78: The Hirschsprung’s Hour with Tom Richard - Episode 78

78: The Hirschsprung’s Hour with Tom Richard - Episode 78

What can we learn from those who have battled a rare childhood condition head-on? This Hirschsprung’s Hour episode follows Tom Richard talking with Bria about her three-year-old son’s Hirschsprung’s disease and the rollercoaster that began the moment he didn’t pass meconium in hospital. You’ll hear Bria walk through the shock of hearing the word "surgeon" and "NICU" in the same sentence, the sight of her newborn covered in tubes, and the agonising wait for a diagnosis.

She shares how she chose a pull-through surgery over an ostomy, stayed in NICU every possible hour, and learned to do irrigations and dilations herself, saying she’s "a very hands-on person" who "needed to be in the room at all times". This conversation is especially relevant for parents and carers suddenly thrown into medical language they’ve never heard before.

Bria admits she googled Hirschsprung’s straight away because, "I’d rather know and be scared than be scared of the unknown," and now uses that research to ask sharper questions and support other families. The episode also touches on life after surgery: constant checks for enterocolitis, trial-and-error diet, and the added complication of her son’s multiple food allergies.

Bria talks candidly about potty training when "you can’t trust a fart" and the emotional weight of later pregnancies when you’ve already had one Hirschsprung’s child. There’s a strong thread of community and peer support too. Bria’s TikTok videos explaining types of Hirschsprung’s and treatments have connected her with parents from Houston to New York and beyond, turning her family’s ordeal into a lifeline for others.

If you’re parenting a child with Hirschsprung’s, living with it yourself, or just want to understand what these families face daily, this episode might leave you asking: who could you stand beside a little more fiercely today?