A routine nudge from a family doctor changed everything. After being sent for a mammogram she had delayed, Share was diagnosed with stage 0, triple-negative breast cancer—caught extraordinarily early. In this candid conversation, she walks us through that phone call, the whirlwind of next steps, and the mindset and micro-supports that helped her stay grounded: humor, weekly friend check-ins, complementary therapies, and clear self-advocacy. We also talk about what truly helpful support sounds like, why routine screening matters (even without symptoms), and how this experience is shaping her life, work, and a new legacy-preserving project for families.

Why listen

• A real-world case of early detection saving options—and likely outcomes
• Practical scripts for self-advocacy when guidelines and funding create friction
• Compassionate guidance for friends & family: what to say, how to show up, and when to just listen
• An uplifting reminder that attitude and humor are legitimate forms of support

Key moments

• 00:01:02 — The curveball: A proactive GP flags an overdue mammogram; results move quickly to ultrasound and biopsy.
• 00:05:00 — “Triple-negative” at stage 0: Why speed mattered; a second tiny tumor was found by surgery day.
• 00:06:07 — The GP everyone deserves: Thorough history, time to listen, and even a hug.
• 00:11:00 — Two diagnoses in one day: Processing the news and choosing a forward plan.
• 00:12:00 — Building a circle of support fast: Reiki, self-hypnosis audio, nutrition plan, acupuncture & herbs.
• 00:13:05 — “Don’t should me”: Responding to others’ expectations about how to feel.
• 00:17:32 — Feeling seen: The power of two close friends and brave, non-invasive check-ins.
• 00:20:08 — Daily gratitude practice: Coffee, quiet, noticing small joys.
• 00:25:30 — Screening: No symptoms, no pain—still cancer. Don’t delay routine tests.
• 00:27:14 — Mindset matters: “Cancer loves despair.” Choose light, and ask for help if you can’t find it.
• 00:28:03 — Work & legacy: Launching Film & Life to preserve family memories.
• 00:30:14 — What she’s reading: Murder mysteries and JD Robb’s In Death series.
• 00:29:13 — Raiders fan for life: Loyalty, teamwork, and showing up to the end.

Resources & mentions

• Routine screening: talk to your GP about what’s recommended for your age & history and what’s available beyond funded programs.
• Books: JD Robb — In Death series (futuristic detective fiction).
• Share’s company: Film & Life
  — helping families preserve their stories through legacy videos and media digitization.

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Episode Summary

What happens when a physician becomes the patient—and then an entrepreneur? Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Shazhan Amed shares her harrowing, transformational journey through toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a rare, life-threatening reaction often triggered by medications. Shazhan opens up about pain, fear, advocacy, and the moments of kindness that sustained her. She then connects those lessons to why she founded Haibu Health: to pair empathy with data and improve how teams communicate, coordinate, and care—especially in pediatric diabetes.

Why You Should Listen

• Rare, lifesaving insight: Understand toxic epidermal necrolysis from the inside—how it presents, why minutes matter, and what compassionate care looks like in crisis.
• Practical advocacy tips: Concrete ways families can protect sleep, manage pain, and coordinate care—the small changes that change outcomes.
• Clinician perspective, transformed: Hear how becoming a patient reshaped a physician’s views on communication, documentation, and empathy.
• Innovation with heart: See how Haibu Health blends data + humanity to improve team-based care in pediatric diabetes (and beyond).
• Leader playbook: Mentorship, defining purpose, and making uncomfortable leaps—how to build mission-driven work that lasts.
• Caregiver validation: If you’ve stood bedside, you’ll feel seen—and leave with language and ideas to be heard in the system.
• Actionable takeaways: Simple practices any clinic can adopt tomorrow: batch vitals, explain the plan, involve caregivers, and treat kindness as care.

