March 22, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode host Casey Taton shares a deeply personal interview conducted by Jen Chambers of the "Resilient" podcast. Casey opens up about her journey creating and running Little Moments, Big Dreams, Celebrations, an organization dedicated to bringing joy to children in hospitals. Listen as I detail the powerful impact of providing birthday parties, milestone celebrations, and moments of normalcy for kids facing serious medical challenges. Casey also candidly discusses her own medical battles, the emotional toll of working with sick children, and the importance of community support. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, compassion, and the extraordinary power of human connection to bring light into even the darkest of situations.
Highlights:
- Little Moments, Big Dreams, Celebrations:
- I explain the organization's mission: providing parties and celebrations for children in hospitals.
- The organization provides birthday parties, milestone celebrations, sunshine bags, and holiday events.
- Emphasis on bringing joy not only to the children but also to their parents and siblings.
- The importance of celebrating milestones for children with long-term illnesses, such as cancer.
- The impact of providing a sense of normalcy and joy in a challenging environment.
- The community aspect of the work, and the importance of volunteers and donations.
- The snack cart, and how that helps the parents.
Connect with Jen Chambers -https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_chambers_/
You can find me at:
https://www.instagram.com/cataton/
https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/
You can find what sparks me at:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/
https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/
Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler
Artwork by: https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
Hey friends.
Welcome to the Enter Sparkpodcast.
I'm your host, Casey Caton.
If you're looking to hearstories of transformation and
personal growth, this podcast isfor you.
My guest and I will be sharingthose sparking moments that has
changed the mental living a morefulfilling authentic life.
I'm so excited for you to heareach unique story.
(00:24):
So sit back, relax, and let'sget started.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano) (00:33):
Hey friend.
Welcome back to the Enter Sparkpodcast.
I'm your host, Casey Taton.
Today's episode is a little bitdifferent.
I often talk about what lightsme up and the things I'm going
through.
My good friend Jen Chambers, sheis a host of the Resilient
Podcast.
(00:54):
it's called Resilient, which inChambers had me on as a guest
and.
We talked about what led me upand I often talk about the
parties or the organization Irun, and that it's a community
event and the smiles we bring tothe kids' faces in the hospital.
But I don't know that I've everreally gone into it.
So Jen is letting me share thisepisode where she interviewed me
(01:17):
talking about what really lightsme up and the smiles I get to
bring to the kids' faces.
So I hope you sit back, relax,and listen to Janet interviewing
me today.
Hi friends.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
I'm so excited today tointroduce to you my friend Casey
Taton, and she has so manyamazing qualities, but she's
(01:38):
also the founder of LittleMoments, big Dreams,
celebrations, and she is thefounder of the Inner Spark
Podcast.
I hope we get to talk about allof that stuff, but thank you so
much for coming here today,Casey.
Thanks for having me.
I thought maybe you could telleveryone a little bit about
Little Moments, big dreams, andthen we'll talk about your
podcast.
(01:58):
Yeah.
So I do parties for kids.
I run an organization doingparties for kids in the
hospital.
Mm-hmm.
And we have officially beendoing it for like six and a half
years now.
Um, and it just started with, Ifought my own medical battle
and, um, you know, being in thehospital.
(02:23):
And the feeling of what it doesto you.
And I spent birthdays, I spentChristmas, I spent holidays.
Um, but just, you know, thefeeling of losing out on life.
And then you're stuck in thisroom and I.
Um, most of mine, so what Iremember of mine was as an
(02:46):
adult, I was actually there as achild with spinal meningitis.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but I was a baby, so I don'tremember that, like
subconsciously.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but I do hear my family talkabout it.
And so what I remember is when Igot sick as an adult and it
totally just stopped my world.
And so when I started gettingbetter and started healing, um,
(03:07):
I traveled for my, um, for mycondition.
I had to get an officialdiagnosis out of my state.
So, um, and then I had mysurgery in into other states,
and so I was traveling a lot aswell.
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
And so just the feeling of beingthere alone and then not really
(03:27):
having anything and just, youknow, they want you to feel good
and be there, but it's such agloomy place.
And so when I started feelingbetter.
I was like, I don't know what mypurpose in life anymore is.
Um, my condition stopped my jobfrom working in the OR to not
(03:51):
having a job.
And so I was like, what, what doI do now?
Like, I'm healing and I don'twanna lay in this bed.
So, um, I had a friend who wasdoing birthday parties, um, for
kids up there.
Through a different group.
And, um, she had reached out tome and asked if I wanted to
help.
And I was like, well, yeah, ofcourse.
(04:11):
Like I was so excited.
This gave me a purpose, right?
And so I went up and helped herand she, I remember her telling
me, Hey, um, I'm not reallygetting a bunch of feedback from
nurses not really getting alllike very far with them.
And she had a son and she waslike, do you just wanna take
(04:32):
over?
And I was like, well.
I mean, sure, I'll try.
And so, um, I, I honestly had noidea what I was gonna do, where
I was gonna start.
And I made a post and I startedtalking to the nurses and they
were like, well, sure, um, whatelse do you wanna do besides
birthdays?
(04:53):
And I was like, oh, there's morelike, yeah.
And so they, it just kind ofwent from there.
And so I have a great group ofvolunteers, and now we do all
kinds of parties.
We do, um, milestone parties.
Um, we have a lot of kids herewho are battling cancer, um, or
(05:15):
in, or other conditions thatrequire long periods of
treatments.
And so I think it's important tocelebrate the milestones along
the way as well as.
Birthdays.
Um, for the ones who beatcancer, we do a big party for
that.
Um, we also do sunshine bagsbecause there's so many kids in
(05:38):
there that maybe they had theirgallbladder taken out, maybe
they broke a bone, or, um, youknow, we, there's just all kinds
of con conditions and so they'vebeen there for a while and they
need some joy.
So.
My mission is to bring smiles,not only to them, but to the
(06:04):
parents, because we often forgetwhat the parents are going
through during this time.
Mm-hmm.
And so, and a lot of times thesiblings get to celebrate too.
So that's, that is fun.
Um, they just, you just get lostin you.
(06:25):
It's almost like you feel likeyou forgot, forgot about, and
you're just stuck in this placethat's not very happy.
Right.
And so, um, we also do holidays.
Um, we do all kinds of other funevents up there.
Just random events being bringlike, you know, the fire
department up there, differentgroups like that.
Um, paw Patrol came up there oneday and so, yeah.
(06:48):
Um, just stuff.
Um, we did arts and crafts for awhile.
And that was to give the parentsa break so they could actually
like send their kid down thereand then they could go get a
break, go take a shower, go eat,go do something.
So they're not feeling likethey're leaving their kid alone,
but their kid's doing somethingand we're with them.
(07:11):
And so, um, I did that pre covidand then Covid hit and of course
it, the parties, I got tocontinue the parties, but.
The events, um, stopped for awhile.
So now we are past covid and youknow, we still go through like
RSV season, all those seasonswhere we can't do a lot.
(07:33):
Um, but I still get, bringsmiles to kids' faces and, um,
so I just, um, we're gonna,we're an organ.
Organ, sorry.
