
Episode #5
Embrace the Chapter You’re In: Kari Treat on Community, Purpose, & the Unexpected
A surprise birth story becomes a blueprint for building community, changing how a family sees disability, and creating something the Midwest desperately needed. Emma Mulvany and Kari Treat unpack how one unexpected diagnosis sparked a mission that now reaches hundreds of families through sport, advocacy, and connection. Kari shares the moment her daughter Mackenzie was born with a limb difference, the swirl of fear and guilt that followed, and the shift that happened when she stopped searching for what was “wrong” and started building a life around what was possible. What follows is a candid, deeply human conversation about turning uncertainty into action. You’ll discover how the Limb Difference Collective Foundation grew from Facebook groups and local meetups into a nonprofit with tax-deductible donations, a podcast, and a “hugs in a box” care package designed to help parents, schools, and kids feel less alone from day one. Kari also breaks down why respectful language matters, what most people misunderstand about limb difference, and how community events like the Brookfield Zoo meetup drew 150 people in year one and 250 the next. We also get into the practical side of raising a child with a disability - adaptive sports, early intervention gaps, prosthetics, therapy, and why Kari now coaches swimmers through GLASA and helps athletes prepare for Paralympic-level competition. Along the way, she shares what her kids, her community, and her own lived experience have taught her about belonging, resilience, and embracing a version of motherhood she never expected. Essential listening if you care about parenting, disability advocacy, community building, or the power of saying yes to the life in front of you. Kari Treat is a swim coach, nonprofit founder, and community connector in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She co-created the Limb Difference Collective Foundation to support families navigating limb difference through events, resources, and care packages. You can find out more about Kari Treat and The Limb Difference Collective and Macaroni Kid Schaumaburg, check out: Limb Difference Collective Online: https://limbdifferencecollective.org/ Limb Difference Collective On Social: https://www.instagram.com/limbdifferencecollective/ Macaroni Kid Schaumburg Online: https://schaumburg.macaronikid.com/ Macaroni Kid Schaumburg On Social: https://www.instagram.com/mackidschaumburg/


