A Contagious Smile Podcast
A Contagious Smile is a powerful platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering special needs families and survivors of domestic violence. Through heartfelt stories, we shine a light on the journeys of extraordinary individuals who have overcome unimaginable challenges. Their triumphs serve as a testament to resilience and strength, inspiring others to rediscover their own inner light. Each episode features candid interviews with survivors, advocates, and experts who provide valuable resources and insights to support those on their own paths to healing and empowerment. Join us as we celebrate the power of resilience, the beauty of shared stories, and the unstoppable spirit of those who turn adversity into hope. Let us guide you in rekindling your spirit, because every smile tells a story of courage and transformation.
A Contagious Smile Podcast
The Gift of Giving: Celebrating Life, Love, and New Beginnings
In this heartfelt episode, It's a colorful tapestry woven from laughter, memories, and the anticipation of what lies ahead.
We discuss the nuances of gifting experiences over material items and reflect on what it means to prioritize relationships and shared moments. We also introduce an upcoming Podcast-a-thon aimed at supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing joy to children facing life-threatening illnesses, and provide insights into the transformative Give Kids the World charity.
Unpacking the significance of faith in our lives, we celebrate her inspiring journey, remarkable achievements, and how her resilience stirs hope within our community. Join our discussion as we focus on embracing life, encouraging each other to pursue our dreams, and the profound impact of giving back to those in need.
Tune in for a rich conversation that will uplift your heart and inspire action. We encourage you to find joy in the little things while making a difference for loved ones and families in need. Embrace the journey with us, subscribe, share, and become part of our mission to make dreams come true!
hello, hello, hello. It is dana diaz with my beautiful red-headed sister from another, mr dr victoria, with her beautiful red glasses that I'm envious of. I need a pair of those.
Speaker 2:I have pink glasses somewhere I don't know so many pair to try to find and I was like I told my husband I want to put on a pair of glasses and have you go.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's it no those are, honestly, they look amazing on you. They look amazing. Like I said, red is my favorite color anyway, but it looks like just stunning with your eyes and your hair and your lights. You just look. You just look fabulous. My green eyes just pop they pop.
Speaker 1:They really do, honestly. But I mean, and your hair? I mean, if people don't understand what your red hair looks like, it's just beautiful. I mean, I love it. I wish I had something more exciting than brown hair. But in the summer I get the highlights. I get the natural highlights so I don't have to go dye my hair, and so it kind of hides the grays when I have some blonde highlights hair, and so it kind of hides the grays when I have some blonde highlights in there. Oh no, I'm getting gray. It's so sad. And every once in a while I get like that Italian grandma chin hair that I yeah, doug will start laughing at me. And then I run for the tweezers. I'm like, oh my god, and it's like an inch long hanging from my chin like a little goatee. Jesus Christ, it's awful aging.
Speaker 2:I don't recommend it but it's better than the alternative ah, what's that dying, or yeah, okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean it's a slow death life, but you know so we're gonna talk today a little different.
Speaker 2:Today's episode is gonna be a little different, um, because we have so much exciting things to talk about. Number one what happens today? What's coming out today, what is it?
Speaker 1:It's my husband's 60th birthday today.
Speaker 2:Oh Drew. Happy birthday, dougie.
Speaker 1:Yes he's old.
Speaker 2:What are you giving him? Keep it PG rated.
Speaker 1:Don't put this on air. I didn't get him I don't know, michael.
Speaker 1:No, no, no. It's not that we're having a big party for him on Saturday, but I mean, he's one of these people who has everything. He has everything he needs and if he wants something, he goes and buys it. There is nothing you can. And when I try to buy him stuff, he's just like, oh okay, thanks, and then it just sits there until I sell it on Facebook marketplace or something. I can't do that anymore, but no, honestly, or I give the stuff away. It's ridiculous. So I love him very much and that is my gift to him today and dinner and the party hey, it sounds good to me.
Speaker 2:What else is today?
Speaker 1:crickets, crickets. No, my third book is being released today that's very exciting my third book is being released today. Oh, the one that I got before everybody else, the one that you got first, though You're the only person yet who has read it outside of well, Doug has read the first part of it. He has not read the second part yet, but yeah, you are the one and only I know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I went through it. I was able to read it in an entire day but, granted, I was sick that day when I was doing my final reread. But it is. It's the shortest book I've written yet, which it you know. I was pretty proud of that because I've been uh, the publisher has been on my ass about my books are too long. Keep it to 90,000 words and under and I go giving them like 220,000 words and 160,000 words and you know, none of the other two were like oh my god, this is just dragging none of them.
Speaker 1:I I think maybe the second one. For me it dragged a little bit and there were parts that I'm like why, why is this even in here? But but they wanted those parts in, so we left them and that book I was just kind of like I didn't even want to write it. To be honest with you, it was kind of icky. It was about my childhood, so it's just that icky stuff.
Speaker 2:It's so informative Like it really tells you more. It explains more of the story, explains more of the background?
Speaker 1:I think it does, and people, if you read the second book, the impact of the third book will be felt that much more because you'll understand where I'm coming from as far as family and that kind of stuff. But yes, I'm very excited about that because this third book is actually the one that most people have been on my butt to write since the first book came out. Everyone wanted to know what happened next, like the next season on the show on Netflix what happened next, and so I gave them what happened next and it's still happening, but you know you got to end the book somewhere, so we did, and it's coming out today and I purposely put it out today because it was Doug's 60th birthday today and I wanted it to be momentous.