We are an organization, so Irely on the community for all of
our donations.
Um, I go out and speak to, youknow, schools, church groups,
(07:54):
boy scouts, girl scouts.
Um, I have some women quiltersthat make blankets for us.
Um, just any type of group, um,businesses.
We have a snack cart at one ofour hospitals.
Um, what do you all know, whatit's like to eat hospital food
if you've been in the hospitaland or how much the vending
machine is?
(08:14):
And a lot of times, like when Iwas there, my mom wouldn't eat.
She didn't wanna leave the roomand then nothing looked good.
But if someone were to bring hersomething or bring her a cart
by, she would be more willing toeat a snack or something if it
was there.
And so, um, we have a lot ofbusinesses that sponsor that.
(08:37):
Um, we do two hospitals.
We also do, um, kids.
We have a lot of kids thattravel.
So if they are going to traveland we know about it, we've done
like yard signs, we've done likewelcome home signs.
Um, I know what it was like totravel and, um, so like being
(08:58):
welcome home is a really coolthing.
Or just thinking like getting agift bag before you leave to
know like, um, and I want, and Iwanna make it a community event.
I make it a community event.
And so I want these kids toknow.
That other kids are thinkingabout them and that we're all
cheering them on.
(09:18):
So, yeah.
Whoa.
Oh, well first of all, the Amma,the most amazing part about all
of your story is that you tooksome, you saw a mead and you
filled it.
You saw something that canreally make a difference and,
and now that's your life's work.
Yes.
It's, I love that.
(09:38):
I love that you didn't focus on.
Just the, the hurting part.
Nobody, you know, people aregonna be in the hospital,
unfortunately.
Kids.
Right.
And, but, but you don't have to,it doesn't have to be so bad.
And I Right.
Oh my gosh.
What an amazing thing.
A really impactful thing to do.
(10:00):
And how did, how did you learnto like, go up and, and speak to
people?
That probably took a lot ofcourage to go speak to
businesses, let alone all of thefamilies.
Um, yeah.
Um, for a person who doesn'tlike to talk and I get nervous
anytime before I do an interviewfor a podcast, you think I would
be more comfortable.
But I think it's because, um,you know, when you're speaking
(10:24):
from the heart, it's, and youget to tell somebody, I, as an
adult was in the hospital and Iknow what it feels like and I
wanna bring joy there.
So when I get to say I canrelate in a way.
Mm-hmm.
I think it makes it easier forme to tell my story and then
(10:47):
really connect them to what'sgoing on.
Well, I think that peoplerespond to authenticity and when
you're speaking your truth thatway, yeah.
I mean, it is hard.
It's, it's hard to, it's for somany people that I speak with,
it's hard to talk about theirexperiences.
Especially if you've been in ahospital or searching for a
(11:09):
diagnosis because there'snothing more terrifying than
that.
And yeah, the fact that, thatyou're using it as fuel makes it
so much better.
Oh, I just love it.
So, um, you said you have twohospitals right now that you
work with?
Yeah, we have, um, two hospitalshere in Wichita that have kids
(11:31):
in them.
Um, I live in Kansas, so, um.
In just our town.
We have two hospitals.
Um, so we do quite a few partiesa week.
What's your favorite kind ofparty to do?
Do you like the birthdayparties, the best or celebration
ones?
Um, and I don't know, that's a,that's a good question.
(11:57):
All different, right?
Yeah.
I mean, I do love the birthdayparties because I know.
I've gotten a lot of really goodfeedback on birthdays.
Mm-hmm.
It takes, because when we do theparties, we, we do a gift bag.
Mm-hmm.
So, um, if I, I try topersonalize something.
We do plates, napkins, banners.
We try to make a personalizedposter for them, and get
(12:21):
something they like, get like acraft or something.
So it gives them something to doand then they also get the room
decorated.
And we also, if they can havecake.
Then we get a cake.
So it takes a load off of theparents.
Mm-hmm.
And it's not like my kid doesn'tget to celebrate because he's in
the hospital and I don't wannaleave.
(12:41):
Mm-hmm.
And so I think it's just, um,yeah, the power of that, of
doing birthdays is that theydon't, their birthday isn't
getting skipped.
They still get to celebrate withthe staff.
And also it changes thatconnection a little bit.
Great.
They're not such the scaryperson anymore.
Like they have a little fun inthem, so I know.
(13:05):
Yeah.
So, and, and when you reallyfeel like you matter, you are,
you're more in, invested in, youknow, maybe having those
conversations with, with staffmembers, and I'm sure that helps
for the parents as well.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I wonder, um, what keeps youmotivated to keep doing this?
Do you get a lot of goodfeedback?
(13:27):
I do.
Um, I think, yeah, the power ofconnection and watching these
kids grow, because we do alsolike, we'll set up, um, our
table at, there's like a cancerevent they do every year and
they celebrate the kids or, um,we'll set up our table at
different events.
(13:48):
Mm-hmm.
And.
We also have a hockey team here,um, for the cancer kids, and
they get to wear, like, theywear the kids' names on the back
of their jerseys.
And so it's, um, just seeingthese kids outside of the
hospital too, the ones that canmake it, it just lights my heart
up when they see you and theyknow who you are.
(14:10):
And, um, yeah, it's just thepower of them.
Like running up to you, it'slike, it's almost like you feel
like you're a celebrity whenit's like, oh.
You know, I just gave you abirthday or you know, I just
brought a smile to your face onthe day you were struggling.
Mm-hmm.
And so, but it's just the power.
They remember who I am and thenthey know who, you know, the
(14:31):
families know who we are andjust the good feedback we get.
Um, also a little bit of a turnon it, a sad little bit of a sad
story.
Um, I, when I got into this, Inever thought.
Which is crazy'cause I worked inthe, or prior to getting sick.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so I, I worked in thehospital from a very young age
(14:54):
and we all know death happens,but when I was thinking about
celebrating these kids, I didn'tthink about any of them dying.
Right.
And so, anytime I think this isnot going right, or like I get
frustrated or I get overwhelmed,um.
(15:17):
I have, I got to go to one ofthe girls' funerals.
Um, was the family invited me,she was actually away when she
passed away, and we got tocelebrate her last birthday.
She was in Kansas City and shewanted, um, a drawing pad and we
knew that her ca she had beatcancer and had come back.
(15:39):
And then she was getting,fighting all these other
conditions and.
So she loved drawing and so, um,we raised enough money to get
her like an iPad.
Oh yeah, that's probably likeone of the biggest gifts.
Um, one of my volunteers did itlike as a birthday fundraiser
for herself and donate it so wecould send it up there for her
(15:59):
to be able to draw.
Um, and so, um, we, I lost twogirls about the same age at, in
like, like a two week timeframeand.
And so I, it kind of, it makesyou think so the other mom, um,
(16:20):
they are not from here.
They travel and we have a lot offamilies that travel.
And when I found out herdaughter passed away, she sent
me this long message and shestill, um, every year on her
daughter's birthday, she willmake a post about how we
celebrated her daughter's lastbirthday.
(16:41):
And it's just something you takefor granted because I didn't
know that it was gonna be herdaughter's last birthday.
