Some diagnoses are discovered before birth. Others arrive as a surprise in the delivery room. Both can leave parents searching for answers they were never given.

In this episode of Born For This Stories, Johanna and Peter sit down with Kari and Ali, two mothers raising children with limb differences whose paths into medical parenting looked very different, yet led them to the same place: advocacy, connection, and community-building. This conversation focuses on their individual journeys — from prenatal ultrasounds and unexpected birth diagnoses to navigating early intervention, medical systems, and the emotional weight parents carry long after appointments end.

This episode is about what happens when families aren't given enough information or support — and choose to build it themselves.

This is Part 1 of Kari & Ali's story.

• Discovering limb differences through prenatal diagnosis versus surprise at birth

• Processing shock, grief, and uncertainty after diagnosis

• Navigating medical systems that often lack nuance and guidance

• Early intervention, occupational therapy, and physical therapy experiences

• The emotional labor parents carry that isn't captured in medical charts

• Advocating for children in healthcare and educational settings

• The gaps families encounter when seeking resources and community

• Why representation and visibility matter for children with limb differences

• Helping children build confidence, language, and self-trust

• How Kari and Ali found each other — and why connection changed everything

If today's episode resonated with you, we invite you to share your story and connect with our growing community of families navigating diagnoses, differences, and healing.

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You were born for this — and you don't have to carry it by yourself.