What do you get when sepsis, swelling, and bad hospital food collide with a parade of doctors who can’t agree on anything?

You get 33 days in the worst all-inclusive resort eve r— a place where the amenities include endless needles, duct-taped phones, and a nurse with a power tool ready to cut off Alex’s wedding ring.

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most surreal, painful, and darkly funny chapters of our life so far. From “weekend doctors” giving questionable advice to a frozen sperm plan that only makes sense in a crisis, this is the story of how we survived the impossible — together.

What to Expect:

•A Shower of Clots: What happens when sepsis hits your heart, lungs, and brain all at once.

•Medical Madness: The MRI that left Alex screaming and a blood transfusion almost gone wrong.

•Thanksgiving in the ICU: Spoiler: Taco Bell became the highlight of the holiday.

•Lauren’s Breaking Point: Why dog food delivery led to a full-on meltdown.

Trigger Warning:

This episode contains discussions of serious medical emergencies, caregiving under extreme stress, and emotionally raw moments. Plus, Alex describes his first enema in detail. While we keep things light when we can, some content may be tough for listeners.

Let’s Connect:

Hang out with us on TikTok and YouTube @HopefullyKidding

Connect with Alex on Instagram @HooperHairPuff

Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com
If this episode resonates with you, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us connect with others navigating life’s unexpected chaos.

What happens when cancer treatment and chemo brain collide with no sleep, no food, and no clear answers?

You get a story so chaotic, it starts with chicken soup and ends in the emergency room. Oh, and Alex peeing on the wall.

In this episode, we’re taking you through the most harrowing 24 hours of our journey yet — a rollercoaster of medical missteps, frantic decisions, and one very questionable choice not to call an ambulance.

What to Expect:

•The subtle warning signs that things were spiraling out of control.

•Alex’s “pee tour” of the apartment and the unforgettable bathroom incident.

•How a PET scan became a race against time—and sanity.

•The hard lesson Lauren learned about being a medical advocate.

Trigger Warning:

This episode contains discussions of medical emergencies, caregiving under extreme stress, and moments of emotional vulnerability. While we keep our humor alive, some content may feel heavy for listeners.

Let’s Connect:

Hang out with us on TikTok and YouTube @HopefullyKidding

Connect with Alex on Instagram @HooperHairPuff

Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com

If this episode resonates with you, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach others navigating the chaos of fertility struggles.

What do you do when life throws you cancer, a surprise pregnancy, and a missed miscarriage — all at once? If you’re us, you deal with it the only way you know how: with raw honesty and inappropriate jokes.

This week, we’re sharing one of the most pivotal moments in our journey. From Alex’s hilariously awkward sperm clinic experience to the devastating news at our first prenatal appointment, this episode is a rollercoaster of highs, lows, and everything in between.

What to Expect:

• Alex’s adventures at the sperm clinic (spoiler: the internet history wasn’t cleared).

• The surreal timing of finding out we were pregnant — two days after a cancer diagnosis.

• The emotional unraveling at a prenatal appointment and the hard decisions that follow.

• Navigating a missed miscarriage and the physical and emotional toll it takes.

Trigger Warning:

This episode contains detailed and graphic discussions of pregnancy loss and miscarriage. While we keep our humor intact, some topics may be heavy for listeners.

Resources:

•Livestrong Fertility Program: Learn more about sperm freezing and financial assistance.

•Miscarriage Support: The Miscarriage Association offers resources for navigating pregnancy loss.

Let’s Connect:

Hang out with us on TikTok and YouTube @HopefullyKidding

Connect with Alex on Instagram @HooperHairPuff

Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com

If this episode resonates with you, please rate and review Hopefully Kidding on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach others navigating the chaos of fertility struggles.

We thought we had the perfect timeline: get married, go to Burning Man, and start trying for kids. But life had other plans. In this first episode, we share how our fertility journey began — starting with an awkward discovery mid-sex (yes, really), an unforgettable wedding complete with whales, and the shocking diagnosis that changed everything.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

•How our relationship evolved over 20 years (from college to now)

•The story behind our wedding and its unexpected guests (whales!)

•The moment Lauren discovered Alex’s swollen lymph nodes… during sex

•The emotional rollercoaster of a shocking diagnosis

•The plot twist that changed everything

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• If you’ve ever felt like life threw a curveball you didn’t see coming, this episode is for you. We’re sharing it all—the laughs, the tears, and everything in between—to remind you that you’re never alone in the chaos.

  
  

  Get Involved

  Hang out with us on TikTok and YouTube @HopefullyKidding

  Connect with Alex on Instagram @HooperHairPuff

  Got a story to share? Email us at hopefullykidding@gmail.com
  

  
  

  If this episode made you laugh, cry, or feel less alone, we’d love it if you left a review and shared it with someone who might need it. Every review helps us reach more people in this amazing (and sometimes ridiculous) community.