About the Episode:
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares is joined by Heather Salazar, President and CEO of Pink Ribbon Good (PRG). Heather shares her deeply personal journey, from adopting a baby girl whose mother battled breast cancer to her own cancer diagnosis, and how these experiences led her to start PRG—a nonprofit organization providing essential services to families affected by breast and gynecological cancers.
About Our Guest:
Heather Salazar: CEO of Pink Ribbon Good, a nonprofit that provides free services such as meals, house cleaning, and transportation to women and families facing breast and gynecological cancers.
Episode Topics:
- Heather’s Journey: Heather recounts her emotional and inspiring story of meeting a young mother battling cancer, adopting her child, and later being diagnosed with the same type of breast cancer.
- Founding Pink Ribbon Good (PRG): Learn how Heather turned her experience into action, creating PRG to provide meals, house cleaning, transportation to treatments, and peer support to cancer patients and their families.
- The Importance of Community Support: Heather and Dr. Casares discuss the critical role that emotional and logistical support plays for families battling cancer, often making the difference between surviving and thriving.
- Facing Breast Cancer: Heather candidly shares the fear and frustration of battling breast cancer, and how she found strength to keep going through divine appointments and serendipitous meetings.
- PRG’s Growth: Discover how PRG scaled from a small local organization to a national nonprofit, serving families across multiple regions with essential services during cancer treatment.
Key Takeaways:
- Empowering through Adversity: Heather’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, turning personal struggles into a mission to help others.
- Building a Support Network: Pink Ribbon Good doesn’t just support cancer patients; it supports their families with vital services to ease the burden during treatment.
- Cancer's Toll and Triumphs: While cancer brings immense challenges, Heather shares how she has found moments of growth, joy, and purpose through her journey.
- Women in Leadership: Heather’s path in building and leading a nonprofit shows the importance of boldness, asking for help, and surrounding yourself with strong mentors and partners.
More Blogs and Podcasts:
About the Episode: In this eye-opening episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with child sleep experts Dr. Andrea Roth and Dr. Allison Shale—two clinical psychologists and co-authors of The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep: A Tired Caregiver’s Workbook for Every Age and Stage (written with Dr. Shelby Harris) . Together, they break down the myths, shame, and unrealistic expectations that surround slee p training and offer compassionate, evidence-based advice that actually meets parents where they are. This episode is your permission slip to stop blaming yourself, throw out the cookie-cutter advice, and start working with your child’s unique temperament, challenges, and developmental stage—whether that means defiant toddlers, anxious middle-schoolers, or non-sleeping newborns. About Our Guests: Dr. Andrea Roth and Dr. Allison Shale are licensed clinical psychologists and moms who specialize in child and adolescent mental health. Together with co-author Dr. Shelby Harris, they created The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep to give exhausted parents the tools to support their kids’ sleep with confidence, flexibility, and empathy. Their approach is grounded in science—and shaped by real-life parenting. Follow them on Instagram: @essentialkidssleep Key Takeaways: Why this sleep book is different It’s written by clinical psychologists, not influencers—and it combines science, flexibility, and real-world parenting experience. How your child’s daytime behavior impacts nighttime sleep From anxious kids to defiant or ADHD children, the team explains why your child’s personality and emotional regulation during the day matters more than you think at bedtime. The truth about sleep “milestones” You’ll learn why your two-week-old shouldn’t be sleeping through the night, why “wake windows” are often misused, and why transitioning to a toddler bed before age 3 might be setting everyone up to fail. The importance of timing and readiness Parents don’t have to sleep train when they’re already overwhelmed. These experts offer a refreshing take on how to assess if now is the right time—and how to set up for success. What works for toddlers (and what doesn’t) You’ll hear how techniques like the “break method” and “camping out” can be adapted based on your child’s age and developmental stage. How to support anxious or defiant older kids at bedtime The language we use matters. For anxious kids, it's all about reducing pressure and focusing on rest. For defiant or ADHD kids, clear expectations and behavior-based plans are key. The shame-free approach every tired caregiver needs Sleep doesn’t have to be a battleground—or a place for guilt. These authors bring compassion and practicality to every step of the process. 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. L eave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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