The Long Road

When Sasha Stanton’s 3-year-old son, Logan, lost his leg in a devastating farm accident (2018), life changed in an instant. What followed was a period of deep trauma, reflection, and ultimately, personal growth. 

In this episode, Sasha shares the raw truth of parenting through crisis, how she rebuilt her world, and the powerful ways she now supports other rural mums facing isolation and hardship.

A heartfelt conversation about resili...

The Long Road - Episode 14

Guest - Molly Bell

Hosted by - Lisa McKelvey

In this episode, Molly Bell — a pharmacist, wife, and mother of two from Toowoomba, QLD chats about her family’s journey. Molly and Nathans youngest son, Alfie, was diagnosed with an extremely rare neuro deficiency disorder (PPP2R1A), which affects his gross motor skills and causes moderate intellectual disability. 

Molly shares some of the challenges she has faced...

The Long Road – Episode 13

Guest – Mel Nicol
Hosted by – Lisa McKelvey

In this episode, Mel shares what life was like raising four children while living remotely on Cubbie Station in Dirranbandi, QLD. Their journey took a complex turn when their youngest child, Will, was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Mel speaks openly about the challenges, the heartbreak, and the strength it takes to be a medical mum — and how,...

The Long Road – Episode 12

Guest: Caroline Kiefer

Hosted by: Lisa McKelvey

A Mother’s Fight
Caroline Kiefer is a mother of two from Melbourne, Victoria. In this episode, Caroline shares her remarkable story of strength and resilience after her only daughter, Alana, was diagnosed with a rare condition—GATAD2B-associated neurodevelopmental disorder (GAND).

Together with her husband Chris and eldest son Bailey, Caroline has spent the...

The Long Road Podcast - Episode 11

Guest - Toni Bloor

Hosted by - Lisa McKelvey 

A Race Against Time
Toni Bloor, a mother of two from Melbourne, shares her family’s extraordinary journey through heartbreak and healing. Her eldest son James survived Burkitt lymphoma at just five years old—only to face the unimaginable once again as a teenager, needing a life-saving heart and lung transplant. 

In this powerful episode, Toni opens up...

The Long Road Podcast - Episode 10
Guest: Susan Crain
Hosted by: Lisa McKelvey

In this episode of The Long Road Podcast, we welcome Susan Crain as our Episode 10 guest.

Susan, a mother of three, opens up about the lasting impact of a traumatic period in her family's life when her children were young. What began as a terrible virus affecting all three kids turned into an exhausting ordeal. Like many parents, she pushed ...

In this episode of The Long Road Podcast, host Lisa McKelvey sits down with Karlie Ross from Toowoomba, QLD, to discuss her family’s deeply personal journey through childhood trauma.

Karlie and her husband, Mason, faced an unimaginable challenge when their daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed with Leukemia just before her second birthday. At the same time, they were navigating the complexities of raising their son, Leo, who has non-verbal...

In this powerful episode, host Lisa McKelvey sits down with Jeff McPaul to reflect on a tragedy that changed his family's life forever. 

25 years ago, Jeff’s four-year-old son, Matty, was hit by a car in a devastating accident. Matty’s recovery has been a lifelong journey, shaping the resilience, strength, and love within their family. 

Jeff shares his insights on grief, hope, and the lessons they've learned along the way. 

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Emma Rennison chats with host Lisa McKelvey about the difficulties her mum went through with getting medical assistance for what was originally thought to be hip dysplasia for herself as a child.  

Then years later, as a mother, Emma sits in medical appointments and by her childrens bedside, while they have extensive orthopedic conditions as well. The Rennisons now have a diagnosis of the genetic condition  - Multiple Epiphyseal Dys...

In episode 6 of The Long Road podcast, we sit down with Elisa Spano, a dedicated mother of 2, to discuss her son's journey with Perthes Disease. Elisa shares her story, shedding light on the emotional, physical, and medical hurdles their family has faced since the diagnosis. From the initial signs, Elisa offers insight into what it's like to advocate for a child with a rare and often misunderstood condition.

This...

In Episode 5 of The Long Road Podcast, host Lisa McKelvey will speak with Aylish Maher a wife, to Mick Maher and mother to two beautiful children Miley and Monty. 

The Maher family begun their long road on day one of Montys life. Monty has a severe cardiac condition and was diagnosed with 22q deletion. Monty is currently 4 years old, and Aylish speaks about the whirlwind of the first year, time in the Queensland Childrens ...

Tamara Lloyd, together with her husband Jono are raising 3 beautiful children. Life definitely has its challenges with their eldest Kai (13 yo) having high functioning autism. 

Kai is non verbal, and in her 13 years of raising Kai, Tamara has never heard him say the words I love you. Only a handful of times has she heard him say the name "mum". Yet their bond is so so special. 

Tamara chats with host, Li...

Sarah Moorcroft had always dreamed of having children, and after meeting her husband John and having her first born, soon found out, its not always as straight forward as you would imagine. 

Sarah chats on the podcast with host, Lisa McKelvey, about her second born son Hunters time at the Queensland Childrens Hospital with inflammation of his heart muscle - Myocarditis, life since, and some of the things she has learnt on ...

Jen Drummonds son, Rafferty (2) was tragically struck by a car while riding his balance bike, with his family while they were walking their dogs.
 
Rafferty devastatingly sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. 
 
Jen chats with host, Lisa McKelvey, about family life since the life changing accident. Jen and her husband Dylan have chosen to pick happiness and make the most of the life that they do have with their...

What do you do when your on an adventure of a life time overseas with your husband and 5 kids, when your eldest son becomes increasingly unwell, and after seeking out medical help, you hear the diagnosis - he has a rare AVM on his spinal cord? 

Brooke Colless has lived this incredible story. Its one of love, hope and faith. 

Show Links:
Brooke Colless - Blonde Nomads - https://www.instagram.com/blondenomads?ig...

Hi and welcome to The Long Road. Hosted by Lisa McKelvey, a mother of 5 children ranging in age from 16 - 5 years old. She lives with her husband Steve in Goondiwindi, QLD.

On boxing day 2021, Lisas second eldest son Beau, had a motorbike accident which resulted in a Spinal Cord Injury, at just 12 years old. 

Lisa has gained so much by speaking with other parents who also have experienced a life changing trauma wi...