Nov. 6, 2025

Elizabeth Lounsbery on The Mompreneur Model with Dori DeCarlo

Elizabeth Lounsbery on The Mompreneur Model with Dori DeCarlo
Elizabeth Lounsbery on The Mompreneur Model with Dori DeCarlo
Word of Mom Radio
Elizabeth Lounsbery on The Mompreneur Model with Dori DeCarlo

Liz Lounsbery navigates the unique challenges of military life while fiercely advocating for her daughter Isla, who lives with multiple rare diseases and disabilities.

Spotify podcast player badge
iHeartRadio podcast player badge
Amazon Music podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Pandora podcast player badge
Youtube Music podcast player badge
PlayerFM podcast player badge
Overcast podcast player badge
PocketCasts podcast player badge
Goodpods podcast player badge
Podyssey podcast player badge
Audible podcast player badge
Podchaser podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconApple Podcasts podcast player iconPandora podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconPlayerFM podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconPodyssey podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player icon

Liz Lounsbery is a mom on a mission. As an active-duty military spouse and mother of three, Liz navigates the unique challenges of military life while fiercely advocating for her daughter Isla, who lives with multiple rare diseases and disabilities. From fighting for accessible healthcare to ensuring Isla’s voice is heard in a world that often overlooks medically complex children, Liz’s advocacy is rooted in love and a deep belief that every child deserves a joyful, dignified life.

Liz is passionate about bringing awareness to the realities families face within the rare disease and disability communities, highlighting the gaps in care while celebrating the everyday victories that matter most. She also understands the quiet strength it takes to hold a family together while facing deployments, moves, and the uncertainties of military life.

When she’s not navigating medical appointments, therapies, or IEP meetings, you can find Liz soaking up the chaos and sweetness of everyday moments with her children, scrolling with a coffee in hand, or finding small pockets of rest through reading. Her story is one of resilience, humor, and the relentless pursuit of a world where every child, regardless of ability or diagnosis, can thrive.

Join host Dori DeCarlo on The Mompreneur Model and follow Liz on at Elizabeth Theresa on Facebook and elizabeth.louns on Instagram.

Please support UnsilencedVoices.org a global 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

We thank Smith Sisters and the Sunday Drivers for our theme song, "She is You".

Be sure to connect with us come tell us your story!

WordofMomRadio.com - sharing the wisdom of women, in business and in life.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/word-of-mom-radio--5252572/support.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:10.720
She is sure, she is true, she is straw is straw,

2
00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:15.679
She is true, is true, she is praise, pray, she

3
00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:17.800
is she is you.

4
00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:21.519
Welcome to today's Word of Mom Radio. Here on the

5
00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:25.440
Word of Mom Media Network. I'm your host, Dori Di Carlo,

6
00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:28.519
and you know we are here, show after show, week

7
00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:33.200
after week, just breaking those myths that moentpreneurs and business women,

8
00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.479
especially those of us building our businesses from home, that

9
00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:38.920
we're just dabbling in between bake sales and getting our

10
00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:42.840
nails done. We're not. We are smart, we are savvy,

11
00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:46.000
and we are sharing the wisdom of women in business

12
00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:49.039
and in life. And today I am bringing in somebody

13
00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:51.799
who is near and dear to my part and has

14
00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.759
a message that we need to be sharing. Liz Loundsbury

15
00:00:55.880 --> 00:00:59.600
is a mom on a mission. As an active duty

16
00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:04.000
military spouse and mother of three, Liz navigates the unique

17
00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:09.560
challenges of military life while fiercely advocating for her daughter, Islah,

18
00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:15.120
who lives with multiple rare diseases and disabilities. From fighting

19
00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:18.680
for accessible health care to ensuring Elah's voice is heard

20
00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:24.480
in a world that often overlooks medically complex children, Liz's

21
00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:28.159
advocacy is rooted in love and a deep belief that

22
00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:33.840
every child deserves a joyful, dignified life. Liz is passionate

23
00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:38.959
about bringing awareness to the realities of famili's face within

24
00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:44.079
the rare disease and disability communities, highlighting the gaps in

25
00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:49.120
care while celebrating the everyday victories that matter most. She

26
00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:53.280
also understands the quiet strength it takes to hold a

27
00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:58.840
family together while facing deployments, moves, and the uncertainties of

28
00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:03.879
military life. When she's not navigating medical appointments, therapies are

29
00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:07.640
IEP meetings, you can finally soaking up the chaos and

30
00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:11.439
sweetness of everyday moments with her children, scrolling with a

31
00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:15.919
coffee in hand, or finding small pockets of rest for reading. Really,

32
00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:19.400
Liz's story is one of resilience, humor, and the relentless

33
00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:23.840
pursuit of a world where every child, regardless of ability

34
00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:27.919
or diagnosis, can thrive. And again, you know, Liz is

35
00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:30.639
somebody I know on a personal level, and her husband

36
00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:34.439
is one of my bestie's son who I've known since

37
00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:39.400
he was five, and her little girl, Alah is the

38
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:45.000
most amazing, little fiery redhead she will ever see. So

39
00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:47.840
with all of this being said Liz, Welcome to Word

40
00:02:47.879 --> 00:02:48.599
of Mom Radio.

