The UpBeat, Powered by CoachArt

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Director and host Greg is joined by Jenny Winter, a mother from San Diego who has a special perspective to share on a situation many people are experiencing all over the world.Social distancing and quarantining have been a part of almost everyone’s life since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jenny and her son Caleb had a lengthy head start. Due to Caleb’s leukemia diagnosis a little over a year ago, he has been isolating at the hospital or home for the past 14 months, at times even unable to visit with his siblings.

Dr. Theopia Jackson, chair of the clinical psychology degree program at Saybrook University in Pasadena, CA, has a long history of providing therapy services to families dealing with chronic illness and complex trauma.In our recent interview for The UpBeat Podcast, I was surprised when she told me that many of the coping mechanisms those families use for navigating the stresses of complicated health situations would also benefit all of us during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. 

In this week’s episode of The UpBeat Podcast powered by CoachArt, our Executive Directorand host Greg sits down for a chat with Alexa Chronister, the inspiring Founder and President ofFight Like A Warrior, a non-profit organization “working to unite, empower, and advocate forthose fighting life-altering health conditions around the world.”Alexa’s medical challenges started early in childhood, but went undiagnosed for years. Doctorsoriginally shrugged off her problems as “growing pains,” but by the time she got to high school,Alexa’s health challenges took her back for a diagnosis — and she was told by a physician thatthe pain was “in her head.”Her amazing parents taught her about self-advocacy and empowerment and finally after a longstruggle, Alexa was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, andPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a condition affecting the flow of blood through thebody.