Stories of blood donors and their recipients. If you have ever been a blood or breastmilk donor, you could have been the one who saved, prolonged or improved the quality of life for our guest each week.
Episodes
Sunday Dec 31, 2023
Sunday Dec 31, 2023
On Christmas Day 2023, Kathryn Stary spent the day celebrating with sons Max and William. She is one of thousands of Australians who have been gifted this time with their loved ones thanks to Australian blood donors. William lives with Common Variable Immunodeficiency and will dependent on blood donors for regular immunoglobulin infusions for life.
In the final episode of Season Three of The Milkshakes for Marleigh Podcast, host Kate Fisher thanks Australian blood donors for making it possible for her brother Jake to undergo treatment for diffuse large cell Lymphoma.
Please make a blood donation to the Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood Team or the the newly formed Milkshakes for Marleigh - Shakes for Jake Lifeblood Team.
Donations can be made to the Leukaemia Foundation here: https://www.leukaemia.org.au/make-a-donation/#
Please follow Milkshakes for Marleigh on all the socials and www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Melissa Clode shares how her 8-year-old son Charlie, is not defined by his heart. He has DiGeorge Syndrome which has caused a heart defect, developmental delays and seizures. Through 3 open heart surgeries, over 130 hospital admissions in 8 years, 3 strokes and countless seizures, Australian blood & organ donors have kept Charlie alive.
The most important part about Charlie's heart is how much he uses it to love life! Whether he is showering his siblings with love, spending time with his service dog Elton, playing trains with Nanny and Poppy, stealing the hearts of doctors and nurses with his magical smile or snuggling with courageous parents Melissa and Daniel - Charlie has a habit of reminding all those around him how magical it is to be alive.
On this special episode of for International Day for People with Disability you will get a window into the life of the Clode family and how disability doesn't define them, its just part of who they are!
Friday Nov 17, 2023
Friday Nov 17, 2023
~This episode is dedicated to Francesca Pastega. We promise to always say her name.~
Ian and Lyndsay Pastega have had to navigate the most extraordinary challenges to create their family. Through alloimmunisation in pregnancy (requiring their babies to have multiple blood transfusions before they were even born), premature birth, neonatal death and pregnancy after loss.
Lynds, Elda (9) and Charlie (7) share their story of navigating premature birth and NICU life, being blood product recipients, grieving the loss of Frankie and the healing power of welcoming their youngest child, Lincoln (2).
The Pastega's have partnered with the Canberra Hospital NICU Foundation to provide books and resources for those who are newly bereaved. You can show your support for the "Stories from the stars" campaign here: https://newborn.org.au/support/
https://www.canberrahospitalfoudation.org.auThe Milkshakes for Marleigh book can be ordered here: https://kmdbookstore.com/milkshakes-for-marleigh/fbclid=IwAR168JlGAPgDEwIgvbZlaEMFTluCi0EuKADyYO6o0mt0xPcFEtUM3xumYbo
Lyndsay's Her Canberra article about "The pain of silence" can be found here: https://hercanberra.com.au/life/family/pregnancy-and-infant-loss-awareness-month-life-after-frankie/
Please book a blood donation with Lifeblood by calling 13 14 95 learn more about blood donation advocacy here: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Monday Nov 06, 2023
Molly Dawson tells her story for all the people who have not survived their cancer journey.
With the help of Australian blood donors she overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 18 and has now dedicated aged her life to volunteer work and advocacy to support others in their cancer journey.
This episode is full of joy and post traumatic growth alongside an honest reflection of what it's like to live through cancer diagnosis, treatment and life the other side of cancer.
To read more stories like Molly's you can purchase a copy of The Milkshakes for Marleigh Book at: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
Information about the cancer treatments Molly refers to can her found here: https://www.cancer.org.au
Please book a donation for The Milkshakes Marleigh Lifeblood Team here: www.lifeblood.com.au
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Anj Middlestant, better known as This Strong Mum, shares the incredible story of her daughter Missy, who will be forever 13, to thank blood donors and encourage new ones.
Anj celebrates Missy's life and honours her legacy through the Missy's Donors Lifeblood team and her phenomenal blood donation advocacy work, encouraging others to 'save the lives of people we will never know and faces we will never see.'
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, a time to acknowledge all children with cancer, past and present - and acknowledge the enormous impact of childhood cancer. (Children's Cancer Institute).