Right.
You know, she had reached out,it was a Saturday and she was
like, Hey, I'm sorry to botheryou on the weekend.
Do you think there's any way youcould, it's my daughter's
birthday.
My, I don't even know if the momhad a car here, like so she
could leave.
(17:01):
And I knew that she said there'sher friend is coming in town to
surprise her, but we don'treally have anything to decorate
the room.
And I was like.
Sure.
You know, and she's like, I knowit's a Saturday.
I'm like, it's, it's fine.
Um, and so I went and got thempizza and a gift and cake and I
got to take it up there and justsee her daughter and her mom
(17:27):
talks about the smiles and thejoy that she forever gets to
hold in her heart.
Mm-hmm.
Of her daughter's 16th birthday.
Oh yeah.
So I think that's the power thatkeeps it going is knowing that,
um, a lot of us, um, like youand I have talked about facing
(17:49):
medical battles and howtomorrow's not guaranteed, um,
but it really hits home and justkeeps me motivated to keep
going.
That, um, if I can bring asmile, that's what that family
needs to remember.
Cool.
Working with kids is, um, I usedto, when I was in high school, I
(18:14):
volunteered with the MuscularDystrophy Association.
Um, and we would, we had campsevery year, or they had camps
every year.
And I was a counselor and, um,you know, at first year, a
junior counselor and you get toknow these kids and then you,
through the years and, and it'sincredibly awful how many of
them passed away?
Mm-hmm.
(18:36):
It is equally amazing that, thatyou get to be a part of their
lives even for a tiny, shorttime.
Yeah.
And I imagine that every daymust be so meaningful for you
doing that job.
Yeah, it is.
Um, that's really cool that youdid the camp that you did camps
too helped out because we justdon't ever think about what the
(18:59):
power of another person canbring us.
How much joy someone else canbring us.
Mm-hmm.
By what we think is somethingreally small.
Right.
It really is something reallybig and impactful in their life.
Yeah.
Because it's not, it, it was funfor me.
It wasn't like hard, you know?
Yeah.
But, but these people that I metthere, I, I wish they were still
(19:22):
around today, of course.
But, um, we got to have, I gotto have them in my life and, and
I'll be forever glad about that.
I think one of the coolestmemories is that.
They also get to be a kid whenthey're at these things.
Oh yeah.
So I always try to think when wedo events and stuff, it's like
(19:46):
the identity of being sick getsto go away for a little while
and they just get to be a kidand have that fun.
Mm-hmm.
Because when you're sick, likeeveryone treats you as the sick
person and you're in thehospital, so you know you're
that much removed.
Yes.
Were you in the hospital a lotas a child?
(20:06):
You said that you, you were sickwhen you were a baby and then
again as an adult.
Yeah, so I, it was more when Iwas, um, I had spinal meningitis
and thankfully didn't have, um,I don't remember it.
I was only a couple months oldand was there for a while and
then, um, I did battle likemigraines.
(20:28):
When I was in high school.
Um, but it was more when I wasoutside of high school, so like
more in my college.
Mm-hmm.
And then when I started mycareer as an adult, um, that's
when I thought I had the bestlife going on.
You know, you think, oh, I havethis dream.
I was like, I have this dreamjob.
Like I have friends, I have ahouse.
(20:49):
Like all the things that I, Ithought I was on the right track
and then my life just stopped.
And so, um.
More of it that I consciouslyremember was as an adult.
Okay.
But I think I remember it's justthe, like, the impact that it
has on your family.
Absolutely.
Like even as, um, so it wasn't,I, I'm not married and so it's
(21:15):
so like, you know, my mom wouldcome up there with me and so
that pulls my mom away from likeholiday events and, you know.
And my mom, my mom's birthday isthe day before mine.
And so like, okay, well if I'mthere on my hosp in the hospital
on my birthday, that means mymom is spending, you know,
usually the day before is herbirthday.
(21:35):
We're spinning our birthday inthe hospital.
And so, yeah, I just think thatit's, it's a lot still as an
adult because I de depended,still depended on them even
though I was an adult.
That's really hard.
That's really hard.
That's one of the things that,um, but for me, I think I've
(22:00):
told you, I had this big list ofthings that I had to relearn how
to do, and, and I had a big listof things that they told me I'd
never be able to do, um, like awritten down list.
And, um, being dependent onpeople for so many things, it,
it's demoralizing.
It's depressing.
It's, and you have no choice.
(22:21):
That's the hardest part is thatyou can't make yourself better.
You can't, you know, there'snothing you can do.
No.
And you're grateful, but at thesame time, like you're so sick
that you don't have, I feel likeit doesn't get expressed enough
to them, um, how grateful youare.
Because at some point I alsowent through like an anger
(22:43):
phase.
So.
You know, I was super thankfulfor everything my parents were
doing.
Mm-hmm.
But I was also not, probably notthe most pleasant person to be
around.
Didn't have any energy.
I didn't, you know, like I'mhaving to ask for everything.
And we're taught at a young agethat you grow up to be
(23:06):
independent.
Right.
You start doing things, tyingyour shoes, like all these
things.
Cooking for yourself, cleaningfor yourself.
Mm-hmm.
You know, showering yourself.
And when those things get takenaway, um, you, you just lose
your whole self.
Like, who am I?
Mm-hmm.
And it just, it's, it's heavy.
It is.
(23:27):
And it's, and it is hard on thefamily members too.
You're all just, there's noinstruction book.
You are all just, okay, so howcan I get through this hour,
this day, this holiday, this,you know, season?
Yeah.
As quickly and easily as youcan.
Yeah.
Yes.
And I thank you.
(23:47):
Forget to live in the moment.
Mm-hmm.
It's something that I learned asI've, you know, healed more.
Mm-hmm.
Is that I was just like, justget this through.
Just get over this.
Let's get through onto the nextthing.
Because I wanted to rusheverything.
Um, I, not even, this isn't evenpart of my condition, but as an
adult, I had my tonsils takenout.
(24:07):
Okay.
Um, well, part of it is becauseof my condition, but.
So with my condition, I don'tdrink a ton of water.
And so they sent me home, youknow, it's an in and outpatient
surgery and, um, I didn't, youhave to drink medicine every two
hours.
So my mom like stayed down hereas an adult with me, waking me
(24:31):
up, setting an alarms every twohours to get the medicine in me.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but then, then she would goto work during the day and.
I would get anxious, like, okay,now I'm alone.
Now I'm scared.
I have to do this by myself.
And I wasn't getting enoughfluid in me and I knew that was
the one thing they said is youhave to stay hydrated.
And so, um, I actually ended upback in the hospital because I
(24:55):
couldn't get the fluids down.
Me even keep enough.
Yeah, I have a porta cath.
And so, um, that's how I got alot of fluids and so.
Like what some people would say,a simple surgery, like having
your tonsils out wasn't simplefor me.
Mm-hmm.
And then it was also, um, youknow, Thanksgiving was like two
(25:17):
weeks away when I had a, and Iwas like, I'll be fine to eat,
I'll be great.
And no, I had, I spent like, Ithink a week and a half, two
weeks in the hospital recoveringfrom my tonsils.
