The Inheritance of Hope Podcast

Your child already knows something is wrong. They sense the changes in your stress, notice the shifts in your routine, and feel it in your heartbeat when something’s on your mind. So the real question isn’t whether to tell them—it’s how.

Wonders & Worries answers exactly that. Julie May, National Outreach Coordinator and child life specialist with 23 years of experience, shares how this national nonprofit supports children ages 2–18 navigating a parent’s serious illness or injury—from cancer and ALS to burns and spinal cord injury. And it’s completely free.

Wonders & Worries takes complex adult themes and packages them into something a child can actually hold and understand. Whether in-person or virtual, families can access curricula, parent webinars on specific conversations (How do I talk about hair loss?), and a curated resource library.

Bringing your child into your illness journey isn’t a burden. It’s an invitation to belong. They’re already walking this with you. Let’s help them find their role.

00:00 How to Talk to Kids About Illness
02:04 Meet Wonders and Worries: Free Support
04:03 Expert-Led: Why Child Life Specialists Matter
07:23 Virtual Support: 6 Sessions to Cope Better
14:17 How to Access Free Resources
16:03 Don’t Be Afraid: What Kids Already Know

Helpful Links:
Wonders & Worries website: https://wondersandworries.org/
The WonderWorks® kit  was created to help families with children and teenagers navigate the challenges of a parent’s serious illness or injury from the comfort of home. (https://wondersandworries.org/for-professionals/wonderworks/)
Julie May’s email: [email protected]
Call 1-844-WE-WONDER (1-844-939-6633) or email at [email protected] for help.
Wondercast podcast: https://wondersandworries.org/resources/podcasts/
Use this link to listen to the Wondercast episode that featured Inheritance of Hope (https://wondersandworries.org/podcast/season-7-episode-61-inheritance-of-hope/)
Check out the Inheritance of Hope Resource Directory for this resource and more. https://inheritanceofhope.org/resource-directory/