What does it take to nurse a child with special needs? Author, shoemaker, and health advocate Christina Chiu knows just what it takes as her son was born with a rare syndrome. She joins Yuliana today to share her inspiring phoenix tale on how she takes on the challenges that come her way and how she continues to do what it takes to give her son the best life possible.

Christina starts the conversation by discussing the event that reshaped her life — mothering her son who was born with a rare medical condition. She talks about how she dealt with her sense of hopelessness when her son was in the NICU and how she has grown to be more spiritual, embracing a mathematical idea of God. She then delves into her drive for more people to know their story, writing a memoir detailing her experiences as a result, and about dealing with uncertainties in the future. The episode rounds off with Christina identifying one person she would travel back in time to speak with, her grandmother, to ask her how she had so much courage - a level of courage that, as we hear today, has undeniably been passed on to Christina herself.

Episode Highlights:

-   The challenging events that have redirected the course of Christina’s life

-   A rare syndrome rears its head

-   Handling the sense of hopelessness during her son’s surgeries

-   A childhood memory that sparked a realization

-   A mathematical idea of God

-   Starting a memoir about her experience

-   Navigating the sibling dynamic between her sons

-   Dealing with uncertainties of the future

-   One person Christina would go back in time to speak with

Quotes:

“For all the mothers who are going to hear this, I think it's so important that, when you feel like something's not right, you may not have the actual proof that something's not right, but you should follow up on it.”

“We are so limited in the few senses that we have, that for us to be able to comprehend God is just out of our realm of understanding.”

“The best and the most truthful things are moments - whether it be something you create in art or literature or whatever - are in those transcendent moments.”

“He's always that kid who notices when someone's being left out. He has this way of bringing light into the room, and I think I'm just lucky to be around him.”

“A lot of it is approaching your fears and learning to not be afraid and to constantly stretch yourself.”

“How do women not feel afraid? How does anyone not feel afraid?”

Links:

Phoenix Tales Homepage

Phoenix Tales on Instagram

Phoenix Tales on Spotify

Phoenix Tales on Facebook

Christina's Homepage