41
00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.240
Thank you, thank you for having me.

42
00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:55.520
I am honored to have you. I'm proud that you

43
00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:59.080
are doing the advocacy work that you are doing. And

44
00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:04.560
I really love people to understand that with everything going

45
00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:08.120
on right now, with the big beautiful Bill and the

46
00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:12.719
things that have been cut on medical services and needs,

47
00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:17.759
especially for our special needs community, that even a military

48
00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:23.919
spouse is not above what has been cut. So I

49
00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:26.319
would love for you to just kind of take us

50
00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.639
on your journey that she be a life in Ila's

51
00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:32.240
story and what it looks like for you.

52
00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:38.479
Sure, she and my oldest son are fertility kids. We

53
00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:43.759
had multiple tribes of getting pregnant and it never worked.

54
00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:47.199
So we went through the fertility route, which was a

55
00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.080
pastile to begin with, because insurance doesn't really cover that

56
00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:54.400
either because they don't really see and fertility as a

57
00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:58.439
disease either. So that was the start of our uphail battle.

58
00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:01.199
And then you know, we got pregnant with Ila, and

59
00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:05.439
up until about thirty two weeks, everything was smooth sailing,

60
00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:08.800
everything looked great. She was measuring small, but we didn't

61
00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:11.560
really think anything of it because my side of the

62
00:04:11.560 --> 00:04:13.879
family is small. I mean, my husband is not. He's

63
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.240
six feet and all of his siblings are tall. But

64
00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.959
I was like, well, you know, my nieces and nephews

65
00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:22.240
are tiny. We went in for a regular anatomy check

66
00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:26.680
and they scanned from her brain to her spine multiple times,

67
00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.000
and it was in that moment that I was like, Okay,

68
00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.680
well something's going on. So at thirty two weeks she

69
00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:37.399
was diagnosed with ventricomegalie and from that moment on it

70
00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:41.360
was just on the fast lane. Thirty six weeks, I

71
00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.399
had to get an MRI done on her to make

72
00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:47.399
sure that she didn't have a stroke in utero. Thankfully

73
00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:50.279
it did not. She did not, She just had enlarged

74
00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:54.959
ventricles on both sides. She was induced at thirty nine weeks,

75
00:04:55.480 --> 00:05:01.360
but she came out as measuring as a baby. That

76
00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:04.639
was thirty five weeks. So we spent two and a

77
00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:07.720
half weeks in the NICU. She was on a ventilator,

78
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:11.000
she was on a breathing machine. She had to go

79
00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:14.000
home with a heart monitor because while one of the

80
00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:17.480
walls in her heart chambers hadn't closed fully yet. Because

81
00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:21.600
she was so small, she only weighed just at five pounds.

82
00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:27.160
So from that moment on we entered the medically complex

83
00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:31.319
world and we were not expecting any of that when

84
00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:34.879
we had our second child, and it was from that

85
00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:39.439
moment on we got testing had She met with three geneticists,

86
00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:44.040
and each time it would come back as inconclusive. It

87
00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:48.920
wasn't until her third birthday that we got the notice

88
00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:54.199
that something had popped on her genetics screening. At that moment,

89
00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:58.680
she was diagnosed with van Maldegrin, which is so rare

90
00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:02.319
that it is made maybe like one in twenty kids

91
00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:05.639
in the entire world. And then she was also diagnosed

92
00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:09.720
with Brock syndrome, which is also very rare, and she

93
00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:16.879
has extremely fragile bones, so any small ball could shatter

94
00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:20.879
her bone. She's had five surgeries in her four years

95
00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:24.720
of life. On her right leg, she has cerebral paldy.

96
00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.000
On top of all of that, she is hard of

97
00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:32.079
hearing on her right side. She is somewhat wheelchair bound.

98
00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:36.199
She uses the wheelchair as her main mode of transportation,

99
00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:38.879
but when she's out and about she is scooting and

100
00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:44.800
crawling like nobody's business. And then right before she started preschool,

101
00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:49.800
she got an autism diagnosis as well. So we have

102
00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.519
been head first and everything.

