Angela Kelman was fighting a rare, life-threatening disease called amyloidosis — a year of chemo, heading into septic shock — when her father was diagnosed with end-stage Alzheimer's. Her mother now has early-stage Alzheimer's. Her daughter Cassandra lives with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder. In this episode of Born For This Stories, Angela shares what happens when every role you hold — patient, caregiver, and parent — needs you all at once, and what's left of you when they do.
Host Dr. Johanna Hartley talks with Angela about a life spent as "the calm in the middle of the storm" — from working in journalism through 9/11 to leading communications at the Cleveland Clinic, 23andMe, Intuitive Surgical, and the FDA — and how her own diagnosis, a triplet pregnancy, preeclampsia, and the loss of her twins reshaped everything she thought she knew about control, illness, and strength.
At the heart of the conversation is the turning point a best friend forced her to face: "If you're not okay, no one's okay." Angela opens up about caregiver burnout, forgiving yourself, and the millions of children who become caregivers for parents and grandparents — including the moments her own daughter had to step into that role far too young.
She also shares the mission behind her foundation, Unfolding the Future, and its Trailblazer Lab — building "connective tissue" between patients, parents, scientists, physicians, caregivers, and policymakers to accelerate research into diseases that share common biological mechanisms of protein misfolding, from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS to muscular dystrophies, ataxias, cystic fibrosis, and rare childhood cancers. It's a hopeful conversation grounded in one belief: all the elements to cure disease already exist — we just haven't found them yet.
Please note: this episode touches on serious illness, pregnancy loss, and end-of-life care. Take care of yourself as you listen.
In this episode:
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Living with amyloidosis and a rare disease diagnosis
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Being a patient, a caregiver for parents with Alzheimer's, and a parent all at once
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Caregiver burnout and why "if you're not okay, no one's okay"
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Children as hidden caregivers for parents and grandparents
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Pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, and losing control
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Raising a daughter with a rare blood clotting disorder
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Unfolding the Future & Trailblazer Lab — collaborative research across shared biological mechanisms
Connect with Angela on LinkedIn (Angela Kelman) and learn more at unfoldingthefuture.org — visit the "Become a Collaborator" page to get involved.
Come find us:
🎧 Website: bornforthisstories.com
📸 Instagram: @bornforthisstories
💛 HELD community for medical mamas — link below
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