Episodes
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
#46 The Mental Load of Love: Understanding Caregiver Families Part 2
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Daniel and Kelly Crawford continue in a heartfelt dialogue with fellow caregivers Brandon and Amber, delving into the intricacies of raising a child with special needs. We openly discuss the profound impact this journey has on relationships, from the strain it places on marriages to the way it can either weaken or fortify bonds within a community.
We explore the art of seeking and accepting help, the importance of maintaining marital harmony amidst the chaos of caregiving, and the irreplaceable value of a supportive community. This episode offers practical tips for caregivers on how to navigate their relationships, manage emotional burdens, and stay connected with their partners through tools like relationship apps and thoughtful gestures.
If we can serve your family during this season, please email us support@abelspeaks.org or visit our website (www.abelspeaks.org).
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
#45 The Mental Load of Love: Understanding Caregiver Families
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Scuderis and the Mussers share their personal experiences caring for their children, Evelyn and Izzy, who live with life-limiting conditions.
They discuss the significant emotional impact caregiving has on their relationships, socialization, and the mental load they carry daily. The families touch upon the challenges they face in maintaining friendships and family dynamics, the secondary suffering of those around them, and the importance of open communication.
They also highlight the difficulty in articulating the relentless emotional labor of caregiving to those who haven't lived it, contributing to an empathy gap. The episode is an invitation to foster understanding of the caregiving experience, emphasizing the need for communities that comprehend the complexities involved and the importance of individual identity beyond caregiving roles. Through their stories, the Scuderis and Mussers shed light on the resilience, courage, and strength of caregiver families.
If we can serve your family during this season, please email us support@abelspeaks.org or visit our website (www.abelspeaks.org).
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
#44 The Unspoken Strength: Lessons from Siblings with Disabilities
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
The Mussers and the Scuderis share their personal stories and insights on how the challenge of special needs children can strengthen empathy, resilience, and family bonds.
The episode is divided into two chapters. The first chapter focuses on how the presence of a child with special needs can positively transform their siblings, fostering qualities like compassion and maturity as these siblings often take on advocacy roles and learn to care for their special needs brother or sister. The second chapter discusses the complexities of parenting in these situations, including the allocation of time between children and the guilt that may arise from attending more to the child with greater needs.
If we can serve your family during this season, please email us support@abelspeaks.org or visit our website (www.abelspeaks.org).
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
#43 Caregiving as a Sacred Calling
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Let's continue with the Musser and Scuderi families as they share their personal experiences of caring for children with life-limiting diagnoses. They discuss how this role has become a sacred calling for them, transforming their view of everyday life and strengthening their faith.
If we can serve your family during this season, please email us support@abelspeaks.org or visit our website (www.abelspeaks.org).
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
#42 The Scuderi's Caregiving Journey
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Amber and Brandon Scuderi share the deeply personal and moving story of their daughter Evalyn's life with Trisomy 18. They discuss the initial shock and challenges of her diagnosis, the complexity of her medical needs, and the difficult decisions they had to make regarding her care. Throughout their narrative, the Scuderis emphasize the importance of embracing every moment with Evalyn, cherishing her life despite the uncertainties, and relying on their faith to guide them through the toughest times.
The Scuderi's approach to caregiving is one of intentional joy and celebration of life, regardless of the fear and potential for loss. They advocate for not letting fear dominate their choices and for sharing Evalyn's story with others to inspire and demonstrate the power of love and faith in adversity. The episode also includes an announcement of an upcoming caregiving series that will further explore the experiences of families like the Scuderis.
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
#41 The Mussers' Caregiving Journey
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
In this episode of the Abel Speaks podcast, hosts Daniel and Kelly Crawford sit down with David and Katie Musser to delve into their journey as parents of Izzie, their daughter living with full trisomy 18.
The Mussers share the ups and downs of their experience, starting with the initial lack of a definitive diagnosis to facing severe medical crises such as seizures and a life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage. They discuss the profound impact Izzie has had on their lives, reshaping their perspectives on joy, sorrow, and family bonds.
You can keep up with David's blog www.threes-a-crowd.com which he launched as a "care-giving, stay at home, home-school dad" for people to get some more day-to-day insight on this podcast series around caregiving.
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Cox Family Case: An Abel Speaks Response (Dec 2023)
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Kate Cox sought an abortion in Texas and was denied as she was unable to show her life was in danger.
Tests confirmed that the baby she was carrying had a condition called trisomy 18.
This is an impromptu bonus recording to address this current event in that it relates to the core of our mission.
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
#40 What Makes Abel Speaks Unique?
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Ever wondered what makes Abel Speaks unique? We unravel the threads of our ministry and lay bare how we cater to the very specific needs of families who have received a life-limiting diagnosis during pregnancy.
Our mission, unlike other organizations, is deeply rooted in relationships and personalized support; we believe that this gives us an edge in the profoundly impactful work we do.
We also delve into the cornerstone of our work - the importance of relationships in providing support to these families. Our organization, Abel Speaks, offers a unique level of support, and we can't emphasize enough how crucial it is for those in this circumstance to reach out to us for help.
The essence of our approach lies in investing time and energy into one family at a time, offering the intangible support that makes the largest impact for those in the valley of suffering. Come join us, as we endeavour to serve and uplift these families and provide an insight into our unique mission.
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
#39 What Makes a Good Mentor for the Families We Serve?
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
What if we told you that the secret to making a profound impact within our ministry lies in the relational dynamics we foster?
How does the power of shared experiences shape not just the families we serve, but the mentors guiding them on their journey?
As hosts and founders of Abel Speaks, Daniel and Kelly Crawford delve into these questions and more. Walking you through the potent bond between our mentors and the families we serve, we illuminate how these relationships are at the core of our ministry's success, built on the principle of 'support changes stories'.
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
#38 Are There More Options Than Full Intervention or No Intervention?
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Today we focus on the options between full intervention and no intervention.
There are myriad choices available to parents, so it is important to have a network of relationships to help navigate these decisions.