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Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast
Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast, is a place for family caregivers to hear advice, reflection, and encouragement from families and health care providers who have been through the journey of childhood serious illness. 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.
Season 3
Episode 2: The Importance of Sleep
Sleep can be hard for both the patient and family when a child is sick. Sleep problems are common in children with serious illnesses. Trouble sleeping could be caused by treatment, medicines, or the effects of illness. But getting sleep is very important for healing and recovery.
In this episode, Erica Sirrine and Valerie Crabtree talk with parents Andy and Caitlin about how they managed to get sleep when their son Max (now age 5) was going through treatment for Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Andy and Caitlin explain how they reached a compromise on sleeping arrangements at home. Valerie emphasizes that there is no playbook to figuring out sleep for your family. The group talks about the pressure to do things perfectly, and the joy of a simple nighttime song. Listeners will hear expert advice on routine, screen time, using melatonin as sleep aid, and co-sleeping.
A special thank you to our host, Erica Sirrine, director of social work at St. Jude; our expert Valerie Crabtree, vice president of Psychosocial Services at St. Jude and a pediatric psychologist who specializes in sleep; and parents Andy and Caitlin.
This episode was recorded April 24, 2025.
Learn more about Max’s diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) on St. Jude Care & Treatment.
Read about one patient’s sleep success story on the Together blog.
St. Jude does not endorse any branded product or organization mentioned in this podcast.
Episode 1: What Resilience Means
What does resilience mean when a child is sick? Clay Culp, Janet Sellers, and parent Sara Lohse talk about resilience, or the ability to bounce back, when a child has a serious illness. Sara says “resilient” is the last thing she felt as her family navigated her daughter Madi’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. She shares one of the hardest moments their family experienced. The group talks about how resilience can mean acceptance and taking the next step.
A special thank you to our host Clay Culp, senior social worker at St. Jude; Janet Sellers, manager of the St. Jude Staff Resilience Center; and parent Sara Lohse.
Learn more about Madi’s diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and emotional support and daily life on Together by St. Jude™.
This episode was recorded April 24, 2025.
The book that Sara references in the episode is It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst.
St. Jude does not endorse any branded product or organization mentioned in this podcast.