Joy In The Journey
Joy In The Journey is a podcast dedicated to supporting families with critically ill kids. Life brings unexpected circumstances, but choosing joy makes all the difference.
Your host, Jamie Freedlund, knows this better than anyone. Her world changed when her daughter, Mattea Joy, was born with several severe medical complications.
Jamie and her husband were given a very small chance that Mattea would survive at birth, but were able to share nine and a half wonderful months with her that they didn't expect to have. This experience led to a deep level of gratitude, shifting Jamie’s life as a result, and allowing her to discover joy in every day—even the tough ones.
Most of Mattea’s life was spent in the hospital. It was there that Jamie came to understand what it means to be a parent of a critically ill child and the challenges that go with it. Through this podcast, she hopes to help other families going through similar struggles. Join us on a journey of connection and learning through beautiful stories, expert content, and finding more joy in the everyday!
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 83
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2024
023: The Educational Path for Children with Special Needs with Kristi Herschberger
The journey doesn’t end when your child graduates from the NICU. And when a parent is told that their child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, finding an education program that suits their needs…
022: Bravely Battling Batten Disease with Amanda Beedle
Today's episode comes with a bit of a warning, as this one might tug at your heartstrings a little harder than usual. I hope you'll join me as Amanda Beedle shares her journey with her two little gir…
021: The Journey from the NICU to Ultimate Happiness with Karri Friedenberger
For NICU parents, watching their child graduate from the NICU feels like an enormous relief! It’s such an important milestone and deserves to be celebrated and cherished.
However, sometimes it doesn’…
020: Caring for Caregivers with Jessica Ronne
If you are a caregiver of a child with special needs, then you’ll probably relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed and never getting a break. Which begs the question: who is caring for the caregiv…
019: How the PreeMe+You App Empowers NICU Parents with Dr. Yaya Ren
If you’re a parent with a kiddo in the NICU, wouldn’t it be amazing if there was an app on your phone that could help you understand what to expect and allow you to comfortably get answers to your qu…
018: Cultivating Gratitude in the Face of Fear with Stefanie Boyce
017: Connections, Community & Hope for NICU Parents with Tyler Simon
What do you do when everything you thought being a parent meant gets turned upside down with one diagnosis? How do you deal with the isolation of being a NICU parent?
In today’s episode, I’m speaking…
016: Giving From the Heart with Jacqueline Tillman
015: A Survival Guide for NICU Mamas with Dr. Heather Evans
When a mom has a newborn child in the NICU, every moment and every breath can be stressful. But when you have two preemies in the NICU, those worries are doubled. Today's guest knows exactly what it'…
014: The Joy That Comes From Making a Difference with Mary Strenski
I am delighted to welcome Mary Strenski to the podcast as we first met when my daughter, Mattea, was in the hospital. Nurses play such a huge role in supporting parents who have sick kids, and I’m ex…
013: Learning to Love Harder and Laugh Louder with Tommi and Amanda
Sometimes life deals a hand to you that most people would never choose for themselves, but that doesn't mean that finding joy in your own journey isn’t possible. And today's guests speak to this in a…
012: Sharing The Blessings of Generosity and Joy with Jordan and Nikki Arseneau
It’s not uncommon for a family to experience kindness and generosity when a child is diagnosed with cancer. But when that family finds joy in paying it forward, it’s a pretty incredible thing to see.…
011: Finding Joy and a Warm Hug in the NICU with Jen Gawel
Jen Gawel has not only mastered the hardships in her life but puts effort and intention into giving others the tools to master their own challenging paths, and she does it all while oozing joy from e…
010: Making the Most of Every Moment with Carrie Meghie
I am so grateful and honored to have today’s guest on the podcast. Carrie Meghie has been recognized as one of CNN’s Heroes and is affectionately known as the “parking fairy” through the work she is …
009: Creating Empowering Connections with Cara Belvin
Sometimes it’s hard to find the strength to move on when you feel like your feet are stuck in cement.
Today’s guest knows exactly how that feels and has made it her life mission to make that support …
008: Honoring The Life Of Your Child with Jenny Kernan
My guest today is Jenny Kernan. She’s a mother of three beautiful children, with two of them at home and one of them in heaven.
When they were ready to start a family, she struggled to get pregnant, …
007: Dulling the Sharp Edges of Grief with Amanda Fierce
How do you keep going after losing your child? How do you deal with the grief when life has to continue for not just yourself but also your family?
Today, I'm speaking with Amanda Fierce. Amanda is a…
006: Change Your Thought Habits, Change Your Life with Amy Kemp
Sometimes when you can’t control the circumstances life gives you, you try controlling everything else—something I know I’ve done as a mother.
Today’s guest, Amy Kemp, is talking about how sometimes …
005: Joy Harmon on Coping with a Newborn in the NICU
Today, I'm speaking with Joy Harmon—a courageous woman who has overcome more than her fair share of hardship.
Only 15 weeks into her first pregnancy, Joy had a placental abruption. She underwent a C-…
004: Silver Linings: A Life of Gratitude with Kim Piggush
It’s hard to allow other people in on your journey through life, especially for the difficult moments.
No one knows this better than today’s guest, Kim Piggush.
She’s on a mission to spread cancer aw…