We hope to see you at 2:00pm EST on Sunday, April 2nd for our monthly support group! Please join us as we discuss an incredibly important topic and one that affects us all, parental mental health while caring for a medically complex child. Our special guests are Wendy Hurwitz, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the coordinator for the Fragile Beginnings program at the Center for Early Relationship Support in Waltham, MA, and Liana Bolen, mom to a 2.5 year old O warrior who is also an advocate for seeking out mental health services when needed. As always, everyone from the omphalocele community is welcome (parents of new O babies, experienced parents with older O children, pregnant mothers or expectant family members, grandparents, friends, adult omphalocele survivors) and you are all an important part of our group!
Panelists:
Wendy Hurwitz, LMHC, PMH-C
Wendy Hurwitz, LMHC, PMH-C is the coordinator for the Fragile Beginnings program at the Center for Early Relationship Support at Jewish Family & Children’s Service in Waltham, MA. Wendy's special interest and expertise includes helping new parents to connect with their newborns while navigating a challenging start, including a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In addition, Wendy's professional focus includes providing therapeutic support to parents whose perinatal mental health complications are interfering with their relationships with their babies. Wendy has advanced training in Infant-Parent Mental Health and holds a certification in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International. She is also trained in Circle of Security-Parenting, an evidence-based parent education curriculum.
Liana Bolen
Liana is Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) from Boston, MA. After dealing with infertility and then a miscarriage, she found out at her 12 week scan that her baby was diagnosed with an Omphalocele. After the initial shock and unsolicited advice from her regular OB and other staff, her care was transferred to MFM and Boston Children’s Hospital. She was carefully watched throughout her pregnancy. At 38 weeks, 4 days she had a scheduled C-section and her miracle baby Avery John was born with a giant Omphalocele. After 8 weeks in the hospital, Avery went home and was treated with paint and wait. At 6 months he had his closure surgery and was given a G-tube. Avery is now 2.5 years old and is thriving (feeding tube was removed over a year ago!). He’s a kind, super sassy but sweet little boy and couldn't imagine life without him! Since his birth, Liana has been an advocate for not only babies with Omphaloceles but also for moms to get the help (therapy) they need with medically complex babies.