103
00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:57.439
I remember the video when Aila got her wheelchair. Yes,

104
00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:00.319
I's found out that you know what, this is something

105
00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:03.000
that she's gonna need. And she took off after her

106
00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.680
two brothers like the fire little redhead.

107
00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:06.079
She is.

108
00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.879
Video and show of her after surgeries and there she

109
00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.879
was on her crutches trying to catch them. She is

110
00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:16.480
an amazing little girl.

111
00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:20.560
Yeah, she does not. It's always so funny because every

112
00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.199
time she has her surgery, you know, they give us

113
00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:26.680
the letter rest and her orthopedic is like she's never

114
00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:29.600
she's not gonna wrap. We just have to realize that

115
00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:32.240
we have to put her in a cast because if

116
00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:34.399
we don't put her in a cast, she's just gonna

117
00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:37.839
break another bone. So she it does not slow her

118
00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.959
down at all. I wish sometimes I wish it did

119
00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:44.560
because it's exhausting. Try to like make sure that she's

120
00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:47.439
not jumping on the trampoline with a broken leg. I'm like,

121
00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:50.519
can we tame it a little bit, Let's take a break.

122
00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:53.639
But if you were just to look at a video

123
00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.959
of her and not know and just see her playing,

124
00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:59.639
you would never know that she's had five surgeries. You

125
00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:04.879
would never know that she has been developmentally delayed her

126
00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:08.000
entire life. You just wouldn't. She doesn't really let it

127
00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:11.279
defind her, and neither do her brothers. Like they know

128
00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:15.560
she's KOOKI they know that she's kookie, but they don't

129
00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:18.279
let her get away with anything, like if she wants

130
00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.560
to wrestle with us, okay, we're gonna wrestle back, Like

131
00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:24.000
you don't get to just you know, throw your hands

132
00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:26.240
and then hide them when it's time to get in there.

133
00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:29.800
So she is just very full of spirits, and it

134
00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:32.639
took us a long time to be okay with her

135
00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:33.519
being in a wheelchair.

136
00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:33.799
Only.

137
00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:36.879
I think it was more hard on Mike and I,

138
00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:39.120
my husband and I, than it was on her because

139
00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.799
we had all of these visions of like what our

140
00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:44.960
little girl would do. Oh, she's gonna join the dance team,

141
00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:48.360
she's gonna do gymnastics, and then to just meet a

142
00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:50.480
brick wall and be like, no, she's actually gonna be

143
00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:53.559
in a wheelchair. It was really hard for us. I

144
00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.480
probably more me I will be one hundred percent honest

145
00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:59.200
than Mike. But the moment that we put her in

146
00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:02.480
that wheelchair, she lit up because she didn't have to

147
00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:05.879
rely on me carry her. It lifted like a huge

148
00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.080
burden off of us that Okay, this is what she

149
00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:12.200
needs and it may not be forever. She may you know,

150
00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:15.120
we're never going to say she can't ever walk and

151
00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:17.440
that's our end goal, Like we would love for her to,

152
00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:21.080
you know, take a few independent steps. But I don't

153
00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:24.000
feel as guilty of her being in a wheelchair that

154
00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:26.879
I did when they first told us that's the route

155
00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:27.720
that we needed to go.

156
00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:31.440
You know, you're using the word guilty. I'm going to say,

157
00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:34.480
I have so much. I know it's and you know what,

158
00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:39.159
you have nothing to be guilty about. I know, but

159
00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:43.399
it is an amazing thing. The mom guilty. Yes, it's

160
00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:47.879
very marry child. That's why everything going on right now

161
00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:51.720
with a Secretary of Health that doesn't know what the

162
00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:55.399
hell he's talking about, and now turning around about Thailand

163
00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:58.440
all why because I know President couldn't figure out how

164
00:09:58.440 --> 00:09:58.919
to say.

165
00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:01.399
To even say it. Oh god, let's.

166
00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.720
Just go with Meanwhile, Yeah, let's face it. Tailan All

167
00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:05.919
is what they give you when they're not going to

168
00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:07.519
give you anything exactly.

169
00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:10.080
Tilan Al is the bare minimum exactly they gave me

170
00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:13.039
when I broke my wrists, Like, what is that going to.

171
00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:15.080
Do for me, Thank you very much. Do I stick

172
00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.200
those in my ears so I don't hear what stream exactly?

173
00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:21.080
You know, this is the really tough part of trying

174
00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:24.559
to advocate in a world right now that is not

175
00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:29.320
hearing anything but their own voices. Yes, the guy comes

176
00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:31.200
out and says, well, you know, there really isn't any

177
00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:33.879
research that backed up what I said, but it's just

178
00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:36.159
what I think. Tell me what you.