Oh yeah.
Wow, that's interesting.
I've been, um, something weird.
My conditions exa my autoimmunedisease is exacerbated by
(25:40):
stress.
So the holidays are, I'm alwaysin the hospital for holidays.
Yeah, same.
I'm never in there for verylong, but, and thankfully with
the new medicine I've been on,it's been a couple years, but
it's, it's interesting thatholidays and holidays are so
much pressure.
Anyway.
They are.
(26:01):
Oh, so because you're a personwho really seems to live every
day at up to the most, like youreally seem to, to not be one of
those people that disregards theprivileges that they have as, as
a person who is out of thehospital now and, and is able to
really do all the things mostlythat you want to.
(26:24):
Yeah.
Are there things, do you thinkthat, that now you're a person
that takes more risks?
Or are you still kind of a safeperson?
Um, I think within the last yearI've grown a lot Uhhuh, um,
because I honestly depended onnausea medicine, in nausea
shots, uhhuh.
Um, so thankfully my parentsjust, you know, by the grace of
(26:47):
God, I bought a house when I wasyoung.
Everybody said that's crazy thatyou would live two houses down
from your parents.
Um.
I didn't know at the time I wasgonna get sick.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but I was able to keep my,yeah.
So I was able to stay in my ownhome.
Mm-hmm.
And so, um, I think travelingbothers me.
(27:10):
I get scared to travel withoutmy family because, you know, I.
I do sometimes have to take anausea shot.
And so, um, and I don't driveafter I take'em because, you
know, they can make you tired.
Just all the things.
And so I recently just went onthe trip with my boyfriend, um,
and I said that's, well, I hadwent last year in May, I went to
(27:32):
Kathy Hiller's summit.
That was the first time I'dflown alone and traveled alone
since I had been sick.
Yeah.
And so that was huge for me.
And then, um, I went on a tripwith my boyfriend.
(27:52):
We went to Colorado for fourdays and I.
I, we, we can joke about it now,and he'll, he'll tell you, I had
complete on anxiety, not onlyabout being cold because I'm,
I'm cold and it's part of myconditions.
I get really cold.
I don't like being cold.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and so, and then we weregoing snow skiing and I'm like,
I'm a water person.
I'm a sun girl.
(28:13):
Like I, but that's his happyplace.
And so, um.
I think I panicked abouteverything.
I could panic about my clothes.
What am I gonna do?
What, what if we, you know, it's11 hour drive, how am I gonna
spend 11 hours in a car?
And, um, but I was able to workmy way through it and I think it
was really fulfilling to me toable to do it and then go ski.
(28:38):
Um.
So, yeah, it will.
I think it's just, um, over thepast year, I've really expanded
myself and challenged myself toreally live as far as like
living in that scarcity.
Mm-hmm.
Because I did that for so longof.
What if I get sick?
Like if I'm driving my own carsomewhere, it's a little bit
(29:01):
different.
If I get sick, like I can alwayscall my mom, please come get me.
Like, you know, I'm, I'm 41.
My parents, I think, I think sothankful for them.
My grandparents, my family.
Mm-hmm.
Traveling with my family's alittle bit different, but when
you're with others and you, um,don't have your car, don't have
something, um, I'm having to letgo of the power, like letting go
(29:21):
of control.
Mm-hmm.
So within the last year, I thinkI've overcome a lot to allow
myself to really live like thatwith letting go of things like
that.
Oh, that's huge.
That's huge.
Because it is, it's, it's, andit's, that's the kind of thing
that nobody talks about whenyou're, when you're a person who
(29:42):
has medical conditions or evenif it doesn't look like on the
outside.
Right.
You know, I need a place whereI, I found that I couldn't stay.
We have a, not a huge family,but our family, um, you know,
sometimes travels around also.
Yeah.
And I can't renting a house withsomeone else.
Absolutely not.
(30:03):
I have to have a place to, to,it's almost like I am powering
down, you know, like often Itake a nap or I have to, you
know, I have.
Like, like you're saying, I'llhave to have shots and I don't
need people around for that, orI don't want to.
Right.
You know, be sick or, and, andnobody ever talks about how
(30:23):
difficult those little piecesare.
Yeah.
And I think some of it's becausewe, on the outside, we look like
normal people.
Right.
Right.
You know, I have, we have bad,we have some pretty, I call'em
gnarly scars.
I used to be scared to show myscars, uhhuh, but now I try to
wear them with a badge of honor.
Like, yes, I've been throughthis.
Oh, really?
(30:43):
But also because we look like anormal person.
Mm-hmm.
You're just, the expectationsare like, why is she doing this?
And I'm the same way.
I need the peace and quiet tomyself, right.
To come every day, to come backto myself.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano)-1 (30:59):
I wanna thank Jen for really digging
into this with me.
just go check out her podcast,resilient with Jen Chambers.
she talks about fighting herchronic battle, and just chronic
illness altogether.
The power of at the end, how wetalk about, we often get judged
because we just assume peopleare normal and we need to break
that.
(31:20):
We need to stop that now and thefears that we live with daily
that no one has any idea or evengoing through our head or the
things that we have going thathave happened to us and no one
knows, you know, because I talkabout everybody has a story.
But I also really wanna thankJen for getting into the part of
what really truly lights myheart up you guys.
(31:41):
Doing the parties for the kidsin the hospital.
It lights my heart on fire.
I encourage you, if you're herein Kansas.
little moments, big Dreams,celebration.
We are an organization.
We do multiple parties a week ofall different types.
We were doing multiple events.
and actually you don't even haveto be in Kansas.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano)-2 (32:01):
We've just recently had some rocks
shipped to us.
They're hug rocks from Montana.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano)-1 (32:08):
So, you can support us, you can donate
to us, gift cards.
We have an Amazon wishlist.
you can find a way to get yourkids family involved.
I just really wanted to sharewith you guys.
I'll link all this in the.
In the show notes, but I justreally wanted to share with you
guys what truly lights me upand, um, bringing the smiles to
the kids' faces and getting toconnect with the families is
(32:32):
what truly lights me up.
And Jen did a great job havingme on her podcast and really
bringing it out.
And I thank Jen for this amazingepisode.
There's a part two of it.
But for right now, here's partone and I thank Jen for letting
me share it as my episode thisweek on my own podcast.
(32:53):
I'll leave her podcast in theshow notes.
I encourage you to go followher.
I encourage you to findsomething that lights you up and
go start volunteering.
Get your kids involved.
They are never too young tostart volunteering, and they are
never too young to startbringing smiles to other
children's faces.
And we just never know whatsomeone is going through.
So, you know, just, just be kindand let's make this world a
(33:16):
better place.
Get in touch with me if youwanna get involved.
If you have a business thatwould like to help stock our
snack cart, we do that once amonth.
We give them credit, put theirname up.
So just reach out to me.
I would love to connect andshare so much more about what
truly lights me up, y'all.
And this is it.
Bringing joy to kids faces.
Um, that is my mission to make,to keep it a community event.
(33:39):
And I'm so grateful and sothankful for all the amazing
volunteers I have.
it is truly a community projectand I am so grateful for all of
the families that we stayconnected with.