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & setup: why this story matters
• 01:16 – Who is Dr. Shazhan Amed: clinician, researcher, founder
• 02:50 – What is toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and how it presents (connection to SJS/TEN spectrum)
• 06:39 – Mentors who changed everything—from lab to fellowship to leadership
• 10:06 – Pediatrics is relational: caring for the child and the family
• 13:11 – The day life flipped: fever, blisters, rapid decline
• 15:39 – ICU & burn unit: pain, vision loss, and the sound of urgency
• 18:58 – Advocacy in action: batching vitals, protecting sleep, controlling pain
• 21:00 – Music therapy & humanity at the bedside
• 23:56 – Caregiver trauma and the physician who empowered her husband
• 29:14 – Coming home: support networks and the non-linear path to discharge
• 30:01 – Lessons for clinicians: time is gold; communicate with empathy
• 31:36 – From insight to impact: the origin of Haibu Health
• 36:28 – Leading with purpose: defining a personal “why”
• 39:00 – Joy & recovery: sabbatical, family time, tennis, and a travel gem (Matera, Italy)
• 41:26 – Closing, calls to action, and where to connect

Want to Share Your Voice?

If you’re a patient or caregiver, you can join Patient Voice Connect to share your experiences and help shape healthcare here.

Join our email list to get new episode updates here.

Together, we can bring more voices to the table and shape the future of healthcare.

Share this episode, leave a review, and follow

Trigger warning

This episode includes discussion of severe postnatal mental health challenges, including postpartum psychosis, hospitalization, and panic. If you or someone you know needs medical assistance, please contact your healthcare professional.

If you’re in Canada and need support right now:

• Call or text 9-8-8 – Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24/7/365, bilingual.
  Youth & young adults: Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868 (24/7).
• Find additional federal & provincial/territorial resources at Canada.ca/mental-health.
• If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
  
  

Why You Should Listen

When new motherhood collides with a medical emergency, sleepless nights, and overwhelming pressure, the result can be life-threatening—but also deeply misunderstood. In this raw and courageous conversation, Cara shares her firsthand experience with postpartum psychosis, from a terrifying onset to full recovery and renewal.

Whether you’re a parent, clinician, or advocate, this episode reminds us how vital it is to listen without judgment, recognize early warning signs, and respond with compassion and urgency. Cara’s journey sheds light on both the fragility and strength of mothers navigating unseen battles—and the power of the right support at the right time.

Episode overview

When Cara welcomed twins via C-section in Scotland, early feeding difficulties, sleep deprivation, and a sudden medical complication spiraled into postpartum psychosis. After a terrifying crisis and an ambulance call, Cara was admitted to a Mother–Baby Unit, where specialized, compassionate care helped her stabilize, bond safely with her babies, and reclaim her sense of self. Years later—now a nurse—she shares what recovery looks like, how family and clinicians can recognize red flags, and why empathetic, practical support matters.

What we cover

• Postpartum depression vs. postpartum psychosis: how they differ; why psychosis needs urgent medical attention.
  
  
• Cara’s timeline: birth complications, NICU stay, sleep loss, escalating symptoms, and a critical turning point.
  
  
• Barriers to help: “It’s just motherhood” minimization, stigma, and the role of a strong advocate (a paramedic, in Cara’s case).
  
  
• Specialized care: the Mother–Baby Unit model—why it works, what stabilization looked like, and family decision-making when capacity is limited.
  
  
• Life after psychosis: fear of relapse, building inner strength, self-advocacy, and returning to caregiving and work with renewed empathy.
  
  
• How to support a parent in crisis: listen and validate, reduce judgment, watch for abrupt changes, and help them access professional care quickly.
  
  

Episode Highlights

• 00:00 Welcome & content warning
  
  
• 01:30 Level-setting: what postpartum psychosis is (and isn’t)
  
  
• 06:45 Pregnancy, twins, and birth story
  
  
• 10:20 Medical complication; babies in NICU; no sleep
  
  
• 15:00 “Something’s wrong”: self-advocacy meets minimization