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The Waiting Room Revolution

The Waiting Room Revolution

S13: Episode 141: Brenda Blais Nesbitt: Caregiving and the Seven Keys

Oct 20, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min · 12 segments

In this episode, Hsien talks with Brenda Blais Nesbitt, lifelong caregiver and disability rights advocate, about caring for her daughter Nikki, who lived with complex medical needs for nearly 30…

In this episode, Hsien talks with Brenda Blais Nesbitt, lifelong caregiver and disability rights advocate, about caring for her daughter Nikki, who lived with complex medical needs for nearly 30 years. Brenda shares how she found her voice as an advocate, partnered with care teams, and kept Nikki’s joy and quality of life at the center of her care. She also reflects on Nikki’s end-of-life journey and offers practical advice for caregivers and the people who support them. Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the book and workbook, view our resources and to join our newsletter: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/

In this episode, Hsien talks with Brenda Blais Nesbitt, lifelong caregiver and disability rights advocate, about caring for her daughter Nikki, who lived with complex medical needs for nearly 30…

Speakers: Brenda Blais NesbittGuestHsien SeowHostSammy WinemakerHost

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Top entities: Intensive care unit×8 Shania Twain×4 Obstetrics and gynaecology Caregiver United Kingdom

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈2k followers

Meeting Through Caregiver Advocacy1:24 – 2:23

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:24

Thank you.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:25

I appreciate that too.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:26

And you know, we met when, by Zoom, I think, when CCCE was just starting.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:35

And he was doing some work and transferring it all over to that.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:39

And it was not long after Nikki passed away, actually.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:43

And to be honest, it's kind of a blur.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:46

But we had already met in that way.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:49

We spoke about your passion with that group.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:53

And how CCC was stepping in to take over what is now called Caregivers, Canadian Caregivers Advocacy Network, CCAN, we call it for short.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

2:04

And I am now one of the co-chairs on that committee, along with somebody else you've already interviewed, and that is Stephanie Muscat.

H

2:12

Yes, exactly.

H

2:13

So it's a force.

H

2:14

You're both going to be amazing and an important voice.

H

2:17

But maybe let's get started right from the beginning for our listeners.

H

2:20

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and Nikki?

Intensive care unitEntity
97%8 mentions
Shania TwainPersonCanadian singer-songwriter
91%4 mentions
Obstetrics and gynaecologyEntityMedical specialty
85%1 mention
CaregiverEntityOccupation
79%1 mention
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
74%1 mention
acute respiratory distress syndromeEntityInflammation
68%3 mentions
Mother's DayEntityCelebration
62%2 mentions
CanadaCountryCountry in North America
56%1 mention
GodEntitySupreme being
50%2 mentions
World War IIEventWar
44%1 mention
ChineseEntity
38%1 mention
iPadProduct ModelTablet computer
32%2 mentions
SeinfeldTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
26%1 mention
Non-invasive ventilationEntity
21%3 mentions
FaceTimeSoftware ApplicationComputer program
15%2 mentions
The Big Bang TheoryTV SeriesAmerican sitcom
9%1 mention
AlbertaAdministrative AreaCanadian Province
3%1 mention

Society
Parenting Children with DisabilitiesParenting
Disability and Chronic ConditionsHealth
Caregiver Mental HealthPsychology
Patient and Family CareHealthcare
Complex CaregivingHealthcare > Patient and Family Care
Caregiver AdvocacyHealthcare > Patient and Family Care > Complex Caregiving
Shared Decision-Making in Medical CareHealthcare > Patient and Family Care > Complex Caregiving > Caregiver Advocacy
Neurological DisabilityHealth > Disability and Chronic Conditions
Cerebral Palsy and Global Brain InjuryHealth > Disability and Chronic Conditions > Neurological Disability
Medically Complex Child CareParenting > Parenting Children with Disabilities
Pediatric Critical and Palliative CareParenting > Parenting Children with Disabilities > Medically Complex Child Care
End-of-Life Care for a Disabled ChildParenting > Parenting Children with Disabilities > Medically Complex Child Care > Pediatric Critical and Palliative Care
Medical Trauma and HypervigilancePsychology > Caregiver Mental Health
Anticipatory Grief and BereavementPsychology > Caregiver Mental Health > Medical Trauma and Hypervigilance
Caregiver Resilience and Meaning-MakingPsychology > Caregiver Mental Health > Medical Trauma and Hypervigilance > Anticipatory Grief and Bereavement
Healthcare Systems and RelationshipsSociety
Patient-Provider Power DynamicsSociety > Healthcare Systems and Relationships
Person-Centered and Trauma-Informed CareSociety > Healthcare Systems and Relationships > Patient-Provider Power Dynamics
Family Advocacy in Health-System NavigationSociety > Healthcare Systems and Relationships > Patient-Provider Power Dynamics > Person-Centered and Trauma-Informed Care
Health
Parenting
Psychology
Healthcare

Meeting Through Caregiver Advocacy1:24 – 2:23

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:24

Thank you.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:25

I appreciate that too.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:26

And you know, we met when, by Zoom, I think, when CCCE was just starting.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:35

And he was doing some work and transferring it all over to that.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:39

And it was not long after Nikki passed away, actually.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:43

And to be honest, it's kind of a blur.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:46

But we had already met in that way.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:49

We spoke about your passion with that group.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

1:53

And how CCC was stepping in to take over what is now called Caregivers, Canadian Caregivers Advocacy Network, CCAN, we call it for short.

B

Brenda Blais NesbittGuest

2:04

And I am now one of the co-chairs on that committee, along with somebody else you've already interviewed, and that is Stephanie Muscat.

H

2:12

Yes, exactly.

H

2:13

So it's a force.

H

2:14

You're both going to be amazing and an important voice.

H

2:17

But maybe let's get started right from the beginning for our listeners.

H

2:20

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and Nikki?

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