare sta

Hello friends 👋 In this episode, Leah Jayanetti speaks with Keira Sorrells, founder of the NICU Parent Network, about her personal journey through the NICU experience with her triplets and the advocacy work she has undertaken to support NICU families. They discuss the importance of family-centered care, the NICU Babies Bill of Rights, and the emotional challenges faced by parents in the NICU. Kira shares her insights on healing through storytelling and the need for self-car

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah interviews Jennifer Bernardo, a passionate advocate and author of 'Week 26', who shares her journey through the NICU with her twins, Luke and Layla. Jennifer discusses the challenges of having premature babies, the healing power of writing, and the importance of community support. She emphasizes the role of presence in NICU care, the significance of involving siblings, and her advocacy efforts to raise awareness abou

Hello friends 👋 In this heartfelt episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah and Christina discuss the emotional journey of navigating the NICU...

Hello friends 👋 In this week’s episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah and Lina explore the often-overlooked but critical role of...

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, siblings of NICU babies share their personal experiences and insights on...

Hello friends 👋 In this episode, Leah and Ashley O'Neil discuss the profound experiences of navigating the NICU as both a parent and a...

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah discusses the journey of NICU families, focusing on gastroschisis, a...

Hello friends 👋 Leah and Shakeema Smiley discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating life with a child in the NICU, particularly...

Hello Friends 👋 In this episode of Beyond the Beeps, Leah discusses the importance of understanding a baby's senses in the NICU with...

Hello friends 👋 Being a NICU parent comes with many challenges, but communicating with your baby’s healthcare team and loved ones...

Hello friends 👋 In this conversation, Leah and Morgan discuss the complexities of being a parent in the NICU, emphasizing the importance...

Hello friends 👋 In this conversation, Leah and Parijat Deshpande explore the profound impact of high-risk pregnancies and NICU...

Hello friends 👋 In this episode of Beyond The Beeps , host Leah Jayanetti speaks with Adriane Rodriguez , a mother whose daughter, Viviana, was born with Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM), a rare lung condition. Adriane shares the emotional journey of discovering Viviana's condition during pregnancy, navigating complex medical decisions, and spending months in and out of hospitals, including time at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Adriane recounts the

Hello Friends 👋 Annick Duvivier shares her experience in the NICU with her preemie daughter, Thalia, and her journey with pumping and breastfeeding. She discusses the challenges she faced, including the emotional toll of being separated from her baby, the difficulty of pumping and producing milk, and the loneliness she felt. Annick also talks about the importance of kangaroo care and the positive impact it had on both her and her daughter. Despite the hardships, Annick's res

Hello friends 👋 In this conversation, Pascal van Kipnis shares her experience of having triplets in the NICU. She discusses her...