In this heartfelt episode we welcome guest Carissa Carroll, M.Ed., Founder and Executive Director of Jack’s Basket, a nonprofit that has transformed the way families experience a Down syndrome diagnosis.

A former educator with degrees from Bethel University and the University of Minnesota, Carissa taught at both the elementary and collegiate levels. But her life—and her mission—changed forever after the birth of her son Jack, and an abrupt, assumptive diagnosis experience. Determined to ensure future families would feel supported, celebrated, and connected, Carissa launched Jack’s Basket in Jack’s honor.

Since then, over 11,000 families in 55 countries have received baskets filled with love, resources, and messages of hope. Carissa now leads her organization full-time and presents to healthcare professionals nationwide on how to deliver diagnoses without bias, while also engaging donors and volunteers who help carry out Jack’s Basket’s powerful mission.

• What is Down syndrome and how it affects individuals and families
• Carissa’s personal story of receiving Jack’s diagnosis and the emotional impact
• The inspiration behind launching Jack’s Basket
• What’s inside a welcome basket and how it brings comfort to new families
• Carissa’s advocacy for bias-free diagnosis delivery in medical settings
• Common misconceptions about Down syndrome
• Why early connection and community support are crucial
• Memorable moments from Jack’s life and the families they’ve served
• Advice for new parents, healthcare providers, and loved ones welcoming a baby with Down syndrome
• Media highlights, including Carissa’s appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show and DNA Today podcast (Episode #333)

Jack’s Basket Website

Request a Basket

Genetic Counseling Webinar: "Communicating Unexpected News"

Stay tuned for the next new episode of “It Happened To Me”! In the meantime, you can listen to our previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “It Happened To Me”.

“It Happened To Me” is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. DNA Today’s Kira Dineen is our executive producer and marketing lead. Amanda Andreoli is our associate producer. Ashlyn Enokian is our graphic designer.

See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, ItHappenedToMePod.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.

In this powerful episode of It Happened To Me, co-hosts Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman are joined by two fierce patient advocates and changemakers in the sickle cell disease community: Wunmi Bakare and Dima Hendricks. Both women are living with sickle cell disease and have transformed their lived experiences into platforms for storytelling, education, and change.

They are also the co-hosts of #ThroughTheGenes, a podcast that launched last year on World Sickle Cell Day (June 19, 2024). The show explores gene therapy and other innovative treatments for sickle cell disease while centering patient voices. With a second season debuting again on June 19th (exactly a month from today!), Wunmi and Dima continue to bring much-needed visibility to a condition that is often misunderstood and underfunded. And they will be joined by a new dynamic host, Christelle Salomon!

Topics Discussed:

• What is sickle cell disease and how it impacts daily life
• The emotional and physical toll of living with a chronic, invisible illness
• Medical gaslighting and how to advocate for yourself
• Finding community and realizing you’re not alone
• Blending identity, advocacy, and creativity in the public eye
• Insights into gene therapy, including CRISPR technology and treatment considerations
• Health equity and why access to care must be a priority in the sickle cell space
• The power of patient-centered storytelling through #ThroughTheGenes podcast

During the episode Beth referenced a previous episode with someone who has pancreatic cancer, you can listen to Leslie Waldman’s full interview on Episode 25 here.

Catch up with all of season 1 of #ThroughTheGenes podcast right now, before season 2 launches on World Sickle Cell Day on June 19th, 2025.

Both podcasts, It Happened To Me and #ThroughTheGenes are part of Gene Pool Media, the science podcast network. Be sure to check out all these science shows, many of which discuss medical challenges.

Stay tuned for the next new episode of “It Happened To Me”! In the meantime, you can listen to our previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “It Happened To Me”.

“It Happened To Me” is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. DNA Today’s Kira Dineen is our executive producer and marketing lead. Amanda Andreoli is our associate producer. Ashlyn Enokian is our graphic designer.

See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, ItHappenedToMePod.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.

In this powerful episode of It Happened To Me, hosts Beth Glassman and Cathy Gildenhorn are joined by author, advocate, and healthcare leader Laura Kieger, who shares her family’s deeply personal journey with FAP (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis), a rare genetic condition that significantly increases the risk of colorectal and other cancers.

Laura’s memoir, Summer’s Complaint, chronicles the emotional and medical challenges her family has faced across generations, from diagnosis and genetic testing to coping with loss and finding resilience. As someone who tested negative for the familial mutation herself, Laura also opens up about "survivor’s guilt", the burden of watching loved ones endure cancer, and how her work in healthcare and leadership has informed her approach to caregiving and advocacy.

Whether you're living with a hereditary cancer condition, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking to understand the human side of genetic risk, this episode offers insight, education, and compassion.

• What FAP is and how it differs from other hereditary cancer conditions
• Laura’s family’s diagnosis journey and how it shaped their approach to screening and prevention
• The emotional experience of receiving a negative genetic test result when others in your family test positive
• The value of genetic counseling and early detection
• Misconceptions about FAP and what patients and families should really know
• How storytelling can raise awareness and build advocacy for rare diseases
• Highlights from Laura’s memoir, Summer’s Complaint, and what she hopes readers take away

Laura Kieger is a healthcare human resources consultant, leadership coach, and author of Summer’s Complaint. With decades of experience improving patient and employee experiences in healthcare settings, Laura brings both professional and personal insight to the conversation around rare diseases and inherited cancer risk. She’s also a passionate advocate and speaker for organizations like the Ronald McDonald House and Care Partners.

Be sure to purchase your own copy of Laura’s memoir Summer’s Complaint; all proceeds go to continuing education credits for healthcare providers about hereditary cancer syndromes. During the episode Laura also mentioned a study about green bananas here and a private Facebook support group here.

Stay tuned for the next new episode of “It Happened To Me”! In the meantime, you can listen to our previous episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “It Happened To Me”.

“It Happened To Me” is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. DNA Today’s Kira Dineen is our executive producer and marketing lead. Amanda Andreoli is our associate producer. Ashlyn Enokian is our graphic designer.

See what else we are up to on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and our website, ItHappenedToMePod.com. Questions/inquiries can be sent to ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.