As always, go let those sparksfly.
Thank you for tuning intoanother episode.
I hope today's story inspiredyou to embrace your own journey
of growth and change.
Remember, transformation isn'talways easy, but it's always
(34:02):
worth it.
If you enjoyed this episode, besure to subscribe.
Share it with a friend, andleave a review.
If you found something thatsparked you in this episode and
may spark a friend, I encourageyou to go share with them.
If you have your own story youwould like to share, I would
love to hear it.
So please reach out to me.
Until next time, friends, gohave some fun and let those
(34:23):
sparks lie.
Hey friends.
Welcome to the Enter Sparkpodcast.
I'm your host, Casey Caton.
If you're looking to hearstories of transformation and
personal growth, this podcast isfor you.
My guest and I will be sharingthose sparking moments that has
changed the mental living a morefulfilling authentic life.
I'm so excited for you to heareach unique story.
(00:24):
So sit back, relax, and let'sget started.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano) (00:33):
Hey friend.
Welcome back to the Enter Sparkpodcast.
I'm your host, Casey Taton.
Today's episode is a little bitdifferent.
I often talk about what lightsme up and the things I'm going
through.
My good friend Jen Chambers, sheis a host of the Resilient
Podcast.
(00:54):
it's called Resilient, which inChambers had me on as a guest
and.
We talked about what led me upand I often talk about the
parties or the organization Irun, and that it's a community
event and the smiles we bring tothe kids' faces in the hospital.
But I don't know that I've everreally gone into it.
So Jen is letting me share thisepisode where she interviewed me
(01:17):
talking about what really lightsme up and the smiles I get to
bring to the kids' faces.
So I hope you sit back, relax,and listen to Janet interviewing
me today.
Hi friends.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
I'm so excited today tointroduce to you my friend Casey
Taton, and she has so manyamazing qualities, but she's
(01:38):
also the founder of LittleMoments, big Dreams,
celebrations, and she is thefounder of the Inner Spark
Podcast.
I hope we get to talk about allof that stuff, but thank you so
much for coming here today,Casey.
Thanks for having me.
I thought maybe you could telleveryone a little bit about
Little Moments, big dreams, andthen we'll talk about your
podcast.
(01:58):
Yeah.
So I do parties for kids.
I run an organization doingparties for kids in the
hospital.
Mm-hmm.
And we have officially beendoing it for like six and a half
years now.
Um, and it just started with, Ifought my own medical battle
and, um, you know, being in thehospital.
(02:23):
And the feeling of what it doesto you.
And I spent birthdays, I spentChristmas, I spent holidays.
Um, but just, you know, thefeeling of losing out on life.
And then you're stuck in thisroom and I.
Um, most of mine, so what Iremember of mine was as an
(02:46):
adult, I was actually there as achild with spinal meningitis.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but I was a baby, so I don'tremember that, like
subconsciously.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but I do hear my family talkabout it.
And so what I remember is when Igot sick as an adult and it
totally just stopped my world.
And so when I started gettingbetter and started healing, um,
(03:07):
I traveled for my, um, for mycondition.
I had to get an officialdiagnosis out of my state.
So, um, and then I had mysurgery in into other states,
and so I was traveling a lot aswell.
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
And so just the feeling of beingthere alone and then not really
(03:27):
having anything and just, youknow, they want you to feel good
and be there, but it's such agloomy place.
And so when I started feelingbetter.
I was like, I don't know what mypurpose in life anymore is.
Um, my condition stopped my jobfrom working in the OR to not
(03:51):
having a job.
And so I was like, what, what doI do now?
Like, I'm healing and I don'twanna lay in this bed.
So, um, I had a friend who wasdoing birthday parties, um, for
kids up there.
Through a different group.
And, um, she had reached out tome and asked if I wanted to
help.
And I was like, well, yeah, ofcourse.
(04:11):
Like I was so excited.
This gave me a purpose, right?
And so I went up and helped herand she, I remember her telling
me, Hey, um, I'm not reallygetting a bunch of feedback from
nurses not really getting alllike very far with them.
And she had a son and she waslike, do you just wanna take
(04:32):
over?
And I was like, well.
I mean, sure, I'll try.
And so, um, I, I honestly had noidea what I was gonna do, where
I was gonna start.
And I made a post and I startedtalking to the nurses and they
were like, well, sure, um, whatelse do you wanna do besides
birthdays?
(04:53):
And I was like, oh, there's morelike, yeah.
And so they, it just kind ofwent from there.
And so I have a great group ofvolunteers, and now we do all
kinds of parties.
We do, um, milestone parties.
Um, we have a lot of kids herewho are battling cancer, um, or
(05:15):
in, or other conditions thatrequire long periods of
treatments.
And so I think it's important tocelebrate the milestones along
the way as well as.
Birthdays.
Um, for the ones who beatcancer, we do a big party for
that.
Um, we also do sunshine bagsbecause there's so many kids in
(05:38):
there that maybe they had theirgallbladder taken out, maybe
they broke a bone, or, um, youknow, we, there's just all kinds
of con conditions and so they'vebeen there for a while and they
need some joy.
So.
My mission is to bring smiles,not only to them, but to the
(06:04):
parents, because we often forgetwhat the parents are going
through during this time.
Mm-hmm.
And so, and a lot of times thesiblings get to celebrate too.
So that's, that is fun.
Um, they just, you just get lostin you.
(06:25):
It's almost like you feel likeyou forgot, forgot about, and
you're just stuck in this placethat's not very happy.
Right.
And so, um, we also do holidays.
Um, we do all kinds of other funevents up there.
Just random events being bringlike, you know, the fire
department up there, differentgroups like that.
Um, paw Patrol came up there oneday and so, yeah.
(06:48):
Um, just stuff.
Um, we did arts and crafts for awhile.
And that was to give the parentsa break so they could actually
like send their kid down thereand then they could go get a
break, go take a shower, go eat,go do something.
So they're not feeling likethey're leaving their kid alone,
but their kid's doing somethingand we're with them.
(07:11):
And so, um, I did that pre covidand then Covid hit and of course
it, the parties, I got tocontinue the parties, but.
The events, um, stopped for awhile.
So now we are past covid and youknow, we still go through like
RSV season, all those seasonswhere we can't do a lot.
(07:33):
Um, but I still get, bringsmiles to kids' faces and, um,
so I just, um, we're gonna,we're an organ.
Organ, sorry.
We are an organization, so Irely on the community for all of
our donations.
Um, I go out and speak to, youknow, schools, church groups,
(07:54):
boy scouts, girl scouts.
Um, I have some women quiltersthat make blankets for us.
Um, just any type of group, um,businesses.
We have a snack cart at one ofour hospitals.
Um, what do you all know, whatit's like to eat hospital food
if you've been in the hospitaland or how much the vending
machine is?
(08:14):
And a lot of times, like when Iwas there, my mom wouldn't eat.
She didn't wanna leave the roomand then nothing looked good.
But if someone were to bring hersomething or bring her a cart
by, she would be more willing toeat a snack or something if it
was there.