179
00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:40.440
See exactly exactly. And it's so this is where I

180
00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:42.600
have to put my mom hat with my kids, but

181
00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.279
I also have to teach my sons too. Your voice

182
00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:48.000
is not any better just because you're a boy than

183
00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:51.039
it is mine, or your sisters, or your dad's better

184
00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:55.440
than me. It boils down in my feelings perspective that

185
00:10:56.159 --> 00:11:01.000
it's not really they just don't really care about women's bodies,

186
00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:05.000
health whatever. The one thing that women can take safely

187
00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:09.919
during pregnancy is tilan all. And now you're telling us

188
00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:13.399
don't do what you're gonna harm your child. And I,

189
00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:15.279
you know, I hate to say it, but I didn't

190
00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:17.960
take Tyler all when I was pregnant with Ila because

191
00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.000
I already had so much guilt with her. Oh my gosh,

192
00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:23.159
what could I have done differently to not make her

193
00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:26.480
have all of these inuteral issues. So I didn't even

194
00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:29.120
take title on all, and she is as autistic as

195
00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:31.840
they come. And then my other two boys, Yeah, I

196
00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:33.440
took title and all because I was like, well, shoo,

197
00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.559
I'm gonna take it. I don't feel good is that,

198
00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.759
especially with nax. I already had two kids and I

199
00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:40.200
was older. I was like, I'm gonna take the title

200
00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:43.600
and I'll go to sleep. And he's as neurotypical as

201
00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:46.320
they come for a three year old boy. So and

202
00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:49.639
my husband said the same thing. He's like, there's no

203
00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:54.639
studies to say, like genetics don't matter to these people

204
00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:59.440
because autism is just like any other genetic It is inherited.

205
00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:03.080
How somehow the genes got mixed up. And I always

206
00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:05.600
tease my husband look in the mirror, and he's like,

207
00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:06.279
you're right.

208
00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:10.440
I am again that mom guilt stuff. Now we carry them,

209
00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:15.279
we put on ourselves. Meanwhile, here you are advocating at

210
00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:18.200
the top of your lungs. What is that advocation for?

211
00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:21.480
ISLA taught you not only about yourself and being a mom,

212
00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:24.399
but the system that we're trapped in right now.

213
00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:29.120
It has taught me that I am much stronger than

214
00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:32.879
I have ever given myself credit for. I always thought like, oh,

215
00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:35.759
I'll always say something if I need to. But it

216
00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:38.879
wasn't until I had children. Even Decklan, you know, he

217
00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:41.440
had a penat allergy, so I taught him, like, you

218
00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:44.039
have to advocate for yourself because I'm not always going

219
00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:46.399
to be there to like tell people you have a

220
00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.639
pena allergy. But it wasn't until this I had Isla

221
00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:54.080
and this election cycle that I was like, I need

222
00:12:54.080 --> 00:13:00.360
my voice to be heard because I cannot let the

223
00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:06.000
system fail her. I can't fail her. And so I

224
00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:10.279
really started like putting myself out there. I was posting

225
00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:13.200
on Facebook all the time, to the point where I

226
00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:16.399
have lost so many friends on Facebook because I probably

227
00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:19.000
annoyed them because I was just I cannot let this go.

228
00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:22.440
You may have never met a child like my daughter,

229
00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:25.159
but there are children like her in the world, and

230
00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:28.440
there are going to be thousands more like her after her,

231
00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:33.320
And if I don't say anything, then I am doing

232
00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:36.799
a huge disservice to her and all of the families

233
00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:41.559
behind me, because they may not have that inner strength

234
00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.600
to be like, Okay, I need to do this because

235
00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:46.240
a lot of the time, like we talked about, you

236
00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:48.399
have that mom guilt, so a lot of the time

237
00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.399
you hold that in and you don't want to tell

238
00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:53.000
anyone that you're feeling this kind of way and that

239
00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.440
you need to But that's when you need to speak

240
00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:59.960
up the most, because the louder you are, the more

241
00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.559
people will start to hear you. When we moved here,

242
00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:07.960
we had some issues with the school and I was like, no,

243
00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:11.919
I'm not gonna just sit here and let you tell

244
00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:13.960
me what you're gonna give my daughter. I'm going to

245
00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.159
tell you what she needs, and you're gonna find a

246
00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:18.879
way to make it work. And I told I told

247
00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:21.240
the school. I was like, I will always be kind

248
00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:23.960
to you. I will always be kind, but I'm not

249
00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.360
always going to be nice because at the end of

250
00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:30.320
the day, your feelings do not outweigh my child needs.

