Ep. 10 Tubes & Tables: Supporting Mealtime with Medically Fragile Kids (special guest episode)

What happens when a child isn't able eat? In this milestone 10th episode, Michele and Lacy explore the complex world of pediatric occupational therapy and feeding with medically fragile children and our guest, Yovana Harris, BA, COTA/L.  She shares both "Nailed It" and "Failed It" experiences, explains her “just give them the food” feeding philosophy, and gives a shout-out to her favorite OT feeding resources. Learn why building trust with parents becomes the foundation for effective OT intervention and how finding moments of joy at mealtime can be life-changing, even when full oral feeding isn't always possible. With remarkable candor, she discusses her journey supporting families through their most vulnerable times while also taking care of herself to avoid burnout. This episode provides valuable insights for any pediatric occupational therapist working with families through feeding challenges or with medically fragile children.

KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; feeding; eating; medically fragile

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