Episode 56: From Loss of a Baby to Advocacy and Building a Foundation - The Allo Hope Story
In this episode of the YMyHealth podcast, co-host Melissa Schenkman talks with Bethany Weathersby, Founder and Executive Director of the Allo Hope Foundation, to discuss the challenges of alloimmunization during pregnancy and finding proper and life-saving care for mothers and their babies. Bethany shares her personal journey through loss, the lack of information available to patients, and her mission to advocate for others facing similar challenges. Alloimmunization is a rare pregnancy condition where the mother's immune system creates antibodies that can attack her developing baby's red blood cells. This can lead to anemia in the fetus, resulting in a condition called hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). The Allo Hope Foundation is an organization providing valuable education and awareness of alloimmunization.
The conversation highlights the importance of education, support, and community in navigating healthcare during pregnancy, as well as the groundbreaking work being done by the Allo Hope Foundation to improve outcomes for mothers and babies affected by alloimmunization around the world .
Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
(01:04) Understanding Alloimmunization and Its Impact
(08:27) Personal Journey Through Pregnancy and Loss
(17:05) Navigating Family Planning After Loss
(22:55) Finding the Right Medical Care and Support
(31:27) The Birth of the AlloHope Foundation
(41:13) Groundbreaking Achievements and Future Goals
(47:54) Advice for Aspiring Advocates
🎧 Listen now to learn how Bethany and Allo Hope Foundation are improving the lives of moms and their babies around the world.
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Learn more about this episode's guest, Bethany Weathersby, here: https://allohopefoundation.org/about-us/our-staff/ and at https://allohopefoundation.org/about-us/our-story/
Check out the Allo Podcast here: https://allohopefoundation.org/advocate/podcast/
Have a question about today's episode? Email us at ymyhealthpodcast@gmail.com. We will be answering your podcast episode questions in our upcoming Q&A episode this September.
Learn about YMyHealth's Founder, Melissa Schenkman here: https://www.ymyhealth.com/team/melissa-schenkman
Thanks again to our sponsor and this episode's guest co-host, Dr. Sarah Diekman, Director of Diekman Dysautonomia! If you’d like to learn more about our sponsor and her practice that provides care to patients with POTS and Long COVID, go to https://dysautonomiaexpert.com