Lee Culp Henry
Lee Culp Henry is a mother, psychotherapist, a coach's wife, and host Kimi Culp's sister-in-law. She speaks in conversation with Kimi about her harrowing past five years and the many tides of her postpartum journey. Faced with a traumatic accident following her newborn's birth and subsequent medical scares, Lee openly recounts her battles with postpartum OCD, the shame of secrecy, and her immense strength in overcoming guilt and learning to seek help. But for Lee, the hits kept coming – the death of her father, the uncertain diagnosis of her third child. We're reminded of the universal challenge of motherhood under extreme circumstances. Kimi's warm conversation with her sister-in-law, emphasizes the importance of reimagining postpartum support and the collective embrace of life's unpredictable journey.
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In this episode:
The Importance of Mental Health Support for New Mothers
The Agony of a Child’s Medical Emergency
Parental Health Anxiety & OCD
The Rapid Progression of Cancer
The Power of Family and Community
Embracing Vulnerability and Self-Compassion
LINKS & RESOURCES:
Charity: Ronald McDonald House New York
Wise Words:
I was thinking he wasn't going to make it because of this thing I had done to him, or it was going to be this incredibly life-limiting thing for him. For our whole family to have a child who isn't able to function in a mainstream way because of something I had done to him.
That was my biggest fear. That something was going to happen with the way he learned or the way he developed and that I was going to tie that to the accident. And you know what? It turns out every single thing that happens, I continue to tie it to the accident.
Never on my good days do I get to a place where I'm like, this accident doesn't continue to affect him. But on my good days, I can say if it did, that's okay. Right? And on my bad days, it's, I've ruined everything.
I think I know that somewhere deep down, I have always known that I can't be really good for anyone if I don't take care of myself.
His name is Robbie, after my dad. My mom was visiting over Christmas and she said, you know, you always thought that baby was for you. Your dad did everything for you, but this one was for me. The fact that she gets to have a Robbie, and he is the most precious, sweetest baby in the world, and he adores her, I thought that was a really sweet thing that really made me feel good. That this baby was for her, and she gets to have a Robbie, and I think that's awesome.
Sometimes accidents are just that, and no one is to blame.
I've learned that I couldn't do everything I thought I could do. You know, I used to think I could do everything 100% and I can't. I know some people can and that's really great for them, but I can't.
Everyone needs help, no matter how strong, capable and amazing you are. We all need help. And it's okay to ask for it and it's okay to get it when you need it.