A Love Note to Courageous Children: Dr. Bob Macauley on Grief, Faith, and Ethics in Pediatric Palliative Care
Content note: This episode includes mention of childhood sexual abuse (non-graphic). Please listen with care.
When loss feels unbearable—or when caring for others leaves us searching for answers—we may wonder if joy can still be found.
When loss feels unbearable—or when caring for others leaves us searching for answers—we may wonder if joy can still be found.
Pediatric palliative care physician, Episcopal priest, and author Dr. Bob Macauley (Because I Knew You) joins Chrissie to explore how children and families facing serious illness teach us about courage, gratitude, and the surprising ways joy shows up—even in the midst of grief. With honesty, humor, and tenderness, Bob shares stories of resilience, silence, and presence that reframe what it means to love and to care.
In this heartfelt conversation, we explore the search for the “least-bad” option, how suffering can be transformed into compassion, and why his memoir is, at its heart, a thank-you note to courageous kids and their families.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why stories of children in palliative care can be both heartbreaking and life-giving
- How redefining joy means looking beyond the “number one” wish and finding hope in what’s still possible
- The power of silence—and why sometimes the best support is simply not saying the next thing
- What two blank pages in Bob’s book teach us about loss, faith, and unanswered questions
- How pop-culture touchstones (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Princess Bride, Top Gun, Wicked) show up in the most unexpected places
- Why gratitude is at the center of Because I Knew You—and how thank-you notes reframe caregiving
- The balance between selflessness and the “selfishness” of doing work that sustains you
- How children’s resilience and families’ courage reveal new ways to hold meaning in impossible situations
If you’ve ever found yourself holding both deep love and deep loss—and wondered what joy could look like there—this episode is for you.
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A gentle note: I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. This podcast is for education and connection only and isn’t medical advice. Please talk with your own clinician about your specific situation.
More from Dr. Bob Macauley:
- Website: https://BecauseIKnewYou.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DrBobMacauley
- Threads: https://www.threads.net/@DrBobMacauley
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrBobMacauley
- Memoir: Because I Knew You — available wherever books are sold
Stay connected with us:
- Dr. Chrissie Ott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissieottmd
- Joy Point Solutions: https://www.instagram.com/joypointsolutions
- Solving for Joy Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast
- Full transcript and more: https://www.solvingforjoy.com
Next week on Solving for Joy: Dr. Mel Thacker—surgeon and coach, host of Surgeons with Purpose. If you’re a surgeon (or physician) feeling stuck, burned out, or hungry for alignment and a clear voice, this one’s for you.
Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net
