ONCE UPON A GENE - EPISODE 245 - Finding Strength in Friendship - Building In-Person Connections for Special Needs Moms with Colorado Mama Tribe - Mariah Gillaspie
Mariah Gillaspie is the mom of Abby and Emma, who both have a genetic condition called THAP12, and they're the only known patients in the world. Mariah is the Founder of Lightning and Love and an active rare disease advocate. Most recently, she's shifted her focus to community and established the Colorado Mama Tribe.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Can you tell us about the Colorado Mama Tribe?
It's been a passion project for me that came out of necessity. When I was new to raising children with rare disease, I was very alone and lost, desperate to find someone who shared a similar story to me. It started with a small group of moms getting together and we've now grown to 400 members. We have monthly meetups for moms, which serves as a social opportunity, but also an opportunity to share and be supported by a community who gets it. We also have a yearly respite retreat and we put together care packages for moms in the hospital with their kids. We recently started providing free group and individual therapy for moms and we've started a bereavement group.
How do you fundraise and support your programming?
As we've grown, we've assembled different committees and we have an amazing fundraising committee who is rocking it. As a board, we largely handle fundraising and logistics to keep events mostly free and subsidized to take the burden off moms so they feel supported and taken care of through our offerings.
What advice do you have for other parents who want to create something for their own community?
It only takes a few people to commit to setting a time and place and showing up. Month after month, more and more people will show up and it can grow naturally. Set up a Facebook group, communicate dates and times and people will come.
How has your self-care shifted through your pivot?
Self care looks different and there's no time for bubble baths or massages right now. Colorado Mama Tribe has been a huge part of my self-care, forcing me to get out of the house, take time for myself away from my family and meet up with friends. I spend time out and about to reset, commiserate and celebrate. Additionally, it makes me feel better connected to my daughters because I'm allowing myself balance.
LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED
Colorado Mama Tribe on Facebook
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