The Telepathy Tapes - S2E36: Soraya's Story Part Two | Talk Tracks

Episode Date: July 1, 2026

In part two of our conversation with Soraya and her parents, Tasha and Safi, the family shares the extraordinary spiritual experiences that emerged as Soraya's health declined.After years of searching for answers about her rare and progressive condition, Soraya began speaking about angels, soul contracts, loved ones on the other side, and what she believes is her life’s mission: to teach her family about love. She describes late-night visits from spirits asking for healing and a profound family moment that changed their relationships forever.The conversation also explores the tension between science and spirituality, the surprising openness they’ve found within hospice care, and the emotional reality of raising a child who speaks candidly about mortality while offering wisdom far beyond her years.Finally, the family shares the recent discovery of Soraya's ultra-rare diagnosis of TAOK1 gene deletion and their hope that future research could not only change Soraya's life, but the lives of countless families affected by rare diseases.For more information and to donate towards research targeting Soraya's illness, click here: https://together.uw.edu/campaign/taok1________________Join The Telepathy Tapes Backstage Pass to get ad-free episodes, never-before-heard interviews, behind-the-scenes documentary footage, and access to our private Discord community. This is your invitation to come closer. To help shape what’s next. To be more than a listener… to be a co-creator of this paradigm shift. So if you’ve felt moved, if you’ve felt seen, if you’ve felt the call—subscribe today and join us: https://thetelepathytapes.com/________________Thank you to our sponsors!Luminara - If you’re curious about energy healing and ready to experience it for yourself, Luminara is offering 20% off your first session for listeners of The Telepathy Tapes. Just go to luminara.care and use code TAPES20.Quince - Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to Quince.com/tapes for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.Ka'Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code TAPES for 15% off your first order.BiOptimizers - Make this the year you finally get your sleep, your energy, and yourself back. Get 15% off at https://bioptimizers.com/tapes when you use my code, TAPES.Ruggable - Refresh your home. Get 10% off your first order, sitewide, with promo code TAPES at RUGGABLE.com.Shopify - Start your business today with the industry’s best business partner, Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/tapes.Zenni - If your glasses are overdue for a refresh, go to Zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order.Alloy - Try the original estrogen-powered M4 skincare from Alloy. Visit myalloy.com and use code TAPES for $20 off your first order! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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and use code tapes at checkout. So if you're looking to refresh your space, I really recommend checking them out. Hi, everyone, I'm Kai Dickens, and welcome to the Talk Tracks, brought to you weekly by TTT Media. In this series, we explore the threads that weave together our understanding of reality,

science, spirituality, consciousness, and even unexplained phenomena, because every era has ideas once dismissed as impossible until someone was willing to investigate them seriously. And on this show, we do just that. If you want to see our incredible guests in person, we have a video version of this episode on the telepathy tapes YouTube page.

Last week, we met Soraya, her mother, Tasha, and her father, Safi. This amazing family shared how Soraya's undiagnosed condition has led them through many emotional and physical ups and downs. However, the spiritual side of their lives has been forever changed by unexplained gifts that Soraya developed, especially as her health declined. We'll hear more about these gifts today and how they forever impact the family. And then I think we should get like a really quick recap of like the first 10 years or something. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

So I would say, you know, the first three years of Sarai's life, knowing that something was going on, we were on a roller coaster of looking for what diagnosis does she have and honestly, tunnel vision and like just fixating on what does she have so she can fix it. By age three, done every testing, realized we were not going to find an answer, came to a place of acceptance, but also a change of how. we dreamed of her life, which was going to be a long life with a child with a disability, with a lot of supports, but that would lead a long, healthy life with her 15 subspecialists and her four therapies per week.

And then at age 10, everything changed. And she mentioned fatigue, which is just such a vague symptom. And talking to her doctors over telehealth about her fatigue, her pulmonologist recommended getting a CT scan of her lungs. Like, let's just see what's going on. And when we went through the machine and the tech told her to take a deep breath, it was the first time that I did not see any chest wall movement with that deep inhale. And I was like, oh, wow, this is something different. The pulmonologist was very concerned and felt like this was a huge change and immediately got us in for a sleep study to kind of just see how she's breathing at night.

