Gail Gould Appears on Chattin' with Chelsea on KRIV Fox26
Transcript Below:
Chelsea Edwards
0:04 Welcome to another episode of Chatting with Chelsea! I’m your host, Chelsea Edwards, and I’m so excited for today’s show. We have a dynamic new bestie joining us—Gail Gould!
Gail has been a certified CPR instructor for over 35 years, and she’ll show us how to save a loved one’s life later in the episode. But first, we’ll dive into her incredible journey of becoming a mother at the age of 49 through adoption. Gail is here to share her story and offer advice for anyone considering adoption.
Gail, welcome to Chatting with Chelsea!
Gail Gould
1:00 Thank you so much for having me, Chelsea!
Chelsea Edwards
1:02 Let’s jump right in. Did you ever imagine you’d become a mother when you were younger, in your 20s?
Gail Gould
1:06 Not at all. When I was a teenager, I was focused on riding my horse, hanging out with friends, and just having fun. Kids weren’t on my radar. I didn’t even get married until I was 36, and it wasn’t until I turned 40 that I started thinking about having children.
Chelsea Edwards
1:39 And what happened when you tried?
Gail Gould
1:41 We struggled to get pregnant. I found out I had a condition called a bicornuate uterus, meaning my uterus had two sections, and one side wasn’t large enough to carry a baby to full term. My doctor explained the risks of pregnancy at my age, and after a lot of thought, my husband and I decided to explore other options.
Chelsea Edwards
2:55 So how did adoption come into the picture?
Gail Gould
3:03 My brother had adopted two children, so we thought, “Why not us?” But it was a long, challenging journey—eight years to be exact. Part of it was our age, and part of it was being selective about finding the right match.
Eventually, we connected with a birth mother in Los Angeles. Meeting her was incredible, but I’ll admit, I was terrified about becoming a mom. Despite the fear, when I held my son for the first time, I knew we made the right decision.
Chelsea Edwards
5:01 And now your son is 21! Were there any benefits to becoming a mom later in life?
Gail Gould
5:12 Absolutely. I was more grounded and knew who I was. My priorities were clear, and I was fully committed to being a mom. It’s been the best 21 years of my life.
Chelsea Edwards
5:37 That’s so inspiring. Let’s take a quick break. When we come back, we’ll dive into Gail’s advice for anyone considering adoption.
Commercial Break
Chelsea Edwards
5:54 Welcome back! Gail, you mentioned earlier that the adoption process took eight years partly because of your age. Can you elaborate?
Gail Gould
6:02 Many agencies have age restrictions. For example, if your combined age as a couple exceeds 80, some won’t work with you. That made it tough. We eventually worked with a facilitator and then switched to an adoption lawyer, which sped up the process.
Chelsea Edwards
9:17 Do you have advice for those considering adoption?
Gail Gould
9:29 Don’t give up. It’s a hard process, but it’s worth it. Do your research and investigate anyone you’re working with—adoption is a serious business, and you need to be cautious.
Chelsea Edwards
9:34 Wise words. Now let’s shift gears to something you’re an expert in—CPR!
Chelsea Edwards
10:02 You’ve been teaching CPR for over 35 years. What’s the most rewarding part?
Gail Gould
10:16 Hearing from people who’ve saved lives! Especially with choking incidents—people often reach out to say the techniques I taught them worked.
Chelsea Edwards
10:45 That’s amazing. Joining us is my bestie Jen, who wants to learn CPR.
Jen
10:52 I recently lost a friend to a heart attack. Knowing CPR could have made a difference, and I want to be prepared.
Gail Gould
11:14 It’s important to understand the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. A heart attack doesn’t require CPR but immediate medical attention. Cardiac arrest, however, means the person isn’t breathing and needs CPR immediately.
Gail demonstrates CPR technique with Chelsea and Jen following along.
Gail Gould
12:27 Place the heel of your hand between the nipples and press hard and fast—no breaks until help arrives.
Chelsea Edwards
14:33 Should people be worried about breaking ribs during CPR?
Gail Gould
14:35 It can happen, but it’s not a big deal. Saving a life is the priority.
Chelsea Edwards
15:50 Gail, you also teach about using defibrillators. Can you explain how they work?
Gail Gould
16:05 Defibrillators, or AEDs, shock the heart back into a normal rhythm. They’re easy to use and guide you through the process.
Gail demonstrates how to use an AED.
Chelsea Edwards
18:18 Finally, what should we do if someone is choking?
Gail Gould
19:01 If they’re coughing forcefully, they’re not choking. But if they’re silent or can’t breathe, perform abdominal thrusts—place your fist above their belly button and push in and up.
Chelsea Edwards
20:32 Gail, where can people learn more about your classes?
Gail Gould
21:29 Visit my website, CPRandSafetyLady.com.
Chelsea Edwards
21:36 Thank you so much for sharing your incredible journey and lifesaving expertise. We’ll see you next time on Chatting with Chelsea!
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