Now I See the Good, Not Just the Pain: Julie Barth’s Story of Resilience, Healing, and Hope

Now I See the Good, Not Just the Pain: Julie Barth’s Story of Resilience, Healing, and Hope 

Episode Description:
In this deeply moving episode of Linda’s Corner: Inspiration for a Better Life, we welcome Julie Barth—trauma survivor, devoted mother of six, author of Notes from a Blackberry, and founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach. Julie opens her heart and shares a powerful story of navigating life through profound grief, trauma, chronic medical challenges, and ultimately finding hope and healing. 

Julie is the mother of Tatum, a remarkable young woman living with primordial dwarfism—a rare and complex condition. At just 24 years old and weighing 24 pounds, Tatum has endured over 40 surgeries, countless medical challenges, and even a battle with a rare form of cancer. Despite severe physical limitations, Tatum shines as a self-taught artist and a bright light of joy to those around her. 

For years, Julie carried the heavy belief that she needed to “fix” Tatum—believing that joy and fulfillment could only come if her daughter were “normal.” Over time, she came to a life-changing realization: Tatum is the hero of her own story, and it's okay to let go of the need to fix what simply is. Julie now embraces the journey with love, acceptance, and presence. 

Amidst the ongoing health challenges, Julie’s husband Colin was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. His passing left her with deep survivor's guilt and the immense weight of parenting through grief. Eventually, she remarried—but the relationship became emotionally and financially abusive. Trapped in a cycle of self-blame and suffering, Julie believed she deserved to be punished and lived for years on auto-pilot—pretending to be happy while trying to outrun the pain of her past. 

Her healing journey began when she bravely chose to stop pretending and start unpacking the trauma she had carried for so long. Julie now uses her experiences to fuel her passion for helping others. As CEO and founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach, she supports women-led households by providing the resources and aid needed to find security and stability in times of crisis. 

Julie’s story is raw, courageous, and incredibly inspiring—a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of healing. 

In this episode, you’ll hear about: 

• Parenting a child with a rare condition and over 40 surgeries
• Why letting go of the need to “fix” can open the door to deeper connection and joy
• Losing her beloved husband Colin to cancer and the aftermath of grief
• Surviving an abusive relationship and rediscovering her worth
• Learning to face the past in order to create a better future
• Julie’s mission to help other women rebuild their lives with dignity and hope
• Her powerful book Notes from a Blackberry and the story behind it

Connect with Julie Barth:
📖 JulieBarthAuthor.net
💛 CJBOutreach.org