Rising Above the Challenges : How A Birth Trauma Turned Miracle : One Mother's Resilient Story - Nicole Smith : 109

Because Everyone Has A Story - BEHAS

Can you imagine the strength and resilience it would take to endure a 29-hour labour and then face the hardships of trying to conceive a second child? These are the realities Nicole Smith had to grapple with, along with the even more challenging experience of raising a child diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
Nicole is a dedicated advocate for human dignity. She has a background in Law and Public Policy and a successful career in Communications. In 2020, Nicole faced a life-altering experience when her daughter was born distressed and diagnosed with cerebral palsy. This intensely personal journey ignited her passion for advocating for her daughter's values and motivated her to raise her voice for those often marginalized.
Her story is a stark window into the realities of NICU care, parenting a child requiring constant medical attention and trying to balance time and affection between multiple children. Through it all, Nicole's story underlines the importance of maintaining a positive outlook and a supportive community.
Nicole opens up about the emotional turmoil she endured as she navigated through her daughter's diagnosis and the challenges it brought with it. The daily life she lived of having to feed her daughter with a pump 24/7, closely monitor her breathing, and the continuous medical attention her daughter required. She teaches us the importance of grieving unmet expectations, taking moments to feel overwhelmed, and the power of sign language as a mode of communication for nonverbal people.
Nicole talks about her emotional exhaustion and the importance of having a supportive tribe in the healing process. This episode is a testament to a mother's strength, love, and resilience in adversity.
Driven by her personal experiences and desire to promote human dignity, Nicole founded Dignity Defense Institute, a non-profit organization.
Let's enjoy her story.
To connect with Nicole: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemysmith/

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1. The Reality of Intensive NICU Care (00:13:14)

2. Managing Cerebral Palsy Challenges and Expectations (00:18:45)

3. Navigating Relationships and Challenging Expectations (00:30:25)

4. Balancing Parenting Expectations and Self-Care (00:35:34)

5. Navigating Trauma and Building Supportive Communities (00:43:18)