Speaker 1:I like having release dates for my books. That means something like my first book, which was about my first marriage, was released on my ex's birthday and I said it's my rebirth day, yes, Releasing this book.
Speaker 2:So you know that's a nice gift for Doug, like that's a gift right there. Hey, I wrote a book.
Speaker 1:And I dedicated the book to him. So that was kind of my thing, yeah. So I mean, you know who gets that on their 60th birthday? Right, we're gonna go with it, we're gonna go with it, and I am not a bad wife. For the record, I have taken him on tropical trips on his birthday. I have taken him to the Daytona 500 very you know what was it fourth or fifth row. I have taken him on trips out of the country. I have taken, I have. He has had some interesting experiences with me, but everybody gets it.
Speaker 1:I'm at a loss because it's like what else do you get a man when he has everything Right?
Speaker 2:a feisty Puerto Rican.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's going to be the gift today. So what else is going on today?
Speaker 2:So I have a couple of announcements and I have not put out anywhere, but we're going to do it here.
Speaker 1:Yay.
Speaker 2:First of all, our podcast-a-thon will be released on March 15th and all proceeds go to give kids the world.
Speaker 2:We are working with give kids the world because we are arranging a time for myself and faith and michael to go down there and do some live videoing and also do some recording with the families and make some memories for them where they can take um an episode home and always have that to remember, because a lot of these families have either chronic or terminal children, and that's the point of going to give kids the world.
Speaker 2:You either have to be chronic or terminal to be with them, and it's a make a wish, uh, which a contagious smile is partnered with, is make a wish, and so, um, we're gonna do that and that launches. And then I got the coolest coolest and this has not been told anywhere, so big, you know, breaking news. Um, we have been asked to participate as not only an alumni for the regional make a wish, which is going to be huge we're talking like ridiculous um but also we are going to be on the forefront with, like, all of the celebrities and oh, my goodness we're not only an alumni family, but we're going to be out there doing giveaways and bringing light to this.
Speaker 2:So in the podcast academy that I have created, I have also created a section just for either special needs families or survivors of domestic violence and narcissism, and we're going to have classes in there. We're going to have resources in there. We can actually do lives where you and I can come in and you can come in and talk and we can put stuff up there, like where your books are and how to get them and also which is like super, super cool is we are creating, which I think this is adorable I've never announced this to anyone is going to be. When we go out there, we are going to put all of the kids, whether they are the Make-A-Wish recipients, alumni or siblings of. We're going to have cards created, like I did for you about the police. Yeah, we are going to make them VIP members of the stucco squad.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2:And who doesn't love a dog? That? And who doesn't love a dog? Right, who doesn't love a dog and a service dog or just a dog in general, is the one best friend who wants nothing but unconditional love from you. Right, they are going to be there with you through the ups and downs. They go with you to every medical doctor's appointment. They get to go with you to x-ray and MRI and CAT scan. They go everywhere except the OR. They can go and stay with you when you're in the hospital. They stay with you.
Speaker 2:And so we are making the whole thing Like. I've already created a book years ago about stucco it was about two years ago and it's a stucco activity book and we're going to give those out to the kids and then we're going to give them the promo uh card that tells them that they're now vip of the stucco squad and they are going to get to join up and take classes from stucco and they're going to get activity sheets from stucco and it's going to be where they can get birthday cards and holiday cards from stucco and they're going to get activity sheets from stucco and it's going to be where they can get birthday cards and holiday cards from stucco and it's going to be amazing. And then we are offering for the make-a-wish ball, which is just insane. Uh, five or six years ago we were asked to attend and it's ridiculous to get a parking space and it's ridiculous to get a parking space for the ball is 25 grand, like something ridiculous.
Speaker 2:Right, heavy heavy hitters, and we are going to offer, we're going to offer to have um faith come on stage for the ball, which she's already. Like I have to wear an evening gown. Like I have to be able to design it and I'm thinking, oh my God, I got to get dressed up and wait, my husband has to get dressed up. Who on our first wedding I had to get into? Like you have to wear shoes.
Speaker 2:Like he wanted to get married in blue jeans and you know, and I was like you're wearing boots, like you're going to put boots on your feet, and so we're going to offer for a raffling to be on with Faith who is?
Speaker 2:a Wish alumni and a successful podcaster and we're going to put that out there and the highest bidder gets to do that. And we're going to put that out there and the highest bidder gets to do that and we're going to offer that. So I actually have a meeting with the Make-A-Wish team on Friday. And they were so funny because they were like, oh, can you meet with us Thursday? And I'm like I can't, I have surgery. And they're like oh, and I was like no, it's fine, I can meet with you Friday. And they're like how?
Speaker 1:And I'm like no, no, it's fine, I'll meet you, no, because it's you, because you're the only person in this entire universe that's just like yeah, it's just another day, it's just the day after surgery, no big deal.
Speaker 2:So yeah, we're meeting on Friday and we are going to be discussing all of these amazing things. And then last night my husband went to bed at 8 pm, go figure. And he woke up at midnight and he was like, what have you been doing? I'm like, oh, I've created the platform for Powerhouse and I've created the platform for Stucco Squad and I've already had Faith help me. We've written another book about you know, being a kid. That doesn't. You don't want to be ordinary when you're extraordinary, and it's amazing. And I just got to finish a few little things and then we're gonna get the book out there. And he's like you guys wrote a book and you've done all that in four hours. And I was like, yeah, like what, what? So this is what we've been doing and it's gonna get. Um, every time we talk about podcast-a-thon or, uh, make a wish, um, they're going to promote it on all of their sites, so that's so super exciting.