251
00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:33.720
They just don't. So we can either work together and

252
00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:36.759
find a smooth pass or I can cite you the

253
00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:40.279
whole way. And I will gladly do that. And it's

254
00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:42.240
like a running joke because my brother works at the

255
00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.799
school and he was like, well, they definitely know who

256
00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:47.360
you are now, and I'm like, good, because I need

257
00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:49.960
I need them to know like I will always go

258
00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.279
out of my way to be kind to people. I

259
00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:54.639
will always show kindness, but I will not always be

260
00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:59.320
nice when it comes to my children, especially Aila, because

261
00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:01.039
the world is now always nice to her.

262
00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:03.639
You know what I'm serious. I want you to think

263
00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.200
of what Liz is saying. We're going to take a

264
00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:08.960
quick break, say thank you to our supporters, and we'll

265
00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.200
be back here in just a moment on Word of

266
00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.679
Mom Radio. She is brave, she is bold, she is you,

267
00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:19.240
and we want to tell your story. Are you ready

268
00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:22.879
to share your journey with us on Word of Mom Radio?

269
00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:27.399
Go to wordomomradio dot com and register as a guest.

270
00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:30.679
We want to tell your story because when you win,

271
00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:31.960
we all win.

272
00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:38.279
In twenty seventeen, Unsilenced Voices was formed to help survivors

273
00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:43.720
of domestic abuse and gender based violence worldwide. The organization

274
00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:49.679
currently serves Siri Leone, Rwanda, Ghana, and the USA. In

275
00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:54.360
twenty twenty two, Unsilenced Voices gifted over thirty three thousand

276
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.120
dollars to survivors in the USA and in Siri Leone.

277
00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:01.519
There are over twenty six young girls who have been

278
00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:06.120
rescued from sex trafficking and domestic abuse and now going

279
00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:09.919
through vocational training school in order to better their lives.

280
00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:14.519
We need your help. Donations are critical in order for

281
00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:18.679
us to continue our work. We also need volunteers to

282
00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:25.080
help with research and development. Please visit Unsilenced Voices dot

283
00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.799
org for more information.

284
00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:29.799
And we're back here on Word of Mom Radio. We're

285
00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:32.639
talking with Liz Lounsbury and I have to tell you

286
00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:35.440
know again I said in the intro. You know, I

287
00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:38.840
know Liz's husband since he was a child, and we

288
00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.840
Mike and Liz went to school together up in del

289
00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:44.440
High and I remember meeting you then at a different point.

290
00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.200
And when I tell you Liz used to be a

291
00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:51.480
very quieted person, and she was a very very quiet,

292
00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:55.519
timid girl. And to see her, I don't care if

293
00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:57.679
you lost friends, and if you lost friends, they were

294
00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:01.080
never your friends to begin Yes, because with every post

295
00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:05.240
I saw, I was so ridiculously proud of you. I

296
00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:10.000
was so amazed at your voice, at the voice that

297
00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:14.759
you have found within yourself to advocate for Isla and

298
00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:18.519
your kids and for kids like her. MZ. It is

299
00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:23.319
remarkable what you have done and how you have been

300
00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:26.559
working so hard to share with us. Would you want

301
00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:29.960
people to understand about not only raising a child with

302
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:36.000
a disability or disabilities, but coupling in with rare diseases

303
00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:38.759
that people don't even never even heard of it.

304
00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:43.559
Yeah, I think that's the most challenging part is because

305
00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:49.240
there are so little studies for her illnesses and her diseases.

306
00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:53.880
So before we moved, she had just completed her fifth

307
00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:57.839
surgery on her leg and like her bones were opaque

308
00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:00.200
and we could not there was nothing we could do,

309
00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:04.000
Like her GI was giving her calcium boost, like we

310
00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:07.640
were doing everything in our power that we could, but

311
00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:12.480
there was nothing was working. And her endocrinologists was like, well,

312
00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.880
we can start a bone infusion. But the issue is

313
00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:20.759
is that we've never had someone ELA's age complete it.

314
00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:25.799
It's usually done when they're ten, eleven, twelve, when they

315
00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:29.160
start noticing when they're playing sports is really when it starts.

316
00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:31.680
And her orthopedics said the same thing when she had

317
00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:35.240
her first surgery, We've never done this surgery on someone

318
00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:40.400
so little, because typically these breaks don't happen when they're three,

319
00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:45.079
they happen when they're sport's playing. So we've had to,

320
00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:50.400
you know, outweigh the pros and cons of each treatment study,

321
00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:53.920
like do we want to do this, and most of

322
00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:56.440
the time we say yes. We are a family that

323
00:18:57.079 --> 00:19:01.200
will never say no to an opportunity that given to

324
00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:04.960
help enhance our children's lives. So for the most part,

325
00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:07.880
we have always said yes, and we've made it work somehow.

326
00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:10.279
Hence why I'm still in New York and my husband

327
00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:14.799
is down in Georgia. We knew that going down south

328
00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:18.559
with everything that was going on, would not be the

329
00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.000
right choice for our family, especially with the bone infusions starting,

330
00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:24.240
So you know, we had to make that far choice

331
00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:28.960
of living separately, which has never I wouldn't recommend it,

332
00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:31.799
but it is what it is. As we always say

333
00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:33.359
in our family, like we have to do what we

334
00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:36.400
have to do. Another issue that arose to is that

335
00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:38.960
she was in a research group. She was slated to

336
00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:42.480
start a research group, signed all of the paperwork everything.

337
00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:48.319
January comes around President Trump inaugurated February, we get a

338
00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:52.640
notice that the research has been cut. So her geneticis

339
00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.680
was like, you know, I can still put her on

340
00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:57.079
the list, but the funding is not there and we

341
00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:00.519
don't know when we'll get the funding back. But if

342
00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:02.279
you would like to stay on the list. I can

343
00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:05.279
gladly do that. So we are on a waiting list

344
00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:08.319
for a research group for kids like Isla that have

345
00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:14.079
multiple genetic disorders that keep manifesting into other disorders. So

346
00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.319
I can't even say that I'm hopeful in the next

347
00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:19.200
four years it'll happen, but I'm hopeful that in the

348
00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:23.880
future it will happen. Maybe the next president will realize

349
00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:27.000
that the children literally are the future and if we

350
00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:30.559
can help save other kids from going through any of

351
00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:33.119
the issues that my daughter has gone through, like I

352
00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:35.599
will gladly go through every hope to get that.

353
00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:40.000
It's so sad for me. When I was sixteen, I

354
00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.640
was at my Field Children's Hospital. I was volunteering there

355
00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:46.640
and it actually worked the second Special Olympics there ever was.

356
00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:52.200
And now it's on TV, it's on ESPN. Yeah it is,

357
00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:56.880
you know, world recognized because the world at one point

358
00:20:57.160 --> 00:21:00.240
can't we realized that no child and it means no

359
00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:04.400
dial yes should be left behind. And now we are

360
00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.480
dealing with people.

361
00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:08.000
That don't care.

362
00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:11.559
And yeah, it's not even just yes.

363
00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:18.440
Any person was a disability anything, They're considered a burden now.

364
00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:24.359
And I will staying until my dying rest my daughters

365
00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:28.480
has never been a burden to us. Ever. She could

366
00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:31.680
have every illness, none of the I have, All of

367
00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:34.400
my kids could have some kind of issue, and they

368
00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:37.119
would I would never consider them a burden. And so

369
00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:41.200
it's hurtful to say here people dismiss people with disabilities

370
00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:45.599
because they can't contribute. Well, what is contributing? What is contributing,

371
00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:49.079
Because as far as I can see, she's contributing to

372
00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.759
her brother's joy, my joy, her dad's joy, her teachers

373
00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:58.160
love her, So she is contributing. Sure, she may never

374
00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:01.480
had a job that she can by herself, but she

375
00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:05.279
is contributing, and she does deserve dignity.

376
00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:09.279
You know, the thought of people with disabilities not contributing.

377
00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:14.200
To Helen Keller write exactly, it's Steve Jobs. You know,

378
00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:18.480
most of NASA yes are on the autism spectrum. People

379
00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:21.640
hear the word autism and they immediately think of nonverbal

380
00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:25.359
non conny and they do not realize the range of

381
00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:29.559
that spectrum and how some people are off the charts

382
00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:34.839
brilliant but still have that autism, diabetes. And again it

383
00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:38.839
is the stigma of not being perfect. I'm doing fingerpas

384
00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.920
in the air because there is no such thing as

385
00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:43.839
perfection exactly. It's like there's a thing that's normal, is

386
00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:49.480
a setting on a dryer. Yes, and being neurotypical as

387
00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:53.640
opposed to neurodivergent, one would think as we get into

388
00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:55.920
the you know, we're twenty five years into the twenty

389
00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:02.039
first century, that awareness would grow as opposed to being limited.

390
00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:06.480
So yeah, that's why your advocacy, the work that I

391
00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:09.440
see you doing, the fact that you know, at first

392
00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:12.359
you started just doing this a place to vent and

393
00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:15.279
he realized that, you know what, you actually have a voice,

394
00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:20.640
and a really really important voice to be heard. It

395
00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:23.160
really is. So we're gonna have to kind of wrap

396
00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:25.920
this up. But what are you looking when you look

397
00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:29.319
at Eli's future? What world do you want tying our

398
00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:32.000
kids to grow up in? I have grandkids growing up

399
00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.759
in this world.

400
00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:37.440
Yes, I would love for her to grow up in

401
00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:40.920
a world where she feels comfortable being herself. She is

402
00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:45.000
fully herself at home, and her brothers love and adore her,

403
00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:48.519
and I would love for other people to look at

404
00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:51.440
her the way that we look at her. We don't

405
00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:54.839
look at her as a girl in a wheelchair. We

406
00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:59.480
don't look at her as a girl with multiple disorders.

407
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:03.839
We look at her as this kooky, little silly girl

408
00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:07.839
that just wants to make people laugh. And I want

409
00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:13.160
a world where people aren't ashamed to be themselves and

410
00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:15.519
to not be afraid that they're going to be like

411
00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:18.960
pushed in the corner because they don't sink the same

412
00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:21.200
way as everyone else, or they don't look the same

413
00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:23.759
way as everyone else, or they don't act the same

414
00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:27.000
way as everyone else. Because that is what makes the

415
00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:31.880
United States the United States. We're not a you know, institution.

416
00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:36.200
We are a bundle of people. And I just wish

417
00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:40.079
that everyone looked at children like my daughter as a

418
00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:44.359
person instead of how much they're costing taxpayers.

419
00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:47.480
Oh god, that just was a knife in my heart.

420
00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:52.720
That just makes me oh yeah, you know, sadly, so

421
00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:55.160
many people until it happens to them.

422
00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:55.920
Mm hmm.

423
00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:57.079
I just don't really think.

424
00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:59.720
They don't know, they don't care, they.

425
00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:02.960
Don't they don't care. It's you know, it gets passed by,

426
00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:07.200
and no one deserves to be passed by. No one

427
00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:10.599
deserves to be stepped over. And if we're not out

428
00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:13.880
there advocating for our children, they're all out children.

429
00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.599
No one will.

430
00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:20.400
Giving birth does not a mother mate, and just because

431
00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:23.680
that child is not your child. Yes they are, Yeah,

432
00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.440
they are.

433
00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:27.720
Yes. I have said from the jump to all of

434
00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:31.759
the moms that didn't vote, with their children's interests at heart,

435
00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:35.240
I've always said, like, I will never be the person

436
00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:38.440
to say I told you so. I will always come

437
00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:41.200
in and say, okay, well, then let's start doing the

438
00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:45.680
work now, because I am of the belief when you

439
00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:48.759
know better, you do better. And maybe they didn't know,

440
00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:54.000
you know, maybe they didn't know better. So my hope

441
00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:57.039
and my goal is to make sure that when they

442
00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:59.160
do know better, that they can do better and pass

443
00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:02.640
that on to parents and families behind them.

444
00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:06.400
Well, I'm going to say, you know, because we talked

445
00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:10.400
about this before we started, you know, I can't fault

446
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:14.559
somebody for their vote. My disappointment and my anger goes

447
00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:18.000
to the people that don't vote. So yeah, you out

448
00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:20.640
there that have never voted because you don't think it matters,

449
00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:24.599
It freaking matters. Yeah, it matters, get off your butt,

450
00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:27.240
because those who don't vote are usually the ones who

451
00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.519
yell the loudest.

452
00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:31.559
Yes without how yes.

453
00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:35.640
All of their all of these benefits being cut. And

454
00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:38.599
I saw a post from nobody in Magga is complaining, Well,

455
00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.559
they are now.

456
00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:43.079
Yes, and they're probably not yes, you know, and they're

457
00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:46.039
not complaining because they're afraid that they're going to be

458
00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:51.200
chastised for needing those supports. And it's because we've been Yeah,

459
00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:55.359
we've become a society where if you are needing any

460
00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:58.000
kind of help, you should be ashamed of it. And

461
00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.799
I am the first to say, give me all the

462
00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:02.200
hell I need and you need it.

463
00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:06.119
That's exactly right, and give everyone you know, this United States.

464
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:09.920
We are the richest country in the world, and it's

465
00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:14.039
shameful that we don't universal health care. It's saiful that

466
00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:18.160
every kid in school isn't given meals pure. Yes, it

467
00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:23.119
is shameful that we take our veterans who sign a

468
00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:26.480
blank freaking check to this country for as long as

469
00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:28.160
they serve and when they're done, bye bye.

470
00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:30.240
Now yeah, see it for.

