In this incredibly heartfelt episode, Amy Atkinson opens up about navigating the impossible—the loss of her daughter Delaney to a rare genetic disease called Danon Disease. Amy shares what it was like to juggle being a real estate agent, caregiver, and advocate, all while raising three kids and fighting for her daughter's care. From the devastating day Delaney had a stroke at just 11 years old to the whirlwind of hospital visits, advocacy efforts, and founding a national nonprofit—this conversation is both emotional and inspiring.

Steph and Amy talk candidly about grief, healing, and how the memory of Delaney continues to fuel a mission to educate others and create systemic change around rare diseases and genetic testing. You’ll also hear stories about Delaney’s fearless personality, her cookie-selling charm, her love of theater, and how she inspired everyone around her.

Topics Covered:

• What Danon Disease is and why genetic testing is essential

• The emotional journey of losing a child after a transplant

• How grief transformed Amy’s life and led to the creation of the Danon Foundation

• Advocating for policy change around insurance and genetic testing

• Delaney’s personality and impact on others, from real estate open houses to singing at hospitals

• The healing power of support groups and community

• Advice for those in the thick of grief or facing their own impossible moment

Resources Mentioned:

• • Danon Foundation: http://www.danonfoundation.org/

  • Bradley Center: http://www.bradleycentergrief.org/ Local grief support for children and families

  • Intermountain Healing Hearts: http://ihhearts.org/ Parent-led support network for children with heart conditions

  • Comfort Zone Camp: http://comfortzonecamp.org/ A camp for kids navigating grief and loss

  • Amy Atkinson Real Estate: http://www.amyatkinsonrealestate.com/ Amy’s real estate business rooted in compassion and community

  
  

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In this powerful and raw episode, Laura Richards opens up about her divorce after 33 years of marriage and the unexpected journey that followed. What started as a separation for irreconcilable differences turned into an emotional uncovering of narcissistic abuse, betrayal, and manipulation that had quietly shaped her life for decades.

Now a coach, author, and podcast host, Laura helps women recognize and recover from narcissistic abuse, especially when it hides behind the mask of “a nice guy.” She shares what covert narcissism looks like, how to begin healing after leaving a toxic relationship, and why journaling, community, and boundaries changed everything for her.

Topics Covered:

• The difference between covert and overt narcissism

• How to spot red flags and manipulative patterns in relationships

• Why the label doesn’t matter—your mental health does

• Healing through journaling, therapy, community, and curiosity

• Setting and enforcing healthy boundaries

• Rebuilding your identity after narcissistic abuse

• Finding joy and power in life after divorce

Laura’s Book:
"Married to a Nice Guy: Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse"
Read Laura’s story, journal entries, and healing insights in her powerful memoir.
Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Married-Nice-Guy-Getting-Narcissistic/dp/B0D73PT1GB

Where to Find Laura:

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thatswhereimatpodcast

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thatswhereimatpodcast

• TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@thatswhereimatpodcast

• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@thatswhereimatpodcast

• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/laurarichpod/

• Listen to her podcast: http://podfollow.com/thats-where-im-at/view

This episode of Notable Peeps, highlights Melissa Winger—an author, speaker, and nationally recognized patient experience advocate whose story is rooted in deep personal experience.

Melissa became a mom at just 18 years old. Her son was born with a rare, unnamed chromosome disorder that affects every organ system in his body. He’s nonverbal, has undergone more than 100 surgeries, and lives with complex medical needs—including a feeding tube, brain aneurysms, and severe developmental disabilities. And yet, every day, he wakes up, puts on a costume, and finds joy in music, movement, and Sesame Street.

In the early years, Melissa was often dismissed by the medical system due to her age. She was sent home from the hospital with a newborn in critical condition and told he would "figure it out." After countless ER visits and being repeatedly ignored, it was only through the intervention of a mentor that her son finally received a proper diagnosis and urgent care.

Since then, Melissa has turned her lived experience into a mission—working on national boards, developing tools now used by EMS teams across all 50 states, and authoring a book to spark awareness and change. Her story is about more than survival; it’s about stepping up to improve the system for the next family.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it was like to become a parent while still a teenager—and how that shaped Melissa’s advocacy

• The national tool she helped develop that’s now used in EMS to better communicate with patients with disabilities or language barriers

• The heartbreaking but empowering decision to transition her son into a group home—and how he surprised her with his independence

• Why she wrote Who Cares: A Real Look at Patient Experience during the pandemic

• The gaps she sees in long-term care and why we still don’t talk enough about how people with disabilities were treated during COVID

Melissa shares how years of navigating the system gave her a voice—and how advocacy turned pain into purpose. “You can't complain about it if you're not willing to step up and do something about it,” she says. And step up, she has.

Connect with Melissa:

• Website: https://www.whocaresbooks.com/
• Book on B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/who-cares-the-real-patient-experience-melissa-winger/1144045649
• Book on Amazon: Click Here
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissajwinger
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwinger