The Adapted Life

Welcome to The Adapted Life Podcast, a dedicated space for those who have faced profound challenges, particularly those who have navigated the journey of having a child born with severe disabilities. This podcast serves as a sanctuary for connection, offering support and strategies for building resilience when life unfolds differently than we envisioned.

In this series, I share my personal journey with my disabled son, detailing the ups and downs we experienced together. Our story is one of love, hardship, and ultimately, adaptation. But now, my focus has shifted to the complex and often lonely path of adapting to life after the loss of my son.

Grief is a powerful, consuming force that changes everything. It can feel isolating and overwhelming, reshaping how we perceive the world around us. Through this podcast, I hope to explore what it means to grieve, to honor the memory of my son, and to find ways to move forward while carrying his spirit with me.

We'll discuss practical approaches to adapting to loss, including how to find joy in small moments, the importance of community support, and strategies for navigating everyday life when the ground beneath you has shifted. This journey is deeply personal, yet universal in its themes of love, loss, and resilience.

Join me as we create a conversation around grief and adaptation, turning our experiences into pathways for healing and connection. Every story shared strengthens our community and reminds us that while loss is an inevitable part of life, we have the capacity to adapt and find new meanings, even amidst heartache.

Host

Julie Hasselberger

Julie lives in Sandy Hook, CT and is a Mom and caregiver to her adult son Daniel who is disabled and medically fragile.

This podcast was created to be a community of support and encouragement for anyone who has experience life changing adversity. In Julie’s case, it was the diagnosis that her middle son was born with a rare brain deformity.

Julie’s career began as a Human Resource Professional with an MBA focusing on Human Resources training and development. She left her career when the medical demands of her son became too overwhelming. 25 years later, she shares her stories of deep pain, darkness, and building resilience.

Julie lives in Sandy Hook, CT with her husband John, their son Daniel and has a daughter who lives in CA and a younger son who is living in Boston.