And so, um, we have a lot ofbusinesses that sponsor that.
(08:37):
Um, we do two hospitals.
We also do, um, kids.
We have a lot of kids thattravel.
So if they are going to traveland we know about it, we've done
like yard signs, we've done likewelcome home signs.
Um, I know what it was like totravel and, um, so like being
(08:58):
welcome home is a really coolthing.
Or just thinking like getting agift bag before you leave to
know like, um, and I want, and Iwanna make it a community event.
I make it a community event.
And so I want these kids toknow.
That other kids are thinkingabout them and that we're all
cheering them on.
(09:18):
So, yeah.
Whoa.
Oh, well first of all, the Amma,the most amazing part about all
of your story is that you tooksome, you saw a mead and you
filled it.
You saw something that canreally make a difference and,
and now that's your life's work.
Yes.
It's, I love that.
(09:38):
I love that you didn't focus on.
Just the, the hurting part.
Nobody, you know, people aregonna be in the hospital,
unfortunately.
Kids.
Right.
And, but, but you don't have to,it doesn't have to be so bad.
And I Right.
Oh my gosh.
What an amazing thing.
A really impactful thing to do.
(10:00):
And how did, how did you learnto like, go up and, and speak to
people?
That probably took a lot ofcourage to go speak to
businesses, let alone all of thefamilies.
Um, yeah.
Um, for a person who doesn'tlike to talk and I get nervous
anytime before I do an interviewfor a podcast, you think I would
be more comfortable.
But I think it's because, um,you know, when you're speaking
(10:24):
from the heart, it's, and youget to tell somebody, I, as an
adult was in the hospital and Iknow what it feels like and I
wanna bring joy there.
So when I get to say I canrelate in a way.
Mm-hmm.
I think it makes it easier forme to tell my story and then
(10:47):
really connect them to what'sgoing on.
Well, I think that peoplerespond to authenticity and when
you're speaking your truth thatway, yeah.
I mean, it is hard.
It's, it's hard to, it's for somany people that I speak with,
it's hard to talk about theirexperiences.
Especially if you've been in ahospital or searching for a
(11:09):
diagnosis because there'snothing more terrifying than
that.
And yeah, the fact that, thatyou're using it as fuel makes it
so much better.
Oh, I just love it.
So, um, you said you have twohospitals right now that you
work with?
Yeah, we have, um, two hospitalshere in Wichita that have kids
(11:31):
in them.
Um, I live in Kansas, so, um.
In just our town.
We have two hospitals.
Um, so we do quite a few partiesa week.
What's your favorite kind ofparty to do?
Do you like the birthdayparties, the best or celebration
ones?
Um, and I don't know, that's a,that's a good question.
(11:57):
All different, right?
Yeah.
I mean, I do love the birthdayparties because I know.
I've gotten a lot of really goodfeedback on birthdays.
Mm-hmm.
It takes, because when we do theparties, we, we do a gift bag.
Mm-hmm.
So, um, if I, I try topersonalize something.
We do plates, napkins, banners.
We try to make a personalizedposter for them, and get
(12:21):
something they like, get like acraft or something.
So it gives them something to doand then they also get the room
decorated.
And we also, if they can havecake.
Then we get a cake.
So it takes a load off of theparents.
Mm-hmm.
And it's not like my kid doesn'tget to celebrate because he's in
the hospital and I don't wannaleave.
(12:41):
Mm-hmm.
And so I think it's just, um,yeah, the power of that, of
doing birthdays is that theydon't, their birthday isn't
getting skipped.
They still get to celebrate withthe staff.
And also it changes thatconnection a little bit.
Great.
They're not such the scaryperson anymore.
Like they have a little fun inthem, so I know.
(13:05):
Yeah.
So, and, and when you reallyfeel like you matter, you are,
you're more in, invested in, youknow, maybe having those
conversations with, with staffmembers, and I'm sure that helps
for the parents as well.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I wonder, um, what keeps youmotivated to keep doing this?
Do you get a lot of goodfeedback?
(13:27):
I do.
Um, I think, yeah, the power ofconnection and watching these
kids grow, because we do alsolike, we'll set up, um, our
table at, there's like a cancerevent they do every year and
they celebrate the kids or, um,we'll set up our table at
different events.
(13:48):
Mm-hmm.
And.
We also have a hockey team here,um, for the cancer kids, and
they get to wear, like, theywear the kids' names on the back
of their jerseys.
And so it's, um, just seeingthese kids outside of the
hospital too, the ones that canmake it, it just lights my heart
up when they see you and theyknow who you are.
(14:10):
And, um, yeah, it's just thepower of them.
Like running up to you, it'slike, it's almost like you feel
like you're a celebrity whenit's like, oh.
You know, I just gave you abirthday or you know, I just
brought a smile to your face onthe day you were struggling.
Mm-hmm.
And so, but it's just the power.
They remember who I am and thenthey know who, you know, the
(14:31):
families know who we are andjust the good feedback we get.
Um, also a little bit of a turnon it, a sad little bit of a sad
story.
Um, I, when I got into this, Inever thought.
Which is crazy'cause I worked inthe, or prior to getting sick.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so I, I worked in thehospital from a very young age
(14:54):
and we all know death happens,but when I was thinking about
celebrating these kids, I didn'tthink about any of them dying.
Right.
And so, anytime I think this isnot going right, or like I get
frustrated or I get overwhelmed,um.
(15:17):
I have, I got to go to one ofthe girls' funerals.
Um, was the family invited me,she was actually away when she
passed away, and we got tocelebrate her last birthday.
She was in Kansas City and shewanted, um, a drawing pad and we
knew that her ca she had beatcancer and had come back.
(15:39):
And then she was getting,fighting all these other
conditions and.
So she loved drawing and so, um,we raised enough money to get
her like an iPad.
Oh yeah, that's probably likeone of the biggest gifts.
Um, one of my volunteers did itlike as a birthday fundraiser
for herself and donate it so wecould send it up there for her
(15:59):
to be able to draw.
Um, and so, um, we, I lost twogirls about the same age at, in
like, like a two week timeframeand.
And so I, it kind of, it makesyou think so the other mom, um,
(16:20):
they are not from here.
They travel and we have a lot offamilies that travel.
And when I found out herdaughter passed away, she sent
me this long message and shestill, um, every year on her
daughter's birthday, she willmake a post about how we
celebrated her daughter's lastbirthday.
(16:41):
And it's just something you takefor granted because I didn't
know that it was gonna be herdaughter's last birthday.
Right.
You know, she had reached out,it was a Saturday and she was
like, Hey, I'm sorry to botheryou on the weekend.
Do you think there's any way youcould, it's my daughter's
birthday.
My, I don't even know if the momhad a car here, like so she
could leave.
(17:01):
And I knew that she said there'sher friend is coming in town to
surprise her, but we don'treally have anything to decorate
the room.
And I was like.
Sure.
You know, and she's like, I knowit's a Saturday.
I'm like, it's, it's fine.
Um, and so I went and got thempizza and a gift and cake and I
got to take it up there and justsee her daughter and her mom
(17:27):
talks about the smiles and thejoy that she forever gets to
hold in her heart.