Speaker 2:So this episode, they're going to promote it on all of their sites. So that's so super exciting. So this episode, we're going to keep it a little cleaner today because it's going to be published on Make-A-Wish, it's going to be published on Give Kids the World, it's going to be published on all these other sites. And so here I am saying to the parents, the moms especially, please, for the love, I have read, read and I'm a special needs mom. I'm a special needs person myself.
Speaker 2:I have read every one of dana's books and I would say this and have said this when I've interviewed other people or been interviewed myself without dana anywhere around and she didn't know that her books are a must read. They really, really are, and so go get them. I'm thrilled that her third one has come out today. I'm privileged to say that I've read it ahead of time. I'm very comfortable in saying it's very informative and it's amazing. It really does reflect and help you really open your eyes to a lot of things you might not have had clarity on before. And so we're going to bring Dana into the world of Make-A-Wish and Give Kids the World, apparently, today.
Speaker 1:I love that and you know it's funny because I always loved the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I even remember, like in grade school and high school, you know, every once in a while there's some project in some class and you know we're always somebody that's worse off than me. I hate using the word normal, but forgive me without the. I'm not trying to offend, but you know I'm able to function as a person is able to function, you know fully, and that's not to say that anybody else couldn't, but without any modifications. And I I just always kind of kept that in the back of my head, like how lucky am I? Like yeah, I go through stuff. Who the hell hasn't gone through stuff? We've all been through stuff. But for those people who may not have a tomorrow, those kids that were my age but were suffering some horrible, terrible illness, I just wanted to be able. You know, I just love the idea of being able to give back to them and say you know, I just love the idea of being able to give back to them and say you know, here's something, here's the highlight of your life, here's something. Nobody else will have to treasure this memory except for you. And how amazing that is that people are continuing to do that to this day. So I love that, I love being a part of it and I thank you for bringing me on and for the nice words about my books, because you have written many, many a book too, my dear, and they are well Narc Narc, the one right behind you there, narc Narc, who's there? That one is fantastic and you want to talk about a book that really opens your eyes.
Speaker 1:Because what's different between our books? I tell the stories. You're telling a story, but you're providing the actual. I mean you have the actual emails, text messages, screenshots, pictures, and it's. It's almost like a like. You feel like you're a private investigator, like on a stakeout, like you're turning the page, like what's this guy going to do next? Like, and you're predicting and waiting, and you're turning the page like what's this guy going to do next, like, and you're predicting and waiting and you're searching the pictures for the clues and it's. It's interesting to go through a book in that way, instead of being told what the story is, which is, you know, my way of doing it. But gosh, it's, it's an adventure and there are parts of it that you're just like. I can't believe this, but I so can believe it, because this is a typical narcissist, you know. But it's still, it's amazing the things they do that are all so very much the same, yet they still we look at it like, really, really, you did that.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's just shocking but what's more amazing about about it and not pleasant amazing is the fact that, like when we were on our Make-A-Wish trip, my sperm donor called and asked us to cancel or come home early from the trip because he needed help, because his wife and son were on a cruise and he was fending for himself and he can't boil water, he couldn't make toast. So he was like I need you to come back early because I can't do anything. I was like why don't you get the ship to turn around because I am not giving up my child's once in a lifetime opportunity right for make a wish. Are you kidding me? People apply and we didn't apply.
Speaker 1:A doctor did behind our back, not telling us anything, and then we got notification that we were granted and I was like that is so typical of a narcissist right that they literally they want to kind of minimize these humongous things like I mean to to be selected for make a wish. I mean I've never, but it is a huge from what I hear. It is a huge, not just an honor but a huge undertaking you know, to even go through the process.
Speaker 1:So his attempt to minimize it and ruin it. I mean, it's a typical thing Narcissists love to ruin your birthday and Christmas, any special day, any special event. The spotlight cannot be on you and God forbid his granddaughter. It's got to be about him, because you know he can't pick up the phone and order a pizza or take out or whatever.
Speaker 2:But he could have got one of these girls Right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, well it's. You know, I've seen these narcissists. I know a few of them in real life, just a few. And you know there was one that I remember years ago that decided to start having relations with the 18 year old live in babysitter. That was like five years older than his kid and I just remember looking at him and being like, do you really think she's going to wipe your butt when you're 80? And she's, you know, 30 or whatever, 40, running around being cute and whatever. But hey, she's still driving around in her Mercedes, from what I see on social media, and living this good life that he's able to provide her. She's probably hoping he kicks the bucket sooner than later. And but I don't know what these men think that you know they don't. These women are supposed to serve them and when nobody's around to provide, you know, service to them, they call somebody else, thinking that you're going to come running.
