Episode 5: Emotional Wellbeing

About this episode

The episode discusses emotional wellbeing for caregivers and children facing serious illnesses, featuring insights from Patricia and Sophie LeBlanc.

Emotional wellbeing involves being present, having courage, and focusing on what’s important—even in tough times. But emotional health may look different when a child has a serious illness, especially if emotional health needs were there before diagnosis. In this episode, Clay Culp and Kendra Parris talk with caregiver Patricia LeBlanc and her daughter Sophie about emotional health while Sophie was going through treatment. Sophie was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at age 12. Kendra talks about the importance of taking care of yourself before you can take care of your child. Patricia discusses how her vision for Sophie’s life had to shift and explains how they embraced times to play and have fun together. Sophie talks about how her confidence grew and how she learned to manage her anxiety. The group explores the importance of sharing your burdens and getting support. A special thank you to our host, Clay Culp, senior social worker at St. Jude; our expert Kendra Parris, associate member of the St. Jude faculty in Psychology and Biobehavioral Sciences; and Patricia and Sophie LeBlanc. This episode was recorded August 1, 2025. Learn more about Sophie’s diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma on St…

People in this episode

Host: Clay Culp

Guests: Patricia LeBlanc, Sophie LeBlanc

Topics covered

• emotional wellbeing
• caregiving
• child illness
• support systems
• mental health

Keywords

• emotional health
• caregiver support
• Ewing sarcoma
• anxiety management
• mental health services

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: St. Jude

More episodes of Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast

• Episode 12: Considering a Clinical Trial for a Child: A Caregiver's View · May 21, 2026 · 50 min
• Episode 11: What is a Clinical Trial? · May 7, 2026 · 32 min
• Episode 10: Communicating with the Care Team During End-of-Life Care · April 16, 2026 · 47 min
• Episode 9: Communicating with the Care Team During Treatment · March 19, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Episode 8: Relationships and Social Life During Treatment · February 18, 2026 · 48 min
• Episode 7: Self-Compassion and Seeking Support · January 15, 2026 · 35 min