Michelle M
Michelle, mother of Alex (age 7) and Julianna. Julianna had a severe form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and died at age 5.
Julianna’s beginning: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
In this Zoom interview with CPN, Michelle, mother of Alex (age 7) and Julianna, who was diagnosed with a severe form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, gives an overview of Julianna’s life, including the diagnostic odyssey, her hospitalizations, their decision to stay at home with hospice, and her end of life. “That last hospitalization, we were finally introduced to palliative care … I think everyone kind of knew it was going in that direction, and so they finally offered it to us and it was such a relief finally to be able to talk about these things that were still difficult. But to be able to talk to a medical team about them, about our fears, what we wanted, what may happen and what could be done, that kind of thing.”
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Julianna’s beginning: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Palliative Care: I was able to unburden my worries to one person … and then the care conference allowed us to talk about everything.
A Mom on deciding about a feeding tube for her child
A mom on the decision to put her daughter in hospice: we knew we could revoke it at any time and go back to the hospital. … And then she said ‘No Hospital.’
A bedtime conversation: “Mom, tell me about the angels. Will they take me to heaven?”
Julianna’s story goes viral … and the impact of that.
“She was the closest I’ll ever get to knowing what God is like on this earth because of the way she was.”
From a fear of a home death to feeling it was the right thing. And what to do with the room after?
Bereavement: What to do with my daughter’s STUFF - toys, clothes
Bereavement: how is the rest of the family doing – son, husband? Talking about it!
A Mom/MD reflects on how her daughter’s journey has impacted her own practice of medicine.
One day you are going to be that person for someone else.
Exploring the idea of a Trach: “No one could give me a guarantee that it would extend the quality of her life.”
A Mom reflects on when quality of life bumped into quantity: We asked, “What are we doing?”