Speaker 2:But what an idiot but the thing is like every year, you know, faith has done fundraisers since she was four and we've even failed make a wishet, because a lot of people don't understand that it takes so many months to get a wish granted Because they have to go through and get authorization from the doctors. They need to make sure that they are okay enough to do these wishes and some of them aren't. And then, for instance, if they, if the child, god forbid doesn't make it to their wish, then Make-A-Wish also like, has this closet metaphorically, and they give stuff out of the closet to the families and the siblings and the Make-A-Wish child and that's, that's just. It is the fact that, like, we did a lot of fundraising and we would fill their closet as well. And you know, when we went to give kids the world, it was so amazing because I was at a loss and it was because you know, like, as a police officer, you're, you're on high alert at all times when you're going into a domestic cause. It's the most dangerous call to go on when you have a child that codes or aspirates at the drop of anything and doesn't do the universal I'm choking, choking sign or she's not hooked up to a pulse ox, or she's not on an apnea and all of a sudden she stops breathing. You know, you're always on high alert, and so when you get ready to go down to give kids the world, they're like tell us everything you need. You know medically what kind of formula, what kind of g-tube? What's the backup g-tube? What kind of you know medical equipment? What kind of medical-tube, what's the backup g-tube? What kind of you know medical equipment? What kind of medical supplies? And I'm like what? And they're like we got. We got it. Well, I'm always prepared, and so I had an emergency bag and everything else when we got there to give kids the role.
Speaker 2:Dana, first of all you, it's like fort knox, which I love, because what you don't realize is there's one of the highest divorce rates are amongst special needs families, because and I hate to say it, and I'm not, you know, putting into one category, but most of the time and it's factually based it is the man who leaves, he doesn't want to deal with the responsibility. And so then the kids like they have protocols, and I had to use the protocols when Faith was in the hospital, where they have like all these different ways to to protect the family in case the other party aka dad or sperm donor tries to show up. And so, when you get to give kids the world, you come into this beautiful gate and there's somebody there and you have to get registered. And then, once they know who you are, every time you come by it's welcome home and it's the sweetest thing ever.
Speaker 2:And you drive up and you come into one of the cottages that's yours and when you walk in, everything you need medically is there and it's set up and they've had it shipped in for you. And then, like, you don't make your bed, you don't go. When you go to the most amazing place to eat, they have volunteers that come and take the tray for you and they're like you don't lift anything while you're here. We take care of you and I'm like but it's her wish, and they're like but you need to be taken care of too, and you're just like what? And it's amazing? And they, they take care of the family, like. They're like hey, do you want, you know, a tattoo while you're here?
Speaker 2:and they do like the temporary tattoos of mayor Clayton who is a, you know, a rabbit, and it's their mayor, it's their mascot, or his wife or you know, and they have a little beauty shop for the kids and they get their nails done and they can, you know, get all pretty and pampered and then they have, like the most amazing, it's 89 acres and it's absolutely flawless and it's amazing. And you go there and it literally will change your life. People, flawless and it's amazing, and and you go there and it literally will change your life. People don't understand, it will change your life. So we're gonna go down when it gets cooler and I'm going to literally walk and show you it. Like, if you've never had to walk these paths, then you don't understand and I hope that people never have to.
Speaker 2:But you know, you never know. I never thought I'd be the battered wife. I never thought I'd be the battered wife, I never thought I'd be well into over 100 surgeries, but you don't know. And to know that this could be you, god forbid. And you see the joy and there's not one kid walking around with a frown on their face. Nothing else matters.
Speaker 2:Outside of those gates, like, everybody is so happy. The kids are happy, the parents are happy, they're making memories that they will never, ever, ever get get to make again and it is so critically important For families to have that time. Or it's not medical and so many of the siblings have animosity towards that kid because they feel like Everything is focused on that child Right, and so they don't get that time and love and understanding that the other child does, because that child has all this medical requirement and the other kids get hostile. But this place treats everybody equally and they make memories and they bring the families closer together and I can't speak enough about like this is my favorite place in the world to go.
Speaker 2:If anywhere I've ever been, this is it. And I never thought that San Francisco would get beaten, but it did, and this is just amazing and I love it. And to even be allowed because it's not an offer I'm being allowed to be a part of this is life changing and I'm beyond honored to be able to be a part of it.
Speaker 1:That's so amazing. I'm so happy for you guys and I'm happy that I mean I know you would love you. As you know, everyone who's listening knows you sort of kind of too, but I think that they got really lucky having you on their side and having you be a part of this, and I I think that a foundation like that, an organization like that, that really you just pulls together all the right people for the right reasons, I mean you can't go wrong. There is nothing that anybody can take issue with. When it comes down to, you know a child and a family that just need some good memories, some positivity, something to look forward to, something to remember, you know, to hold on to that. So I love that, I love everything that you just said and I, I I just can't wait to see and hear, and you know all the things that you share with us, so I'm bringing it with me.
Speaker 2:but like you know we one of her wishes.
Speaker 2:Her wish was harry potter and I was so behind because I hadn't seen or really focused on the movie and when we got there, they were like, okay, do not get a wand, do not get this, do not get that. And they're like telling us I'm like, okay, and they have a building at universal that it's only for make-a-wish kids. You cannot get into this building unless you're a make-a-wish kid. And we get in there and we're supposed to be there at a certain time, and we get like the like. First of all, you get to go go in front of everybody of your own entrance into every single ride at Disney and Universal and Epcot. Like, and people are starting to like, why do they get to cut in line? And the attendees are like you don't want to go through what they've been through to be able to have that ability.
Speaker 2:And so we, we did all the rides in the elevators and all that stuff at Harry Potter and all of a sudden, like we're doing all these things, and then they take us to this building and they're like, okay, stay right here for just a minute. And then we walk down and as we walk down, you've seen Harry Potter, right, okay, so as we're walking down, there's all like we're in a library and we're going through and every aisle where there's books is a member of the Harry Potter school or whatever, and they're bowing to faith as we walk down the corridor and we walk down, and we walk down, and we walk down and like it gets so dark and we're like, what are we doing? And they're like get the camera ready. Well, they also. I had a photographer with us. And they're like, just get it.