And it was then that we realized that she was indeed hypoventilating. where she was unable to exhale that CO2, and that was directly not related to lungs, but actual muscle weakness. Interesting. That was 2021 into 2022, and we realized that now she has a progressive neuromuscular disease. And with that, there's no cure. And with that, we know that the thing that would take her life is the respiratory, completely. At that point, Sraa asked us what's happening with my body. And I think that's a very personal

decision with a lot of families and, like, how transparent are you? And I think my husband and I went back and forth with it. But we really looked at it as at that point, we had given her 10 years of therapy. And the one thing that we wanted her to always have is her voice and an understanding of her body. And so we explained to her that she had this condition. And, and, And we tried to answer direct questions as we had been guided by her amazing medical team and her therapist. But then she said, is my life going to be shorter than expected? And it was a very direct question. I do give a lot of direct questions.

Yes, and direct answers. Do you remember this conversation, Soraya? I guess, like, I can remember just since I've been issues. I remember a little. She does have some memory of issues. Yeah. I remember a little bit of it. Because you were 10 when you, in this?

I was, yeah, I was 10. And so for you, Tasha, like, you didn't have a diagnosis still. We still did not have a diagnosis still. Yeah, we did not get any answers for that. At that point, correct. Okay. So, sorry, you asked your mom, is my life going to be shorter than expected? And how did you answer that?

Well, we were guided, meaning my husband and I, to answer direct questions. And while we thought we were prepared, because she was asking questions like, what is the ventilator for? And if I do more physical therapy, can I get stronger? And we said, no, because your muscles are getting weaker. And then she said, well, how is my heart? And so we could answer these very specific questions. But when it got to that question, we weren't expecting that. And so we gave each other a look like some couples do where we think we can communicate effectively, but in this case, we were not effectively communicating because he was giving me the look of don't say it. And I was giving him the look of, this is a direct question that we need to answer.

And before I could really fully contemplate his nonverbals, I went ahead and said yes. And Soraya just started wailing. And I was like, I'm going to be confused in that specific age from you know that well. I didn't know it. So, yes. The thing is, like so many couples go through stuff like this. Yeah. But not nowhere near the weight or gravity.

of that type of question, but where you're trying to communicate, you want to do the right thing, you've like, sent it to decide. Right. You don't want to feel shady in front of your kid by like, oh, no, right. Exactly. Exactly. And then the other thing that we weren't expecting, it's like she knew she would have trouble remembering it.

So at Thanksgiving, she said, hey, you guys, at Christmas, we're going to have a conversation. We're going to have a conversation about what's happening with my health. It was like she was preparing us, like you, because she didn't want to forget that she wanted to know this information. Because I care about honesty. Yes. But she wanted to remember the day because she knew that she would have hard time if it was like, tell me next Tuesday. That won't work for her, but she knows holidays.

And so that's how we had this time marker. But the first thing she did was call for her sisters. And I was not ready for that where she's like, Yasmin, Lena, I've got news to tell you. Mom and Dad just told me something big. And then we're looking at each other. And we weren't ready for that. But that was my instinct, unfortunately. And it's okay.

It's okay. It is okay. Because just like you wanted honesty, I think all people want honesty. You know, I think it's really important that you. Definitely. And it takes bravery to share. Definitely. As much as it does to listen, I think it's more bravery to share.

Yeah. And at that time, we had told Soraya's older sister because she is very inquisitive, asks a lot of questions. She still does. She still does. And we also, she also always was worried that we weren't being honest with her. So it was one of those things where like, we will tell you everything we know. But it's almost like she couldn't believe that we didn't have an answer. She couldn't, she felt like we must not be telling her something if we're saying there's not a diagnosis or a prognosis.

And so. Yeah, that was like the thought. That was her thought. Yeah. So that was, what, about four years ago? Yeah. Yeah, four years ago. Yes.

And at that time, I will say that while we didn't really talk about it a lot because we know there's so many unknowns, her doctors had given us a prognosis of about two years. Okay. So we had that kind of in the back of our mind, but we also knew that without a diagnosis, you don't really know. And that's what we, you know, stressed us right, is like we're not going to get hung up on timelines because nobody knows. Yeah. So we're just doing the best we can.

