Tube Feeding Awareness: Lived Experience, Real Talk, and Hope for the Future

When tube feeding enters your life—whether at birth, in childhood, or adulthood—it can feel overwhelming, isolating, and misunderstood. In this special live episode of Inside the Children's Hospital, we center the voices of those with lived experience to explore what tube feeding really looks like beyond the diagnosis and discharge instructions.

Host Katie Taylor is joined by parent advocates, a young adult patient, and a pediatric dietitian to share honest, unfiltered perspectives on NG tubes, G-tubes, GJ tubes, and blended feeds. Together, they discuss early fears and misconceptions, navigating medical systems and insurance, advocating for better options, and how tube feeding can ultimately bring relief, stability, and freedom. This conversation highlights the power of community, the importance of being believed, and what compassionate, family-centered support truly looks like—for patients, parents, and professionals alike.

Today's Episode is sponsored by Moog Medical. Moog Medical is a trusted leader in infusion and enteral feeding technology, designing reliable, easy-to-use pumps that support safe, precise care for patients with complex medical needs—at home and in healthcare settings.

 

Resources from today's episode:

• Oley Foundation 

  • Infusing Hope Conference

  • Join Oley for Community, Education, and so much more!

• Blended Tube Feeding
  • Instagram 

• Luma Clean Cares

• A SXSW Short Film on the reality of tube-feeding, called 'Unholy'

Connect with Guests from Today's Episode:

• Kelsey Ward – Parent advocate and medical parent, Follow Kelsey on TikTok
• Brady Crandall – Parent advocate and founder of YouthCrews
• Alexa Quintero – Patient advocate and young adult with lived tube feeding experience
• Hilarie Geurink, RD – Pediatric dietitian specializing in flexible, real-food tube feeding, Founder of Blended Tube Feeding

Connect & Support from Child Life On Call:

• Subscribe: Never miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
  
  

• Visit insidethechildrenshospital.com to search stories and episodes easily
  
  

• Follow us on Instagram for updates and opportunities to connect with other parents
  
  

• Download SupportSpot: receive Child Life tools at your fingertips.
  
  

• Leave a Review: It helps other families find us and access our resources!

 

Keywords:
Tube feeding awareness, G-tube parenting, NG tube experience, GJ tube support, Medical parent advocacy, Pediatric nutrition support, Blended tube feeding, Real food tube feeding, Feeding tube myths, Medical trauma and advocacy, Young adult chronic illness, Child life support, Family-centered care, Hospital parent support, Living with feeding tubes

Medical information provided is not a substitute for professional advice—please consult your care team.