Shannon shares her raw, true story of meeting her husband, his opioid addiction after a motorcycle injury, and the tragic fentanyl overdose that left her pregnant and a widow. She recounts the shock of finding drugs at home, the hospital trauma, and the public fallout that followed.

Facing judgment, a condemned home, and grief, Shannon describes rebuilding life—raising four children, later blending a seven-child family, and finding strength through counseling and community. She offers advice on grieving at your own pace and the long road to healing.

The host shares honest reflections on being in a season of transition, wrestling with fear, the need for certainty, and the risk of staying in toxic or stagnant situations.

She encourages surrender and faith in the face of uncertainty, urging listeners to take brave, thoughtful steps toward growth with hope that they will be carried through.

Melissa, a mother and creative, shares the harrowing story of her son’s rare intestinal malrotation that caused weeks of nightly vomiting and led to an emergency surgery at SickKids. She recounts the fear, the hospital stay, and the difficult recovery for both her son and later her daughter.

The episode explores trauma, PTSD, and the long aftermath of medical crises, emphasizing the power of maternal instinct, advocating for your child, community support, faith, and finding healing and gratitude in the aftermath.

A personal reflection on feeling stuck, the urge to control outcomes, and the difficulty of trusting timing when answers are unclear.

Encouragement to breathe, keep showing up, have faith in the bigger picture, and remember that chapters change — things will not stay the same forever.

In this episode of The Still Standing Project, Hannah shares her extraordinary story of resilience, faith, and determination in the face of chronic illness. What began at age 19 as unexplained stomach and back pain became a years-long medical journey marked by repeated hospitalizations, unanswered questions, and life-altering surgeries.

Hannah opens up about navigating college while battling pancreatitis, enduring the frustration of being misunderstood by doctors, and living for years with pain, nausea, and uncertainty. Her story takes a powerful turn when she undergoes a rare and complex surgery that removes her pancreas and transplants her islet cells into her liver—an experience that tests her physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Through it all, Hannah reflects on the importance of family support, faith, mindset, and refusing to give up on the life she envisioned. Now a physical therapist assistant, personal trainer, nutrition coach, and newly married, Hannah is living proof that even after unimaginable hardship, it is possible to rebuild, thrive, and find purpose.

This is a conversation about perseverance, miracles, modern medicine, and choosing hope—especially when the road forward feels impossible.

In this short reflection, the speaker responds to criticism by encouraging listeners to recognize and use their unique gifts rather than comparing themselves to others. She emphasizes that everyone has value, and urges people to act on what’s in their hearts to help others instead of remaining stagnant or resentful.

Ultimately, the message is a call to stop letting jealousy hold you back and to start doing the work you feel called to do.

Barry Philpott recounts how a single tick bite in 2013 turned his active, family life into years of misdiagnoses, severe pain, and cognitive decline. After repeated negative tests in Canada, his wife’s persistence and specialized overseas testing revealed Lyme disease and co-infections, changing their approach to treatment and life.

The episode highlights gaps in standard testing, the emotional and financial toll on families, and practical advice on prevention and seeking Lyme-literate care.

In this Studio Reflections video, host of The Still Standing Project, Leta Taylor, talks about grieving on your own terms.