Episode 1: What Resilience Means

What does resilience mean when a child is sick? Clay Culp, Janet Sellers, and parent Sara Lohse talk about resilience, or the ability to bounce back, when a child has a serious illness. Sara says “resilient” is the last thing she felt as her family navigated her daughter Madi’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. She shares one of the hardest moments their family experienced. The group talks about how resilience can mean acceptance and taking the next step.

A special thank you to our host Clay Culp, senior social worker at St. Jude; Janet Sellers, manager of the St. Jude Staff Resilience Center; and parent Sara Lohse.

Learn more about Madi’s diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and emotional support and daily life on Together by St. Jude™.

This episode was recorded April 24, 2025.The book that Sara references in the episode is It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst.

St. Jude does not endorse any branded product or organization mentioned in this podcast.