Ep. 151 - I Survived Child Loss. Then I Learned to Fight for My Autistic Daughter with Emily.

<p>Host Rashidah introduces a raw episode of Autism for BadassMoms on grief, autism parenting, divorce, and coping, featuring guest Emily Fell, a 45-year-old Wisconsin mom to 15-year-old Grace, diagnosed with autism at 2.5. Emily recounts the 2008 pregnancy and birth of her first daughter,Katie, who had hydranencephaly, was delivered by C-section with Emily suffering severe blood loss and transfusions and lived two days. Emily describes Grace’s traumatic birth in 2010, vaccine-related reactions, developmental regression,extensive early interventions including ABA, and later conflicts in her marriage—especially over vaccines—leading to her husband moving out in 2016 and divorce finalized in 2018, plus financial stress and foreclosure. </p><p>Emily shares past self-medicating with alcohol, recent sobriety, homeschooling Grace using spelling to communicate, and plans for a center/community for non-speakers with respite and ABA partners targeted for April 2026 and provides her TikTok contact.</p><p> </p><p>In this episode, we discuss:</p><p>00:00 Podcast Intro</p><p>00:43Grief and Autism</p><p>02:46 Meet Emily Fell</p><p>04:52 Pregnancy and Shocking Ultrasound</p><p>08:50 Katie’s Birth and Medical Crisis</p><p>13:20 Saying Goodbye to Katie</p><p>16:04 Pregnant Again After Loss</p><p>17:44 Grace’s Birth Complications</p><p>23:19 Regression and Autism Diagnosis</p><p>26:15 Marriage Strain and Vaccines</p><p>29:11 Husband Moves Out and Fallout</p><p>32:58 Black Cloud and Getting Sober</p><p>34:21 Quitting Alcohol Clarity</p><p>35:24 Divorce Boundaries Strength</p><p>36:44 Grace Therapy Reflections</p><p>39:49 First Word Mom Moment</p><p>42:04 School Battles Presume Competence</p><p>46:55 Homeschool Spelling Breakthroughs</p><p>49:24 Spiritual Walk Revelation</p><p>52:14 Building Non-Speaker Community</p><p>56:15 How to Reach Emily</p><p>58:09 Advice for New Moms</p><p>01:03:22 Final Encouragement Outro</p><p>01:03:56 Guest Application Call</p><p> </p><p><strong>Connect with Emily:</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>TikTok:  emilygrace.do.homeschool(Emily &amp; Grace Do Homeschool)</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Instagram: </strong><a href="http://www.instagram.com/letsplanthouses">www.instagram.com/</a><strong>amazing_grace_homeschool</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Threads: https://www.threads.com/@amazing_grace_homeschool?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Facebook: </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091213029569&mibextid=LQQJ4d">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091213029569&amp;mibextid=LQQJ4d</a><strong></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>LinkedIn: </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-fell-presume-competence/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-fell-presume-competence/</a><strong></strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>If this episode resonated with you:</p><p> </p><p>-Follow the Autism for Badass Moms Podcast</p><p>-Leave a review to help other autism moms find thiscommunity</p><p>-Share this episode with a parent who may feel unseen ormisunderstood</p><p> </p><p>Follow Us:</p><p> </p><p>Instagram: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast">www.instagram.com/theabmpodcast</a></p><p>Facebook: www.facebook.com/theabmpodcast</p><p> </p><p> </p><p></p>