Mm-hmm.
Of her daughter's 16th birthday.
Oh yeah.
So I think that's the power thatkeeps it going is knowing that,
um, a lot of us, um, like youand I have talked about facing
(17:49):
medical battles and howtomorrow's not guaranteed, um,
but it really hits home and justkeeps me motivated to keep
going.
That, um, if I can bring asmile, that's what that family
needs to remember.
Cool.
Working with kids is, um, I usedto, when I was in high school, I
(18:14):
volunteered with the MuscularDystrophy Association.
Um, and we would, we had campsevery year, or they had camps
every year.
And I was a counselor and, um,you know, at first year, a
junior counselor and you get toknow these kids and then you,
through the years and, and it'sincredibly awful how many of
them passed away?
Mm-hmm.
(18:36):
It is equally amazing that, thatyou get to be a part of their
lives even for a tiny, shorttime.
Yeah.
And I imagine that every daymust be so meaningful for you
doing that job.
Yeah, it is.
Um, that's really cool that youdid the camp that you did camps
too helped out because we justdon't ever think about what the
(18:59):
power of another person canbring us.
How much joy someone else canbring us.
Mm-hmm.
By what we think is somethingreally small.
Right.
It really is something reallybig and impactful in their life.
Yeah.
Because it's not, it, it was funfor me.
It wasn't like hard, you know?
Yeah.
But, but these people that I metthere, I, I wish they were still
(19:22):
around today, of course.
But, um, we got to have, I gotto have them in my life and, and
I'll be forever glad about that.
I think one of the coolestmemories is that.
They also get to be a kid whenthey're at these things.
Oh yeah.
So I always try to think when wedo events and stuff, it's like
(19:46):
the identity of being sick getsto go away for a little while
and they just get to be a kidand have that fun.
Mm-hmm.
Because when you're sick, likeeveryone treats you as the sick
person and you're in thehospital, so you know you're
that much removed.
Yes.
Were you in the hospital a lotas a child?
(20:06):
You said that you, you were sickwhen you were a baby and then
again as an adult.
Yeah, so I, it was more when Iwas, um, I had spinal meningitis
and thankfully didn't have, um,I don't remember it.
I was only a couple months oldand was there for a while and
then, um, I did battle likemigraines.
(20:28):
When I was in high school.
Um, but it was more when I wasoutside of high school, so like
more in my college.
Mm-hmm.
And then when I started mycareer as an adult, um, that's
when I thought I had the bestlife going on.
You know, you think, oh, I havethis dream.
I was like, I have this dreamjob.
Like I have friends, I have ahouse.
(20:49):
Like all the things that I, Ithought I was on the right track
and then my life just stopped.
And so, um.
More of it that I consciouslyremember was as an adult.
Okay.
But I think I remember it's justthe, like, the impact that it
has on your family.
Absolutely.
Like even as, um, so it wasn't,I, I'm not married and so it's
(21:15):
so like, you know, my mom wouldcome up there with me and so
that pulls my mom away from likeholiday events and, you know.
And my mom, my mom's birthday isthe day before mine.
And so like, okay, well if I'mthere on my hosp in the hospital
on my birthday, that means mymom is spending, you know,
usually the day before is herbirthday.
(21:35):
We're spinning our birthday inthe hospital.
And so, yeah, I just think thatit's, it's a lot still as an
adult because I de depended,still depended on them even
though I was an adult.
That's really hard.
That's really hard.
That's one of the things that,um, but for me, I think I've
(22:00):
told you, I had this big list ofthings that I had to relearn how
to do, and, and I had a big listof things that they told me I'd
never be able to do, um, like awritten down list.
And, um, being dependent onpeople for so many things, it,
it's demoralizing.
It's depressing.
It's, and you have no choice.
(22:21):
That's the hardest part is thatyou can't make yourself better.
You can't, you know, there'snothing you can do.
No.
And you're grateful, but at thesame time, like you're so sick
that you don't have, I feel likeit doesn't get expressed enough
to them, um, how grateful youare.
Because at some point I alsowent through like an anger
(22:43):
phase.
So.
You know, I was super thankfulfor everything my parents were
doing.
Mm-hmm.
But I was also not, probably notthe most pleasant person to be
around.
Didn't have any energy.
I didn't, you know, like I'mhaving to ask for everything.
And we're taught at a young agethat you grow up to be
(23:06):
independent.
Right.
You start doing things, tyingyour shoes, like all these
things.
Cooking for yourself, cleaningfor yourself.
Mm-hmm.
You know, showering yourself.
And when those things get takenaway, um, you, you just lose
your whole self.
Like, who am I?
Mm-hmm.
And it just, it's, it's heavy.
It is.
(23:27):
And it's, and it is hard on thefamily members too.
You're all just, there's noinstruction book.
You are all just, okay, so howcan I get through this hour,
this day, this holiday, this,you know, season?
Yeah.
As quickly and easily as youcan.
Yeah.
Yes.
And I thank you.
(23:47):
Forget to live in the moment.
Mm-hmm.
It's something that I learned asI've, you know, healed more.
Mm-hmm.
Is that I was just like, justget this through.
Just get over this.
Let's get through onto the nextthing.
Because I wanted to rusheverything.
Um, I, not even, this isn't evenpart of my condition, but as an
adult, I had my tonsils takenout.
(24:07):
Okay.
Um, well, part of it is becauseof my condition, but.
So with my condition, I don'tdrink a ton of water.
And so they sent me home, youknow, it's an in and outpatient
surgery and, um, I didn't, youhave to drink medicine every two
hours.
So my mom like stayed down hereas an adult with me, waking me
(24:31):
up, setting an alarms every twohours to get the medicine in me.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but then, then she would goto work during the day and.
I would get anxious, like, okay,now I'm alone.
Now I'm scared.
I have to do this by myself.
And I wasn't getting enoughfluid in me and I knew that was
the one thing they said is youhave to stay hydrated.
And so, um, I actually ended upback in the hospital because I
(24:55):
couldn't get the fluids down.
Me even keep enough.
Yeah, I have a porta cath.
And so, um, that's how I got alot of fluids and so.
Like what some people would say,a simple surgery, like having
your tonsils out wasn't simplefor me.
Mm-hmm.
And then it was also, um, youknow, Thanksgiving was like two
(25:17):
weeks away when I had a, and Iwas like, I'll be fine to eat,
I'll be great.
And no, I had, I spent like, Ithink a week and a half, two
weeks in the hospital recoveringfrom my tonsils.
Oh yeah.
Wow, that's interesting.
I've been, um, something weird.
My conditions exa my autoimmunedisease is exacerbated by
(25:40):
stress.
So the holidays are, I'm alwaysin the hospital for holidays.
Yeah, same.
I'm never in there for verylong, but, and thankfully with
the new medicine I've been on,it's been a couple years, but
it's, it's interesting thatholidays and holidays are so
much pressure.
Anyway.
They are.
(26:01):
Oh, so because you're a personwho really seems to live every
day at up to the most, like youreally seem to, to not be one of
those people that disregards theprivileges that they have as, as
a person who is out of thehospital now and, and is able to
really do all the things mostlythat you want to.