So one of those powerful stories I've ever heard was that story when you were at Wits End and then you saw a white light comforting Soraya. And she comforted. Like she quieted down, right? Totally. I'm curious, like, have you shared any of Soraya's incredible experiences to connect with the spirits or people on the other side with the medical community? And having gone to medical school and being very science and medically grounded, like, how have you made sense of all of this? So I will say that I have always been a bit more open to things that are more existential. And I also, from being in the medical background, don't share that with anybody because I find it to be where. It could spook people out. Spook people out, but then also be judged or have people say that you're crazy or, you're crazy. or try to challenge you. Yeah, I don't like to be challenged, but yes. When I don't want to really debate it, I just want to accept it.

And so I've always had this as like a side thing that I would never talk about. So whatever ideas I had about psychic, spirituality, connections is something that I was always intrigued about. I love astrology. I love these things. Whenever anybody knew of a psychic, I would want to go to one. I love science. Yes. Yeah, really good.

Yes. Psychic medium to share with you guys. Yes, that's what I'm all about. So when it came to sharing with the medical community, that's a no. Not with anybody. However, what I was feeling is really safe with the hospice community. I do feel like that team feels very different than our entire medical journey. And I would like to think that that is true of all hospice care teams.

because of what they do. I am learning so much of this holistic approach, this idea of quality of life, and also the fact that they have a chaplain, that they have a social worker, that they have massage therapy, that they have music therapy. It's almost like they already know that we need different modalities that it felt like a very safe space for me to start asking questions. And my questions would be, well, one is to explain to Soraya what a chaplain is, when I tell her you can talk about spirituality, she started sharing about some of these stories. And what I noticed was no judgment. What I noticed was a lot of just nodding their head and just accepting.

Yeah, I was worried about the reaction, I would say. Yeah. And she just felt so comfortable talking about it that then I started asking the chaplain, do you hear stories like this? Is this common? And she would say yes, but would not tell me more stories. And I want to know more stories. Yes, because it's very like kind of like, kind of like gives you a study like, look, what's this? What's how?

What is this like? Well, and I think in the medical community, you have to use HIPAA where you're not supposed to share other people's stories. And so I think that they really stay true to that. But I will say as a parent, I like many parents that are looking for connection of what's happening with my kid, please tell me that there's somebody else that is able to do this or is doing this. I just want to know if this is normal for what they see. And I wasn't quite getting that. So then when it was her physician, I asked him.

And he's very evidence-based and very thoughtful and specific with his words. And I'm like, I'm just saying, Saraya's connecting. Do you see this happen with other children that you work with? And he said, yes. Just one word answers. And I said, do you feel like? As kids get closer to death or as their bodies weakens, that this connection gets stronger, and he says yes.

And that was it. So that was the conversation. But I do feel like that was huge in the sense of I have a space that I can share. And I have a space where I'm not judge. And it is the medical community. So in that regard, that's as far as it's gotten. I have not thought of nor do I feel comfortable sharing with all of her physicians. And, you know, what is that about?

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My question that I want to know as a parent is like this has to be happening with other kids, but I think what's tricky is I've also heard from our hospice team that many families won't allow them to talk about death. And so yet they're coming for these services. but, you know, whether it's their family values, their culture, that they don't, they don't talk about it. So I also feel like there's probably so much more of this if there was a space for this. You're so lucky your parents will talk to you about it. Because could you imagine experiencing this and feeling like you couldn't talk about it?

Yeah, it would be so bad. I know they're like, I probably would say in my bedroom would be like, this is what's happening, this is what's happening. I'm going to just talk to yourself. Yeah, I'm like, I'm going to do myself about this. You'd have to get it out. You feel like you can talk to your sisters about it too, right? Yeah, I think that they have their own personal opinions about that, but I think they're open to it, and, like, me and my sisters have a very, like,

I can tell them any spiritual or they sometimes have actually felt. spiritual. For example, like, I would say this person's giving you a hug. And I was like, do you feel it? And they're like, yes, I actually feel someone hugging me. I don't like, it was like crazy to me because like I was saying it. And it was a feeling that they were having. And I was like, that's pretty interesting. Have there been any more stories like that as she's gotten older? Yes. There have been episodes where we're kind of in a rough spot. And it usually happens when all five of us are together. And she'll start speaking.

