Jodi shares the devastating experience of watching her daughter become increasingly isolated and unable to participate in the sports, friendships, and activities she once loved while doctors struggled to identify what was wrong. After seeing 40 doctors, Alex finally received a Lyme disease diagnosis in 2017, but by then the disease had taken an enormous toll on her body and quality of life.
Jodi also reflects on Alex’s remarkable compassion and selflessness, her deepening faith, and the ways she sought to help people less fortunate. From advocating fiercely for her daughter’s medical care to creating a foundation in Alex’s memory, Jodi has turned unimaginable grief into a mission of advocacy, education, and hope for others facing difficult and uncertain circumstances.
Lessons From Living Podcast with Beth Graham, LessonsFromLiving.net
Episode Outline
- 0:00 – Alex’s Story and the Search for Answers
Jodi introduces her daughter Alex and explains how what began as unexplained health problems eventually became a decade-long medical mystery. - 6:00 – The Lyme Disease Diagnosis
After seeing 40 doctors, Alex finally received a Lyme disease diagnosis. Jodi reflects on what an earlier diagnosis could have meant for her daughter’s future. - 13:00 – Recognizing the Signs of Lyme Disease
Jodi discusses the difficulty of identifying Lyme disease, including symptoms such as brain fog, joint pain, inflammation, digestive problems, and other issues that can resemble different illnesses. - 20:00 – Who Alex Was
Jodi shares memories of Alex’s athleticism, intelligence, competitiveness, love of animals, quirky personality, and remarkable compassion for people experiencing homelessness. - 27:00 – Teaching Children Selflessness
The conversation explores how parents can expose children to people and situations outside their own experiences and create opportunities for them to develop compassion and generosity. - 34:00 – Losing Sports, Friends, and a Sense of Belonging
Jodi explains how Alex’s declining health forced her to give up the activities and friendships that had once defined her life, leaving her increasingly isolated. - 41:00 – When Doctors Wouldn’t Believe Her
Jodi describes the devastating experience of having Alex’s symptoms dismissed as psychological and being told that the illness was essentially in her head. - 48:00 – Advocating for a Child When the System Fails
Jodi recounts the traumatic experience of taking Alex to the hospital, being separated from her during a psychiatric evaluation, and continuing to fight for the treatment her daughter needed. - 55:00 – The Courage to Keep Fighting
Jodi shares how Alex found the strength to walk back into the hospital after a devastating experience and advocate for herself, ultimately receiving the nourishment and treatment she needed. - 1:02:00 – The Cost of Being the Strong One
Jodi reflects on her own childhood, her tendency to rely only on herself, and the exhaustion of becoming completely focused on finding answers and saving her daughter. - 1:09:00 – The People Who Showed Up
Jodi talks about the friends and loved ones who supported her family through small but meaningful acts of kindness, even when she did not have the emotional capacity to explain everything they were experiencing. - 1:16:00 – Grace, Faith, and Finding Strength
Jodi shares the importance of prayer, Scripture, the rosary, music, exercise, and maintaining routines as ways of staying grounded during an overwhelming season. - 1:22:00 – Turning Grief Into a Legacy
Jodi reflects on the loss of Alex and the decision to dedicate her life to advocacy, education, and creating hope for other families facing difficult medical journeys.
Best Quotes from the Podcast
“She was isolated. She was living in her own world, and she just shut down.”
– Jodi Hudson
“I never wanted to be defined as that grief girl.”
– Jodi Hudson
“If one door closes, you bust it open.”
– Jodi Hudson
“You have to be like this ferocious mama bear.”
– Jodi Hudson
“Have grace for yourself. Have grace for others.”
– Jodi Hudson
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