# Recognizing Infantile Spasms: Navigating a Diagnosis as a Nurse Practitioner

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-the-children-s-hospital-800792/recognizing-infantile-spasms-navigating-a-diagnosis-as-a-nurse-practitioner
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-the-children-s-hospital-800792/recognizing-infantile-spasms-navigating-a-diagnosis-as-a-nurse-practitioner.md
Podcast: [Inside the Children's Hospital](https://stenobird.com/podcast/inside-the-children-s-hospital-800792)
Published: 2026-06-17T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://childlifeoncall.libsyn.com/recognizing-infantile-spasms-navigating-a-diagnosis-as-a-nurse-practitioner
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/childlifeoncall/riverside_laura_forcella__katie..._child_life_on_call_.mp3?dest-id=517029
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/inside-the-children-s-hospital-800792/episodes/recognizing-infantile-spasms-navigating-a-diagnosis-as-a-nurse-practitioner
Duration seconds: 2401

## Resource

What happens when a pediatric nurse practitioner suddenly finds herself on the other side of diagnosis? On this week's episode of Inside the Children's Hospital, Katie Taylor sits down with Laura Forcella, a developmental pediatric nurse practitioner and mom to a son with Dup15q syndrome and epilepsy. Laura shares the deeply personal journey of recognizing her son's infantile spasms, navigating a rare disease diagnosis, and balancing life as both a medical professional and a caregiver. Laura opens up about the unique challenges of being a "med mom," the emotional shift from provider to parent, and how her experiences have transformed the way she supports families in her own clinical practice. Together, Katie and Laura discuss the power of parental intuition, the importance of early intervention, building a village of support, and finding moments of joy amidst the complexities of caregiving. Whether you're a parent navigating a diagnosis, a healthcare professional supporting families, or someone looking for encouragement on a difficult journey, this conversation is filled with compassion, wisdom, and hope. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Laura's path from pediatric ICU and ER nurse to developmental pediatric nurse practitioner How she recognized the early signs of infantile spasms in her son The diagnostic journey that led to a Dup15q syndrome diagnosis What it's like to care for patients while navigating your own child's medical complexities Why videos can be critical when seeking answers for concerning symptoms The importance of trusting your instincts as a parent How early intervention services can help while waiting for specialist appointments The realities of balancing advocacy, caregiving, work, and self-care Finding community through rare disease organizations and…

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