23: Brave Together Podcast - Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell and Dr. Zoe Shaw & guests Tina Jackson, Asha Wanigasekera and Lena Winslow23: Brave Together Podcast - Jessica Patay, Susanna Peace Lovell and Dr. Zoe Shaw & guests Tina Jackson, Asha Wanigasekera and Lena Winslow
UK Health Radio Podcast
Mothers of children with disabilities and complex needs share candid stories about shock, grief, courage and connection, inspired by the book *Suddenly Brave Together*. The conversation highlights acceptance, community, "soft resilience" and the message that both children and caregivers are worthy just as they are.
44:53•1 Jul 2026
Suddenly Brave: Mothers, Special Needs and the Power of Soft Resilience
Episode Overview
- Bravery as a parent can mean simply standing in the storm with your child and facing difficult moments without needing to explain them to others.
- Storytelling that combines knowledge with lived experience and emotion can make other caregivers feel less alone and more willing to seek support.
- Children who struggle to communicate verbally still understand and feel deeply, so parents are urged to presume competence and value non-verbal connection.
- Acceptance of a child exactly as they are, rather than focusing only on deficits and milestones, can ease shame and soften the pressure on families.
- Turning strength inward with “soft resilience” – flexibility, self-acceptance and compassion – can give mums more energy to care for their children and themselves.
“"For me, brave means just standing in the storm and facing it."”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? On this special Brave Together episode from UK Health Radio, the focus shifts to mums raising children with disabilities, neurodivergence and complex medical needs – and what it really means to be "suddenly brave". Host Jessica Patay, introduced by Susanna Peace Lavelle, brings together three mothers from around the globe: Tina Jackson, Asha Wanigasekera and Lena Winslow.
Each shares how life changed in an instant with their child’s diagnosis, from NICU crises and rare genetic conditions to early autism diagnoses and terrifying medical uncertainty. You’ll hear raw honesty about grief, overwhelm and those secret "I can’t do this" moments. Yet this conversation keeps circling back to connection and quiet strength. Tina talks about accepting her daughter “Miss T” exactly as she is and learning courage from watching her face endless procedures.
Asha reflects on raising a son who didn’t speak for years and how that taught her that “words are one layer only” and that children often feel far more than they can express. Lena introduces her idea of “soft resilience” – strength that’s flexible and kind, especially towards yourself. The episode also celebrates the book *Suddenly Brave Together*, a collection of letters to caregiving mums at defining moments.
The guests explain how painful it was to reopen old wounds to write their chapters, and why they did it anyway: so that a newer mum might feel “at home… sitting with sisters and friends” and hear, “Your child is beautiful as they are.” If you’re parenting a child with extra needs, or supporting someone who is, this heartfelt chat offers solidarity, emotional honesty and the gentle reminder that you don’t have to perform strength to be brave.
Whose story here sounds most like yours, and what would you have wanted someone to tell you at the very beginning?
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