471
00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:34.599
Your benefits and our children, and especially our children with

472
00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:38.440
special needs, we should be giving them everything to make

473
00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:42.640
sure they have the best life they can have. So Liz,

474
00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:46.319
what you do, I'm serious. I talked to you about

475
00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:49.160
it before the show, and I actually hope that you

476
00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:52.599
come and join our lineup because you can't an advocate

477
00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:55.799
out here. We need somebody to take this platform and

478
00:27:55.960 --> 00:28:01.119
blow it up with advocacy for our kids, for the

479
00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:05.200
people who need us the most, because until their voices

480
00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:07.799
are strong enough to be heard, who else is going

481
00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:12.119
to advocate for them but us? How can people find you, Liz?

482
00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:15.799
I'm very active on Instagram and Facebook, So my Instagram

483
00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:20.599
handle is Elizabeth dot loundes l O U N S.

484
00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:25.640
And then my Facebook is Elizabeth Teresa. That's usually where

485
00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:30.960
I post my big political and advocacy rants.

486
00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:35.720
All of Liz's links. Moms reach out, reach out. Yes,

487
00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:39.319
please are not alone so often when you have a

488
00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:44.000
child with special needs or tremendous rare.

489
00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:48.200
Yes. And I used to work yourself. Yes. And I

490
00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:50.400
used to work in social work, so I can handle

491
00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:55.279
whatever kind of medical or snap benefits, whatever kind of

492
00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:57.359
question there is with those two because I used to

493
00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:59.960
work in social work, so I have that background as well.

494
00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:04.079
Again, I encourage you to reach out. Liz. Thank you

495
00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:04.680
so much.

496
00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:07.599
Thank you so much for having me or are you kidding?

497
00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:09.839
Like I said, I really hope you've become part of

498
00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:13.200
our lineup. I really do. Thank you, and for all

499
00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:15.920
of you out there listening, Thank you so much for

500
00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:18.880
being here. We're going to close out with our fabulous

501
00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:22.200
theme song from Smith's Sisters and the Sunday Drivers. So

502
00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:25.160
till next time. This is Dory Di Carlo saying, go

503
00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:27.799
out and create a marvelous you. Bye for now.

504
00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:32.079
She is sure, she is.

505
00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.799
Sure, she is strong, she is strong, she is true,

506
00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:39.519
she is true. She is Braise Bray, she is bol.

507
00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.559
She is you, is you, she is you.

508
00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.319
She is sure.

509
00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:45.119
She is sure.

510
00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:47.680
She is strong, she is strong, she is true, she

511
00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:52.240
is true. She is Braise Bray. She is bol.

512
00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:55.599
She is you. She is you. She is you, she

513
00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.000
is you.

514
00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:59.960
Sure of herself. Yeah, she takes care of Bizz. Powerful

515
00:30:00.160 --> 00:30:04.319
and strong. Yeah, she knows who she is, has integrity, woman,

516
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:06.960
strong and true. You know her by name.

517
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.519
See this woman is you.

518
00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:12.720
She is sure, she is strong, is strong, she is true,

519
00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:18.640
is true. She is brave, she is.

520
00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.880
She is you.

521
00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:23.880
She is you. She is she is sure, she is strong,

522
00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:28.680
is strong, she is true, is true, she is brave,

523
00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.000
she is.

524
00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:32.440
She is she is you, she is you.

525
00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:37.200
She is adds value and hope has proved to be brave.

526
00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:41.359
See it's never too late, never time to behave Reaching

527
00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:45.960
for dreams doesn't matter the age believes in herself, unleash

528
00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:49.279
from her cage. She is sure, she is she is strong,

529
00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:54.160
is strong, she is true, is true, she is brave,

530
00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.759
she is bold.

531
00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.160
She is you.

532
00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:01.519
She is she is, she is sure, she is she

533
00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:05.519
is strong, she is strong, she is true, is true,

534
00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:09.599
she is braid, is brave, she is she is, she

535
00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.000
is you.
Elizabeth Lounsbery Profile Photo

Mom/Military spouse

Liz Lounsbery is a mom on a mission. As an active-duty military spouse and mother of three, Liz navigates the unique challenges of military life while fiercely advocating for her daughter Isla, who lives with multiple rare diseases and disabilities. From fighting for accessible healthcare to ensuring Isla’s voice is heard in a world that often overlooks medically complex children, Liz’s advocacy is rooted in love and a deep belief that every child deserves a joyful, dignified life.

Liz is passionate about bringing awareness to the realities families face within the rare disease and disability communities, highlighting the gaps in care while celebrating the everyday victories that matter most. She also understands the quiet strength it takes to hold a family together while facing deployments, moves, and the uncertainties of military life.

When she’s not navigating medical appointments, therapies, or IEP meetings, you can find Liz soaking up the chaos and sweetness of everyday moments with her children, scrolling with a coffee in hand, or finding small pockets of rest through reading. Her story is one of resilience, humor, and the relentless pursuit of a world where every child, regardless of ability or diagnosis, can thrive.