Episode notes
Episode Overview:
In this deeply emotional and faith-driven episode of Busy Mom Talk, we sit down with Krystal Vanderbruggen, a devoted mother of four whose youngest daughter, Veya, was born on December 4, 2023, with Down syndrome and cardiac conditions. Despite countless medical challenges, Veya’s life was filled with joy — from her bright smile to her love for geese stuffies and shaking her favorite toys.
Krystal shares her family’s resilient journey of navigating the medical system, advocating fiercely for Veya, and the heartbreak that came when Veya was welcomed home to the Lord on August 1, 2025. She recounts how their faith and community were the anchors that held them together through devastating moments, including a medical incident at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, where a lethal dose of potassium forced the team to shock Veya’s heart three times.
Through her story, Krystal opens an important conversation about medical discrimination, systemic failure, and the harsh reality that children with Down syndrome are too often treated as less deserving of care. Yet through unimaginable grief, Krystal’s faith in God and belief in the good ones in healthcare continue to fuel her purpose.
Today, she’s working to create an organization in Veya’s name, ensuring her story lives on and inspires change for other medically complex children. This episode reminds us that “you never think it will be you… until it is.”
Key Moments:
- Krystal’s journey as a mom of four and the day Veya was conceived
- Navigating life in and out of hospitals
- The medical incident that changed everything
- How faith and prayer carried the family through unimaginable loss
- Finding hope and purpose in advocacy
- Honoring Veya’s legacy through community and awareness
Takeaway Message:
A raw, faith-filled reminder that even in tragedy, love and purpose can rise from pain. Through Krystal’s story, we’re reminded to never lose sight of compassion and to pray for families walking through what we can’t imagine.
Follow Krystal on Instagram - @krystallynne.vdb
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