Speaker 2:And so I have no, no, none, none idea of what's going on. And and she's so cute, and all of a sudden the light comes on and the wand maker from every single movie of Harry Potter was in front of us and she's like, and he says it's time for you to. You know, the wand picks you. You don't pick the wand, and so I'm like looking over and I'm like what?
Speaker 1:And I have no clue.
Speaker 2:And so they try to give her a couple of wands and they teach her a couple. He teaches her some potion or whatever, yeah, and like all of a sudden, she makes everything fall off the wall. And then, you know, he's like, oh aha, I got it, and it was like the third or fourth wand. And all of a sudden, like the lights come on and wind and all of her hair is like whoosh, and you know it's just amazing. And then he's teaching her these words to say and everything she is being taught is happening. And then he spends like half a day with us and he's like okay, when you see this and this and this, do it.
Speaker 2:So when we're walking around, we had to like sign all this. I signed all this stuff. We got Harry Potter's wand from the second movie and then or one of the wands he used, and then we got the cloak of Hermione for her to wear while we're walking around and a map, and so we walk out and she uses this little phrase and then a frog starts spitting water out of his mouth and we go to these places and then we have a guide with us and he's telling her to no right here, do it. And then, like all of a sudden, this one person disappears and she's like ha ha ha, like she's all you know, and this goes through the whole day. And then we had um shaggy and scooby escort us around and oh cool that was so incredibly cool.
Speaker 2:And then betty boop comes up to us and she's looking at me like who is this? Like she's no idea who betty boop is. And then one of the mummies like he was like eight feet tall looks down on her. That scared the bejeebies out of her and she tried everything to wand him away. It didn't work. Yeah, so I mean, this went on and on. And then another part of her wish I don't know if you ever saw dolphin tail but I did that's.
Speaker 2:That's an old one, but yeah I took her to see that in the movie and she looks at me and goes I get it. Winter has no tail, I have no tongue, and I'm sitting there bawling in a movie and she's like Winter can swim and I can speak and I was just. So we went to swim with Winter as well on our trip and Winter gave Faith her favorite stuffed animal and I have pictures of them playing together and having so much fun. And Winter was Winter has passed away since but just amazing, oh amazing. So she was in love with this whole concept.
Speaker 2:So I got a tattoo of Winter on my arm and because I have so many scars, I didn't want to see them and so I've tattooed our journey to kind of cover up a lot of the scars. So part of our make-a-wish trip came from there but to see these and we were just walking with a whole bunch of other make-a-wish kids and everybody was happy. And I know this is not the premise of the show and I apologize for that, but you know the thing is is that everybody listens to us, has been through heroic, horrific things, and they are heroes now because they've come out on the other side. We were torn to pieces and we came out on top, and that's what the same is for these kids and that's why I, you know, I say I'm sorry because normally we're so on topic, but in a way we still are, because these kids had their own fight and they're still fighting, but they're happy and they have a smile and there's so much we can learn from them and it's a really big deal.
Speaker 1:I think that's it's a huge deal. I think that that's actually perfect how you said that? Because I think people forget healing journey, whether it's a physical healing or a mental journey of healing. You honestly cannot even conceive of having anything good happen to you ever again. Right, you lose hope. I'm laughing because I laugh when I'm nervous, because I remember feeling like this is it? I'm just going to die one day? And that was it. Like what a waste of a life. And you know, hopefully one day everybody wakes up or somebody else opens your eyes to what life can be.
Speaker 1:If you look to see that that side of it and for these kids they're, they're experiencing things they could have never even imagined in their wildest dreams, or it's their wildest dreams coming true, which is the premise of the foundation. But I think we forget that we too have that power, even if you've never been through anything horrific. But if you have and you've lost that hope and you've lost sight of who you are and what you want in life, you just have to think it up. Think it up and I think that we think that we're asking too much or we feel selfish, that well, it would be selfish for me to make a decision that's good for me or that has anything to do with anything that I want in life. God forbid. I follow my heart, follow my dreams, do something I want to do, especially when some of us have been in situations, especially when there is domestic violence involved. I mean, you're afraid to even look at somebody the wrong way, you're afraid to wear something, whether it be lipstick, a certain shirt, a dress, you're afraid what you're going to cook for dinner, and it's so scary that you just the idea that I can have a dream, I can do something that I would like to do, I can have something that I've always wanted actually come to fruition. We lose that and I think part of finding ourselves again is, I say, like indulging indulging yourself.
Speaker 1:You know, I remember for me it was the simplest thing. I didn't have make a wish for narcissistic abuse, but I remember the first night my ex was not living under the same roof as me. I was like, oh my gosh, for how many years dinner had to be a meat and two sides. But I couldn't have the same meat two consecutive nights and the sides couldn't be like two carbs or two starches or whatever. And there had to be two. There had to be two, god forbid. I made like one side. It was so stringent and I was like, oh my gosh, I I don't know what to make for dinner. And then I was like veggie plate, but I can have what I want for dinner. And you know what I had? I had a pint of butter pecan ice cream, cause I said F it, that's what I want. That's what I want and it's such a simple thing. And somebody's going to say, oh, butter pecan ice cream for dinner is nothing compared to a child who's terminally ill at Make-A-Wish. But at the same thing, isn't that kind of like your own little Make-A-Wish?
