“A Place of YES” is a podcast about using your grief to create something good. The non-profit Jake’s Help From Heaven releases weekly episodes showcasing the go...
What No One Tells You About Parenting a Child with Rare Disease - Emergency Surgeries & Advocacy
Being a rare disease parent means living in a world of unpredictability—and in this powerful follow-up episode, Jessica Troiano shares what that really looks like. From a terrifying recent emergency surgery to the countless difficult decisions she’s had to make over the years, Jess opens up about the emotional and mental toll of parenting a medically complex child.
She talks about the weight of advocacy, the fear of the unknown, and how every choice—big or small—can feel overwhelming when your child has 15 medical diagnoses. But even through the hardest moments, she continues to find strength, hope, and deep love in the journey.
Sponsored by Adirondack Trust and Amsure, this episode is a raw and honest look at the side of parenting we rarely hear about. https://www.adirondacktrust.com
Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven:
❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/
❤️ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
#raredisease #rarediseaseawareness #rarediseases #griefandloss #medicallycomplex
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26:45
Losing My Sister at 15 - One Year Later
Losing a sister at 15 changes everything. Sophia Allen opens up about the heartbreak of losing Olivia—her sister, her best friend, her constant.
She shares what people don’t understand about sibling grief, the loneliness of navigating loss at such a young age, and the trauma that shaped her teenage years. This raw and honest conversation gives voice to the kind of grief that often goes unseen but never goes unfelt.
DONATE TO THE LIVE LIKE LIV FOUNDATION: https://livelikelivfoundation.org
Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven:
❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/
❤️ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
#raredisease #rarediseaseawareness #rarediseases #griefandloss #medicallycomplex #leukemia #leukemiaawareness #siblingloss #cancerawareness
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40:23
I Traveled to Guatemala to Honor My Late Daughter | Losing Her to a Rare Disease
Three years after losing her daughter Dalia to a rare disease, Jessica Fein embarked on a powerful journey to Guatemala—Dalia’s birthplace—to reconnect with her spirit.
In this episode, she shares the emotional experience of returning to the country, the rituals her family performed to feel Dalia’s presence, and the deep, unexpected ways grief and love intertwine. This is a story of remembrance, connection, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
Find Jessica Fein: https://www.jessicafeinstories.com
Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven:
❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/
❤️ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
#raredisease #rarediseaseawareness #rarediseases #griefandloss #medicallycomplex #disabilityawareness
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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33:29
How One Tragic Loss Changed a Family Forever
Grief is never one-size-fits-all. Heather sits down with the Best family—Lisa, along with her adult children, Aly and Tyler—to talk about life after the sudden loss of their husband and father, Bob Best, who passed away on May 7, 2018.
They share how the same loss can affect each person in unique ways—a wife mourning her partner, children grieving a father, and the lasting impact of sudden loss years later. This conversation explores the many faces of grief, the trauma of unexpected death, and how love endures even after loss.
Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven:
❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/
❤️ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
#raredisease #rarediseaseawareness #parenthood #rarediseases #griefandloss #parentloss #medicallycomplex #disabilityawareness
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31:29
The Doctors Were Wrong: A Mother’s Fight for Her Son with 15 Diagnoses
What do you do when doctors tell you your baby won’t survive? For Jessica Troiano, the answer was simple: fight. In this episode, Jessica shares her journey of raising Jude, her 13-year-old son with a rare genetic condition, PHGDH deficiency, and 15 medical diagnoses. From navigating life-or-death moments to countless surgeries and trips to Boston Children’s Hospital, Jessica opens up about the challenges, heartbreak, and strength it takes to be a parent to a medically complex child.
But beyond the hardships, she also finds joy, love, and resilience in the journey. This is a powerful story of defying the odds, proving the experts wrong, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
Thank you to Adirondack Trust & Amsure for sponsoring today's episode!
http://www.adirondacktrust.com
Find Heather and Jake's Help from Heaven:
❤️ APOY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplaceofyespodcast/
❤️ Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathersstraughter/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven: http://jakeshelpfromheaven.org/
❤️ Jake's Help from Heaven IG: https://www.instagram.com/jakeshelp/
❤️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakeshelpfromheaven
❤️ Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@APlaceofYesPodcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“A Place of YES” is a podcast about using your grief to create something good. The non-profit Jake’s Help From Heaven releases weekly episodes showcasing the good that has been done in the 14 years since Jake’s death. You’ll meet mothers who know Heather’s grief and her joy. You’ll get to know the children that have been helped by Jake and you’ll meet the people who have helped make all of this joy possible.
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