Advice for New Parents with a Baby in the NICU

The holidays are a stressful time for many, but especially for those with a baby in the NICU. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU for short, is a special floor in hospitals specifically for babies battling congenital disorders, birth complications, breathing or feeding difficulties, or other trauma. It can be overwhelming and intimidating for new parents, and even experienced parents. I asked some NICU survivor parents to pass on some advice and share their experiences so that those with a baby in the NICU this Christmas season do not feel so alone.

Gift Ideas for Kids with Sensory Needs

The holidays are quickly approaching and I have come up with a list of ten gift ideas for a child with sensory needs. So often, we associate sensory needs with autism, but children with many other diagnoses may have sensory processing difficulties, too. I hope this list helps you find a meaningful gift for a child in your life with special needs!

#MacysMustReads Fall 2019

You can find my very first #MacysMustReads here where I shared my favorite books from this past summer. Today I am sharing my favorites from this fall, along with a quick synopsis and rating. Here are my faves from this fall…

Macy's Must ReadsMacy GilsonNovember 30, 2019macysmustreads, must-read, must reads, book club, best books fall 2019, booksComment

My Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition

My grandparents started a tradition with my mom and her brothers and she has passed that tradition down to me and my siblings. I have a huge family, and we have a lot of traditions, but this one is by far my favorite! Each year, after our thanksgiving meal, my parents and grandparents would give each of us an ornament for our Christmas tree. The ornament was usually something silly, but signified something we did or accomplished that year. I am now 25, with a husband and a house of my own, but my tree is still littered with 50 of the most random, fun Christmas ornaments.

Other TopicsMacy GilsonNovember 27, 2019Comment

Q & A Session with Allie Stout : Part 4 - Patient's Perspective

You’ve read parts one, two, and three of our Q & A session with Lisa Stout, the mother of Allie, who was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. Today, in part four, you will hear from Allie as she reflects on the past 27 years and gives the patient’s perspective.

Growing Up with a Sibling with a Disability - Part Two

Last month, you heard from Lindsay Shabet, as she shared about growing up with her brother, Jake, who was born with Down syndrome. If you didn’t get a chance to read Part One of this series with Lindsay, you can find it here! Today, I will be sharing Part Two of this series with Julia Toronczak, who grew up with a twin brother, named Michael, who was born with Down syndrome.

World Kindness Day

A little over four months ago I started this blog in my little corner of the internet in an effort to spread disability awareness, inclusion, and kindness. In that short amount of time, our community has gained over 5,000 people from all over the world. These people, you all, have shared stories, sent messages, and encouraged me more than I could have ever imagined. It is because of you that I am able to continuing spreading my message. It all began with this very first blog post, and, if you’re one of the 5,000 that has joined since, I encourage you to take a second to read it and learn about why I began this journey.

Other TopicsMacy GilsonNovember 13, 2019kindness, world kindness day, kindness mattersComment

Lessons I Learned From My Time as a Division 1 Athlete

In a former life, I was a D1 college athlete. I played 3 seasons of indoor volleyball and 1 season of beach volleyball for TCU before a career ending injury changed the course of my life with sports. One of my best friends, and greatest teammates, Alexia Heist, recently started a business devoted to teaching athletes how to train their minds and bodies with purpose so that they can achieve their goals and become all they were born to be. Alexia recently asked me to share a little bit about my journey with her, and today, I would like to share it with you. I believe life is a lot bigger than sports. And I believe that the words I shared with Alexia are applicable to a lot more than just athletes.

Other TopicsMacy GilsonNovember 4, 2019Comment