Please book a blood donation today to make treatment for kids with cancer possible: www.lifeblood.com.au
Follow Missy's Donors and This Strong Mum : www.thisstrongmum.com.au
Follow Milkshakes for Marleigh: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org or https://www.instagram.com/milkshakes_for_marleigh/?hl=en
Saturday Sep 16, 2023
Saturday Sep 16, 2023
Alba is the baby who humanised war for so many Australians. She is the Australian baby born 11 weeks prematurely, days before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2021, fighting for her life in the middle of a war zone.
Alba's Mum, Jess details how donors from all over the world needed to donate blood to keep Alba alive. First in Ukraine and then in London.
This is an episode of two Mums marvelling about overcoming infertility and the immense gratitude we share for the blood donors who have saved and preserved our daughters lives.
Please follow Milkshakes for Marleigh on Instagram for updates on updates on the release of The Milkshakes for Marleigh book! https://www.instagram.com/milkshakes_for_marleigh/?hl=en
You can becomes a member of the The Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood Team and make an appointment to donate blood by calling 13 14 95 or online: https://www.lifeblood.com.au
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Kate Fisher chats to 91.9 HOT FM about her quest to end persistent critical blood shortages in Australia through her blood donation advocacy work and The Milkshakes for Marleigh Podcast. She explains why her daughter Marleigh will be dependant on blood products for life to treat Autoimmune Encephalitis.
To learn more: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
To join The Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood Team and book a donation: https://www.lifeblood.com.au
To find out more 91.9 HOT FMs 'Bloody Oath': https://www.hot91.com.au/event/91-1-hot-fms-bloody-oath/
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Friday Aug 11, 2023
Kellie Finlayson was just 25 and a first time Mum to a 3 month old baby girl when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Kellie is a model, marathon runner & brand ambassador. Her husband is AFL star Jeremy Finlayson and together they are navigating her battle against Stage 4, colorectal cancer while raising their little girl, Sophia.
In this episode Kellie courageously and candidly share the reality of parenting alongside fighting cancer, living with a stoma and what the cancer has meant for her transition to motherhood. While at the same time accepting the reality that Jeremy may become a single Dad and raising their daughter alone.
Kellie thanks the Australian blood donors who saved her life following surgery and continue to make her treatments possible, giving her more time with little Sophia.
You can find Kellie’s “Trust Your Gut” Campaign with The Jodie Lee Foundation here: https://jodileefoundation.org.au
Please vote for the AusMumpreneur People’s Choice Awards here:https://milkshakesformarleigh.org
Book a blood donation here: https://my.donateblood.com.au/app/appointments/location
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Thursday Aug 03, 2023
Former My Kitchen Rules contestants, Carly and Tresne are on a mission to increase blood donations in Australia. They thank the blood donors who gifted them more time with their precious baby girl, Poppy Grace as she battled childhood Leukaemia.
Poppy Grace passed away in February 2023, just a few months before her second birthday. Her Mummas are now working with the Children's Cancer Institute to improve precision medicine and treatments for all Australian kids with cancer.
This episode deals with pregnancy loss and child death but at the same time is just 2 mums celebrating the love for their daughter and the immense joy she brought to people all over the world as she giggled and grooved through life!
Please become a blood donation advocate by sharing this episode or voting for Milkshakes for Marleigh in the Ausmumpreneur People's Choice Awards for Making a Difference in Social Enterprise and Global Brand here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AUSMUM23
The Childrens Cancer Institute here: https://www.ccia.org.au/event/in-memory-of-poppy/home
Find all the updates from Milkshakes for Marleigh at our website: www.milkshakesformarleigh.org
Friday Jul 28, 2023
Friday Jul 28, 2023
An update on Marleigh's health and rehabilitation progress as she recovers from Autoimmune Encephalitis.
This is a great episode if you are new to The Milkshakes for Marleigh Podcast and community and would like an overview of Marleigh story and why she will be dependent on Australian blood donors for the rest of her life.
Please play your part in blood donation advocacy by voting for Milkshakes for Marleigh to win the Making a Difference : NON-PROFIT + SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Award: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AUSMUM23
And please call Lifeblood on 13 14 95 to make an appointment to donate blood for The Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood Team or register here: https://www.lifeblood.com.au/blood