Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast Podcast By St. Jude (SJCRH) cover art

Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast

Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast

By: St. Jude (SJCRH)
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A child’s diagnosis of a serious illness can be difficult. Families, guardians, and loved ones feel a range of emotions and need support related to their child’s treatment. Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast, is a place for family caregivers to hear advice, reflection, encouragement, and real stories from families and hospital staff. SHARE stands for Support, Honor, Advise, Reflect, and Encourage. The podcast is brought to you by Patient Family-Centered Care and Psychosocial Services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.2023 Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Communicating with the Care Team During End-of-Life Care

    Communicating with the Care Team During End-of-Life Care
    Apr 16 2026
    When a child’s condition changes or they are nearing the end of life, caregivers face hard choices. It can help to focus on comfort, quality of life, and what matters most to the child.

    In this episode, Tekeima Townsend‑Billups talks with parents Tasha and Dean Ives about caring for their daughter, Sydney, in her final months of life. They describe how their advocacy changed as Sydney’s health declined. They share what “quality of life” meant for their family, how they talked honestly with their children, and how they made day‑to‑day decisions based on Sydney’s well-being and wishes.

    Mike McNeil shares guidance on communicating with the care team during this time. He explains shared decision‑making and how trust supports better end‑of‑life care. He encourages caregivers to name their hopes and worries and to ask for the help they need.

    A special thank you to our host Tekeima Townsend‑Billups, senior staff chaplain at St. Jude; our expert Mike McNeil, pediatric oncologist and palliative care physician at St. Jude; and our guests Tasha and Dean Ives.

    This episode was recorded on December 5, 2025.

    Learn more about palliative care on St. Jude Care & Treatment and Together by St. Jude™.

    Listen to Tasha and Dean discuss communicating with the care team during treatment.

    St. Jude does not endorse any branded product or organization mentioned in this podcast.
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    47 mins
  • Episode 9: Communicating with the Care Team During Treatment

    Episode 9: Communicating with the Care Team During Treatment
    Mar 19 2026
    Communicating with the care team can feel overwhelming, especially when your child is going through a serious illness and you are facing big decisions. In this episode, Tekeima Townsend-Billups talks with caregivers Tasha and Dean Ives, as well as patient family-centered care expert Brittany Barnett, about how to ask questions and advocate for your child.

    Tekeima describes advocacy as a “sacred practice of love in action.” Advocacy moves caregivers to speak up during treatment. Tasha and Dean share how they learned how to advocate for their daughter, Sydney, during her treatment for astrocytoma.

    They explain what helped them find their voice, understand treatment options, and work with the medical team. They discuss balancing hope and reality, handling hard conversations, and trusting their instincts as parents. Brittany offers tips for joining in medical rounds, finding support, and making sure that your concerns are heard.

    A special thank you to our host, Tekeima Townsend-Billups, senior staff chaplain at St. Jude; our expert, Brittany Barnett, manager of the Patient Family-Centered Care Program at St. Jude; and to our guests, Tasha and Dean Ives.

    This episode was recorded on November 5, 2025.Learn more about Sydney’s diagnosis of astrocytoma on the Together by St. Jude™ online resource. Learn about brain and spine tumor treatment on St. Jude Care & Treatment.

    Learn more about patient family-centered care and shared decision-making on the Together Blog.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Episode 8: Relationships and Social Life During Treatment

    Episode 8: Relationships and Social Life During Treatment
    Feb 18 2026
    A healthy social life and relationships are important when going through cancer or another serious illness. In this episode, Clay Culp and Elyse Heidelberg talk with caregiver Polly Fulford and her college-aged son Taze about friendships and dating while you have cancer.

    Polly and Taze share how he balanced spending time with friends and his girlfriend while listening to his care team’s advice. Elyse explores ways to choose which social events to attend, how to ask the medical team questions, and what to share on social media. Clay guides the conversation with questions about friendships, hardships, and the importance of support.

    A special thank you to our host, Clay Culp, senior social worker at St. Jude; our expert, Elyse Heidelberg, clinical psychologist at St. Jude; and to our guests, Polly Fulford and Taze Fulford.

    This episode was recorded on January 8, 2026.

    Learn more about Taze’s diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma on St. Jude Care & Treatment and Together by St. Jude™.For information on nurturing your relationship with your partner as a child goes through treatment, listen to “How to Keep Your Relationship Strong.”

    St. Jude does not endorse any branded product or organization mentioned in this podcast.
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    48 mins
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