Speaker 1:You know, the little indulgences that we don't allow ourselves, the things we don't give our permission ourselves permission to experience, because, oh, we don't want to upset anyone, we don't want to upset the peace. We don't want to, you know, don't want to upset the peace. We don't want to, you know, go across any boundaries that have been set for us, as if we're a dog in a yard with an invisible fence, because if you cross that line, you know you're going to get shocked. There's consequences. So I think it's completely appropriate and completely related if people are open to looking at that way, and I would even challenge them it's. I actually put something out on Instagram today about the same subject, just saying do you dare to do something for you? Do you dare to make that decision for yourself that will possibly open up everything you've ever wanted in your life? Because that's the key, and we all have it in ourselves.
Speaker 1:Kids don't. So kids need a little help, like foundations, like Make-A-Wish, and from people like you, you know, that are helping and facilitating these things to happen. But we as people in you know everyday life. We have the power to. We have the power to give ourselves our own wishes and make our own dreams come true. And there is nothing. That's that you know. You want to be an actor in a movie. Go, start being an actor. Go start auditioning. There's ways you can do that. Be be a behind the scenes person, you know. Be in the crowd of a hundred that they pick. Go, do something, take those baby steps, because once you know what you want, it's hard to unsee it and it's hard to let go of it and that's just it.
Speaker 2:I mean you, you, you absolutely said it because you go in there and first of all, for me, I never, ever, took faith out of the like one mile radius of the hospital, yet alone on an airplane to a different state. You know, and I'm thinking, oh, my God, how I mean. I was asking a million questions how close is the closest hospital? We have a helicopter if we need to. And I'm like, okay, what if did it? You know, and I'm like asking every single question and I was physically trained in like everything under the sun before, way before any of this. And when we get there, it was like under the sun before, way before any of this. And when we get there, it was like wow.
Speaker 2:And then you just go back and think about how many people you've heard complain I couldn't get my kid to cheerleading and soccer and I have no time for me. And you're just like, really, take a day, take one day and and live in this life. Like you know, these kids don't complain, they don't take anything for granted. Right? They came up to to faith and asked her to be the emcee of the parade, and here she is. They send a horse-drawn carriage to pick her up. Oh, my gosh, and we are, and it's a pajama party. So we're in our pajamas and we get in the horse-drawn carriage and we stop at a certain location and they say okay, mom, because at this point it was just her and I on the make-a-wish trip. And they said okay, mom, um, we'll see you at the starting line I'm like wait what, what, what, what, no, no, are you kidding?
Speaker 2:no, who's gonna be with her? Are you kidding me like? I'm like no, and they're like we got her, it's fine, she's gonna be fine, and I'm like I'm not gonna be fine, you know, and, and I was like no, no, no. And I was like, can I see her? Will I be able to see her? No, she'll be around in about 10 minutes.
Speaker 2:And I'm like, because you know, I'm thinking all that can transpire in a 10 minute period of time with faith yeah and so next thing, I know about 10 minutes, 12 seconds later, you know, because I'm like that's the longest 10 minutes of my life because I've never been away from her at all, ever you know she's in the hospital, I stay with her, I go home, she goes home and all of a sudden I see this beautiful firecracker walking down, leading the parade, holding Santa Claus's hand and I'm videoing it and she's waving at everybody and there's the gingerbread man behind her and there's elves behind her and there's all these magical characters behind her. And she thinks she's the cat's meow. And she is. And she is just walking around, happy and scooting her little tushy. And she gets on stage and Santa is on there and he's like okay, I'm going to have you do something Now we are in Florida.
Speaker 2:And he goes okay, I want you to count to three and I want you to say make it snow. And she's like, okay, and back then she had really bad apraxia and people had such a hard time distinguishing what she was saying. And so she goes. One, I have it on video, I'm going to send it to you. Two, and she's looking all around with her eyes, looking around everywhere, and she's looking up like I don't see anything. And then she goes three and then four. All you see is snow everywhere, coming out of everywhere, and and she goes, make it snow and like snow is everywhere, everybody's dancing, she's dancing and she's dancing with Santa and I'm on, I'm in the front line, and you don't remember a doggone thing about anything medical at that point. You're not thinking about that feeding tube or seizures. You're not thinking about anything. Tube or seizures. You're not thinking about anything. You're watching that gorgeous child just laugh, belly laugh, being so happy and full of life and love and happiness. And I look to my left and I look to my right and there's kids there in wheelchairs. There's kids there hooked up to IVs and every single one of them has the biggest smile on their face. They are so happy. There are kids leaning back like wanting to feel the snow on their face. They are dancing around. Here comes the gingerbread man dancing with the kids. Here comes mayor clayton dancing with the kids and his wife, and everybody is just dancing around having a good time and and no one is thinking about their next operation or their their next chemo treatment or their next transplant or whatever it is. And it's so amazing to have the power to give that to a family, and that's what they do, and it's so amazing.
Speaker 2:And then, like, if they, if they can't sleep, you can go to the carousel and nobody's on it and it's 10 o'clock at night and you know what they're going to. Let you get on it and they're going to run it for you. And that is what is so amazing. They have wheelchairs at the pool that are water resistant, so you can safely get in. I don't know how they do it and they can get submerged into the water not over their head or anything. And then they have putt-putt, where you go in there and like the little ball pops out so you don't have to worry about how you can't play.
Speaker 2:This is all made so that everybody can experience it, and they have some of the rides that Disney and Universal have and you can get on them in a wheelchair. You know you can go, and every night is a different party. They have a different themed party every single night. And then all of a sudden, you see characters walking around like from Disney and Universal that maybe the kids couldn't get to because they weren't feeling so good that day. But you don't know that, because these kids have this huge smile on their face and it is the most amazing experience you could ever have in your life.
