Jessica Patay is a full-time caregiver to her son with Prader-Willi syndrome—and the founder of We Are Brave Together, a global support network for caregiving moms. In this episode, she joins Heather to talk about the emotional toll of rare parenting, why self-care isn’t a luxury, and what it really takes to show up for yourself when you're constantly showing up for everyone else.
They get honest about burnout, identity loss, and the power of community when you feel like you're running on empty. If you’ve ever felt like you're disappearing inside the role of caregiver, this conversation is for you.
FIND JESS:
🌟Bite Size Self Care Suggestions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_oy2od5u7P9qyPEvrcR72yqF8J66RGFK/view
🌟We Are Brave Together: https://www.wearebravetogether.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
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34:34
What I Did After My Daughter Died: Grief, Purpose & Carrying Her Legacy
After losing her daughter Kelsey, Debbie Waffle was left with a grief that didn’t fade—but she also felt a quiet pull toward purpose. In Part 2 of her conversation with Heather, Debbie shares how she began to live for Kelsey—writing her book My Grief Jar and training Kelsey’s beloved dog, Brody, to become a therapy dog, just as Kelsey had dreamed.
This episode is about the healing that happens in motion, the love that continues long after loss, and the ways a mother keeps her daughter’s spirit alive every single day.
READ DEBORAH'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/My-Grief-Jar-Growing-Daughter-ebook/dp/B0DHV6JTRR
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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15:13
I Couldn’t Save Her: Losing My Daughter Changed Everything
Debbie Waffle built a life filled with joy, purpose, and hope—but nothing could prepare her for what came next. Her daughter Kelsey’s medical challenges grew more complex over time, leaving Debbie desperate for answers and overwhelmed with fear. And when Kelsey died, the grief nearly consumed her.
On what would have been Kelsey’s birthday, Debbie speaks with Heather about the deep unraveling that comes with losing a child—the guilt, the heartbreak, and the silence that follows. Through raw reflection and hard-earned wisdom, she shares how grief reshaped every part of her life… and how she’s slowly learning to hold space for both sorrow and strength.
READ DEBORAH'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/My-Grief-Jar-Growing-Daughter-ebook/dp/B0DHV6JTRR
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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30:52
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
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.
USA