(26:24):
Yeah.
Are there things, do you thinkthat, that now you're a person
that takes more risks?
Or are you still kind of a safeperson?
Um, I think within the last yearI've grown a lot Uhhuh, um,
because I honestly depended onnausea medicine, in nausea
shots, uhhuh.
Um, so thankfully my parentsjust, you know, by the grace of
(26:47):
God, I bought a house when I wasyoung.
Everybody said that's crazy thatyou would live two houses down
from your parents.
Um.
I didn't know at the time I wasgonna get sick.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but I was able to keep my,yeah.
So I was able to stay in my ownhome.
Mm-hmm.
And so, um, I think travelingbothers me.
(27:10):
I get scared to travel withoutmy family because, you know, I.
I do sometimes have to take anausea shot.
And so, um, and I don't driveafter I take'em because, you
know, they can make you tired.
Just all the things.
And so I recently just went onthe trip with my boyfriend, um,
and I said that's, well, I hadwent last year in May, I went to
(27:32):
Kathy Hiller's summit.
That was the first time I'dflown alone and traveled alone
since I had been sick.
Yeah.
And so that was huge for me.
And then, um, I went on a tripwith my boyfriend.
(27:52):
We went to Colorado for fourdays and I.
I, we, we can joke about it now,and he'll, he'll tell you, I had
complete on anxiety, not onlyabout being cold because I'm,
I'm cold and it's part of myconditions.
I get really cold.
I don't like being cold.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and so, and then we weregoing snow skiing and I'm like,
I'm a water person.
I'm a sun girl.
(28:13):
Like I, but that's his happyplace.
And so, um.
I think I panicked abouteverything.
I could panic about my clothes.
What am I gonna do?
What, what if we, you know, it's11 hour drive, how am I gonna
spend 11 hours in a car?
And, um, but I was able to workmy way through it and I think it
was really fulfilling to me toable to do it and then go ski.
(28:38):
Um.
So, yeah, it will.
I think it's just, um, over thepast year, I've really expanded
myself and challenged myself toreally live as far as like
living in that scarcity.
Mm-hmm.
Because I did that for so longof.
What if I get sick?
Like if I'm driving my own carsomewhere, it's a little bit
(29:01):
different.
If I get sick, like I can alwayscall my mom, please come get me.
Like, you know, I'm, I'm 41.
My parents, I think, I think sothankful for them.
My grandparents, my family.
Mm-hmm.
Traveling with my family's alittle bit different, but when
you're with others and you, um,don't have your car, don't have
something, um, I'm having to letgo of the power, like letting go
(29:21):
of control.
Mm-hmm.
So within the last year, I thinkI've overcome a lot to allow
myself to really live like thatwith letting go of things like
that.
Oh, that's huge.
That's huge.
Because it is, it's, it's, andit's, that's the kind of thing
that nobody talks about whenyou're, when you're a person who
(29:42):
has medical conditions or evenif it doesn't look like on the
outside.
Right.
You know, I need a place whereI, I found that I couldn't stay.
We have a, not a huge family,but our family, um, you know,
sometimes travels around also.
Yeah.
And I can't renting a house withsomeone else.
Absolutely not.
(30:03):
I have to have a place to, to,it's almost like I am powering
down, you know, like often Itake a nap or I have to, you
know, I have.
Like, like you're saying, I'llhave to have shots and I don't
need people around for that, orI don't want to.
Right.
You know, be sick or, and, andnobody ever talks about how
(30:23):
difficult those little piecesare.
Yeah.
And I think some of it's becausewe, on the outside, we look like
normal people.
Right.
Right.
You know, I have, we have bad,we have some pretty, I call'em
gnarly scars.
I used to be scared to show myscars, uhhuh, but now I try to
wear them with a badge of honor.
Like, yes, I've been throughthis.
Oh, really?
(30:43):
But also because we look like anormal person.
Mm-hmm.
You're just, the expectationsare like, why is she doing this?
And I'm the same way.
I need the peace and quiet tomyself, right.
To come every day, to come backto myself.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano)-1 (30:59):
I wanna thank Jen for really digging
into this with me.
just go check out her podcast,resilient with Jen Chambers.
she talks about fighting herchronic battle, and just chronic
illness altogether.
The power of at the end, how wetalk about, we often get judged
because we just assume peopleare normal and we need to break
that.
(31:20):
We need to stop that now and thefears that we live with daily
that no one has any idea or evengoing through our head or the
things that we have going thathave happened to us and no one
knows, you know, because I talkabout everybody has a story.
But I also really wanna thankJen for getting into the part of
what really truly lights myheart up you guys.
(31:41):
Doing the parties for the kidsin the hospital.
It lights my heart on fire.
I encourage you, if you're herein Kansas.
little moments, big Dreams,celebration.
We are an organization.
We do multiple parties a week ofall different types.
We were doing multiple events.
and actually you don't even haveto be in Kansas.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano)-2 (32:01):
We've just recently had some rocks
shipped to us.
They're hug rocks from Montana.
Yeti Nano (Yeti Nano)-1 (32:08):
So, you can support us, you can donate
to us, gift cards.
We have an Amazon wishlist.
you can find a way to get yourkids family involved.
I just really wanted to sharewith you guys.
I'll link all this in the.
In the show notes, but I justreally wanted to share with you
guys what truly lights me upand, um, bringing the smiles to
the kids' faces and getting toconnect with the families is
(32:32):
what truly lights me up.
And Jen did a great job havingme on her podcast and really
bringing it out.
And I thank Jen for this amazingepisode.
There's a part two of it.
But for right now, here's partone and I thank Jen for letting
me share it as my episode thisweek on my own podcast.
(32:53):
I'll leave her podcast in theshow notes.
I encourage you to go followher.
I encourage you to findsomething that lights you up and
go start volunteering.
Get your kids involved.
They are never too young tostart volunteering, and they are
never too young to startbringing smiles to other
children's faces.
And we just never know whatsomeone is going through.
So, you know, just, just be kindand let's make this world a
(33:16):
better place.
Get in touch with me if youwanna get involved.
If you have a business thatwould like to help stock our
snack cart, we do that once amonth.
We give them credit, put theirname up.
So just reach out to me.
I would love to connect andshare so much more about what
truly lights me up, y'all.
And this is it.
Bringing joy to kids faces.
Um, that is my mission to make,to keep it a community event.
(33:39):
And I'm so grateful and sothankful for all the amazing
volunteers I have.
it is truly a community projectand I am so grateful for all of
the families that we stayconnected with.
As always, go let those sparksfly.
Thank you for tuning intoanother episode.
I hope today's story inspiredyou to embrace your own journey
of growth and change.
Remember, transformation isn'talways easy, but it's always
(34:02):
worth it.
If you enjoyed this episode, besure to subscribe.
Share it with a friend, andleave a review.
If you found something thatsparked you in this episode and
may spark a friend, I encourageyou to go share with them.
If you have your own story youwould like to share, I would
love to hear it.
So please reach out to me.
Until next time, friends, gohave some fun and let those
(34:23):
sparks lie.
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