Speaker 2:And I just cannot say it enough because you know nothing else matters at the end of the day. You know, jobs come and go, people who really don't authentically mean to be in your life for whatever reason they come and go. But your heart, when you're a true, authentic parent and you're truly loving your child, then that is your life, that is your child. And when you see that child look up into the sky and their face has literally little snow flurries coming down on them and they're laughing so hard that they're holding their belly because they can't stop laughing and they're dancing around in circles, it is the most warming, heart filling moment of your life. Because normally you're like I don't want him to get another, another stick, I don't want another IV. You know how much more can they take. They're little kids, it's not fair, but they don't think about any of that.
Speaker 2:You know Faith said something to me that blew my mind. She said you had a life before me and now you have a totally different life because of me and that's not fair for you. And I was like Are you crazy. You gave me my life, you made me who I am. You make me want to be a better person because you're so amazing. Your heart is so big that I want to be you Because of how amazing you are.
Speaker 2:I mean, she'll come out of surgery and We'll come out of day surgery and she'll see kids and they're all scared and sad and she'll be like, can I talk to him For a minute?
Speaker 2:And she, like I just had surgery, you're gonna be fine, and she'll cheer him up and that's just her heart. And that's where these kids and it makes you really think about the pettiness of people who are, I mean, even grown adults, who are so methodical about it's all gotta be about me you know that you will go to that point where you take away from that child, where that child has not asked to be sick, that child has not asked to be ignored by you. I mean, like when Faith was, you know, a year ago, and in on life support and everything was against her. None of the grandparents on either side, you know well, his dad did, but other than his dad didn't reach out and they knew. They knew what was going on and how you do that as a human being and put your head on a pillow is beyond my recognition. I cannot fathom or figure out how you can do that to an individual that has done nothing and the only thing they're guilty of is innocence. That's what they're guilty of is innocence.
Speaker 1:Everything else. You know what? Is it really innocence? Or is it that life just makes us all jaded? Because what strikes me of everything that you're saying is basically, these children are being put in situations where everything that they have maybe been made to believe or been told is not possible is now possible, and when? At what point do we stop? You know, because we're told oh, that's not real, stop thinking about that, it'll never happen. All these disparaging things that we're told from the time we're little and all through our life. And mainly because people don't want to believe, people limit themselves. But when they limit themselves, they don't want you to have anything that they don't have either. So they start limiting you and then you start internalizing this stuff like you're trying to.
Speaker 1:You know, I am imagining take, make a wish out of it.
Speaker 1:If I'm in Florida and somebody says, oh, make it snow, santa, I can already hear a gazillion people that I know snow in Florida and making these snide remarks.
Speaker 1:You know, I have family in Florida for a very long time and you know what? Every once in a darn while it does actually snow not certainly like it did on command for the kids, but that's the whole thing is these self-limiting beliefs, and I think that that's at least I'll speak for myself, but I think it happens for a lot of people, particularly in adult romantic toxic relationships, where we develop these self-limiting beliefs about what we deserve or what we have, or the possibility that things can be different or that maybe, you know, I'm not worthy of having somebody that loves me the way a person should be loved. Be you know, I'm not worthy of having somebody that loves me the way a person should be loved, whatever it is. And so I mean I'm literally getting chills when you're telling these stories about you and your, your daughter, your family, being down there and experiencing these things, because I love the idea that things are possible, I love the idea that these kids are forgetting everything that they've been told is working against them because it doesn't matter.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're not a diagnosis, Doesn't mean anything unless they make it mean anything Exactly.
Speaker 1:Do you know how many people I, and I'm sure everybody, knows that? That friend or that relative that was told they can't have children and now they have three healthy, beautiful children? The person that I? I know somebody who had a special needs daughter that they were told, oh, she'll never, you know, achieve anything, she'll never have a job, she'll never drive. She'll well, guess what she got her drive. Well, guess what she got her driver's license. And guess what she has a job, and guess what? She has her own apartment. Does she need some assistance? My God, she doesn't need assistance.
Speaker 1:Exactly that I would love, would have loved to have had from a parent or a friend or anybody. But when people are constantly this world is constantly telling us what we can't, or they're showing us images of women in bikinis on beaches and you're looking at your body like I guess I can't wear a bikini we're constantly being told we can't, we shouldn't, we won't, we'll never. God love the Make-A-Wish Foundation that they can show these kids. Screw it all. You can, you can be whatever you want to be. You can be a princess, you can be Harry Potter, you can be a magician, you can make people disappear. You can make it snow in a place that it shouldn't snow. I love this. I love this.
Speaker 2:I love the three-year-old who cut my hair and they dressed up. She was like I can't say what it is, I can't pronounce it, but I am, whatever is killing me and she's like and I'm winning. And you know, for the people who think that some of these kids don't amount to anything, I'm going to be just for a minute. I'm going to close us off with this because I have a final announcement. Have a final announcement, um, but I want to just for a moment, because I've had the privilege and honor of working with so many families over the last 19 years and I have stayed very close to many, many of them, and the thing is is that I can't speak on a half of a lot of them for reasons and things of that nature, but I can tell you faith, who was never supposed to make it, is a five-time book author. She's a six one on the way. She has won an Emmy. She had was. She's gonna kick my tail for saying that, but that's okay. She's been interviewed on national TV. She's been interviewed on local television. She's been on radio. She's been on everything. And let's not forget that she has a podcast that's in the top 1% globally. She has millions of followers.
