Youssef Dib is a Sydney-based champion pro boxer who comes from a family of boxing champions. He’s tougher than tough.
But Youssef’s son, Jibreel, is possibly the toughest in the family.
When Jibreel was only 8 months old he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy – a disorder that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.
This week, Dr Daniel Golshevsky (Dr Golly) talks to Youssef about his journey from being told that Jibreel would not live long, to being in denial of his son’s diagnosis, to helping him be the fighter he was born to be.
LISTEN HERE: Dr Golly and the Experts – LiSTNR Podcasts
Timestamp highlights:
2.44 – When Youssef’s wife, Nicole was not even 6 months pregnant, whilst out swimming one day she was accidently kicked in the stomach. Hours later, her water broke.
5.48 – Jibreel only weighed 838g when he was born.
13.46 – Doctors predicted that Jibreel would not live longer than 4 hours and Youssef and Nicole were given the option not to resuscitate Jibreel 5 times.
25.42 – Youssef struggled to accept Jibreel’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy and was in denial for a long time.
28.40 – Youssef says “I grew up with a cousin who has cerebral palsy who had been in his wheelchair his whole life… and he’s a champion guy and he’s got four children. So what was it about my son having cerebral palsy that I couldn’t accept?”
Dr Daniel Golshevsky’s LiSTNR original podcast, Dr Golly and the Experts is making a difference for listeners, and interviewees alike. Season two launched last week.
He’s spoken with sports broadcaster Hamish McLachlan about West syndrome, Em Rusciano about the way kids on the spectrum are treated, Dr Norman Swan about traumatic brain injuries, Johanna Scully and Georgia Barnes about the incredible experience of surrogacy; former AFL players Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead on cancer and concussions, and he’s even shared his own experience with his daughter Olympia being born with Craniosynostosis.
“Season 2 will see more incredible, insightful and inspiring stories told through the power of conversation, and the willingness of people to share their own experiences. It’s powerful stuff and a privilege to share them,” said Dr Golly. “In the first few episodes I speak about cystic fibrosis with the beloved Reggie Bird (winner of Big Brother seasons 3 and 14), about stillbirth with AFL couple Bel and Rory Sloane, this week’s conversation about cerebral palsy with pro-boxer Youssef Dib, and then childhood leukemia with Samantha Dennauoi,” he said.
In Dr Golly and the Experts, Dr Golshevsky (Dr Golly) talks with ‘experts’ – patients and parents who have, through necessity, become a specialist in their specific health journey, from diagnosis to day-to-day treatment and beyond. The stories are sometimes painful, often heart-warming and always inspiring and told through the voices and hearts of high-profile Australians as they talk to Dr Golly, a Melbourne-based paediatrician and father of three.
Given his unique position as former Chief Resident Medical Officer at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Dr Golly has treated many high-profile Australian families as they deal with medical conditions ranging from epilepsy, autism, eczema, sleep deprivation, croup and ADHD, and he has a rare talent as an expert, and as an expert translator. He’s a pleasure to listen to. In talking to patients and parents, Dr Golly shares their challenges confronting a diagnosis, managing their own struggles, and finding solutions and treatment for their children, and themselves. Rich in storytelling and combined with Dr Golly’s evidence-based explainers, this podcast delivers compelling interviews with information for parents battling significant parenting obstacles and long term medical issues. There’s few episodes where tissues aren’t needed.
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