Speaker 2:This kid was getting blood drawn at the hospital and they recognized her voice and asked for her autograph and she just was like what they recognized. She said my kids are obsessed with you and she was like huh. And I said you know, sorry, you know, and the thing is is that she doesn't want the fame. She doesn't want the recognition, she wants to help people. That the fame. She doesn't want the recognition, she wants to help people. That's all she wants.
Speaker 2:The platform for this kid was told she would never speak. I have audio of her speaking constantly throughout the course of her life, because with apraxia you can't pronounce. You know b's, p's and m's. And then, on top of it, she has a non-functioning, basically non-existing tongue that's only a couple millimeters wide, her entire mouth anatomy is different than yours and mine, and yet she can say things like lemon lazy lollipop. How do you do that without a tongue? Cause I don't know, but she can come in here and say it better than you and I. You know she comes in here and she's fluent in sign language.
Speaker 2:Yes, she's special needs. She has frontal, you know lobe situation and executive function situations going on, but this kid will come in here and light up your life. Give you the fight to drive, make you realize that you're worth fighting for, and she will absolutely light up a room just by walking in it. And if people, including those in the family that had their heads somewhere else and didn't even realize that they had that when they had her in her life, that's your loss, because that kid is remarkable, she's amazing, and my greatest honor in life is being her mom and I learn every single day from her how to be a better person, how to be a better friend, how to be a better human being. And it's because of her.
Speaker 2:And she doesn't quit. She says I've danced with the Reaper so many times and he's not going to get me down. And you know what I want to promise our listeners that I'm going to do my very best, with my bestie over here to do another recording this week because we are way off of our normal radioing work that we do. But I'm going to make this announcement and Dana had no idea. But again I want to congratulate her on her release of her book. Go Run and Get it. It's amazing. Where is it?
Speaker 1:Well, I don't know. I don't even know if we've pushed the button yet at the publishers. It's called Rising from the Ashes Breaking the Cycle of Narcissistic Abuse. But thank you. Anywhere, books are sold online, but if you go to my website, danasdscom, all three books are there. Click the link. I think it takes you to Amazon. You can get the e-book or the regular book either way, but thank you for that.
Speaker 2:And, of course, I want to thank Podcastathon and I want to thank Make-A-Wish. Thank Podcast-a-thon, and I want to thank Make-A-Wish and I want to thank Give Kids the World. And, like I said, dana and I will do everything we can. This week I'll put out a second episode to replace this one, but I want to surprise Dana, because I did not tell her I was doing this. I'm not deceitful, I just have a little, you know, I have a little faith in me. Like I have a little faith in me, I want to thank you, dana, for helping me complete the podcast-a-thon episode that I will be airing on behalf of Make-A-Wish and behalf of podcast-a-thon. That will be put out globally to bring awareness to these amazing organizations, and so I want to thank you for doing that with me today.
Speaker 1:Well, there is no need to thank me. You know I adore you and I'm in this with you, and you know it's just funny divine intervention sometimes brings people together that would have never met before, and we were very fortunate that I wrote a book and you had a podcast and there we met and it's just been. I mean literally. You guys are like family to me, and I'm just going to say one thing in response to everything you said about your daughter. She may not want fame or be doing this for any personal reasons, but the thing is what she represents to other kids, the things that they relate to about her, the fact that she does what she has been told she would never do. They hold on to that hope because they want that for themselves.
Speaker 1:And don't we all, don't we all and that kid also? You know I'm pretty well healed still have some way to go, like we all do? But every single day, every single day, I'm going to cry. Now day I'm going to cry now that little girl text, messages me and asks how I'm doing and what I'm doing and might share something with me. And I don't have family that reaches out. I don't have too many people in my life because I have been ostracized for speaking out about abuse. But that little girl reaches out to me every single day and makes me feel like I matter and I know that's not her intent and I'm sorry. Now we're both blubbering and crying, but all right, that's all right.
Speaker 1:He is leaving such a huge impact in this world, and so I applaud you as her mother, not just for creating her, bringing her into this world, but for making her the I mean, there are no words for what kind of a human being that little girl is, and so I think, both of you and just for allowing me to be in your lives oh, look at us. We're a mess now. I love you both and we're just sharing the love with everybody now.
Speaker 2:And we love you and you're stuck with us and she loves her aunt Dana Like she cherishes and worships her aunt Dana and I can't thank you enough for being that person for her, because she needs it and she loves it and she means so much to me and she means a lot to a lot of people.
Speaker 1:And if people have not yet gone and gotten her book I am kitten or listen to her podcast or gone anywhere. You have to somehow find faith. I mean, it's kind of you have to find faith, it's kind of symbolic, but you, you have to get a little faith in your life because, boy, she touches, everything she touches is just, it turns into pure love and and just pure everything and she's amazing. So thank you all and thank you all for listening and and you know, witnessing this, this moment we were having.
Speaker 2:And we love you all and please support Make-A-Wish support. Give Kids the World. We're gonna link our fundraiser link to this in the show notes so that you can even $5 helps because they run off of donations and to go in and do what they do is amazing and we wanna be able to have that for every single child because they deserve it. So I want to thank you again and surprise I'm sorry I threw this at you as a surprise at the very end.
Speaker 2:No, this is great good news um, thank you guys for listening and we will be with you guys again soon peace out.