And her sisters, while they definitely do know that she's connecting because there are times where we all look at each other. And it's almost like this language is coming out of her mouth that are not, that's not language that she would use. And it's about like love. And it's about our purpose. And we're like, okay, she's doing it. And so there's been short episodes of that that have popped up. Most recently, there was an episode where honestly, Soraya was really struggling in the reality of her life. And it started out at the dinner table where she was sobbing and she was saying to her sisters and there has been a big strain in the relationship.

If she is getting closer to death and she's talking about death, they do not want to talk about death. Like, I can definitely get an example. I think we were having a conversation about what's been going on, and my older sister and my little sister decided to go upstairs and go to their bedroom. So they kind of, like, leave. And so there have been instances where this has been happening. And so Saras at the kitchen table. I would say, like, we're – I'm definitely going to make this part of it. We're not really close, but we're trying.

And we're doing everything that we can. And then this story, I think, is what kind of started the journey of trying to make that better. And it was where you were sobbing and you were like, I am losing everything. I am losing my ability to walk. I am losing my ability to eat. My mouth gets tired when I'm chewing. I'm losing everything. And I only have my family.

And now I'm losing my sisters. And she is just sobbing. I would say I'm a very heavy, emotional person. And then as she is sobbing, the sisters tried to go leave. And we say no, we need to come together. Let's all sit in the family room. Let's just, like, kind of hash this out. But what happened when we transitioned rooms is there was something else that happened with Soraya.

Yeah. where she was like, you guys, I have a contract with you and our contract is of love. I was meant to be here with you. And our contract is love. I cannot leave until we hit that love. And right now we're not there. We are not there. And then she said, well, I have a contract with Ohana, which is her cat, which is her, we call it her spirit animal.

And she's like, Ohana and I, we are from the. same universe. You guys, we have to get this mission and the mission is love and we are not there. And she said, I want you all to know that it is not a circle of life. It is a tree of life. And with this tree of life is Mother Nature. And if you don't believe me, look at the window. And in that time, there's a bright light shines through the window. And it is like 5.30 in the evening. And both sisters look at the light. And they start crying because they realize. Like she's serious. Yeah.

And it was like whatever disgruntled anger that they had towards her with like, here we go again, went out the window. And of course in this light is Ohana the cat, just literally laying in the sun being like, that's right, I'm with her. Like that's what it felt like that there was this moment. And she goes through and she goes through each person on what they need to work with. And she's like, yes, mean, you need to quit being hard on yourself. You are feeling so guilty.

for the way that you have treated me, know that you are the best sister, and I love you. Like, mom, you are too stressed. I know that you're a good mom. You need to know, and it's like everything that interferes, and she is going through each person,

and she's like, we are here for love. And she said, I am working with the angels, and the angels work with God. And I'm trying to convince the angels to keep me here because I'm not done. I need to get. get us to love. And I don't know what they're going to decide because that's not up to me, but I do work with the angels. And I also want you to know that all night long, people are asking me to help them.

They're asking me to help them all night. She said, some nights I don't even sleep. They want me to help their pets. They want me to help their sick uncles. They want me to help all the people all day. I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted for everybody I'm trying to heal. I am trying to heal everybody. And it's so tiring. And you know what else? Right now, the words that are coming, they're coming from a white ball of light. The white ball of light is swirling around me and it's almost like I swallow it. And now I'm just speaking from a place of light.

Wow. When you talk about at night, like hearing all the voices, I mean, do you think those are like the prayers of people who are here? Do you think it's people from the other side wanting you to interfere with people who are alive? I think like the other side of that, like, people who have passed away, I think some of them just need help or just they need something to be healed. And I think I still have that now, which I don't talk about as much, but I would say that it's there. And when you talk about like a sole contract, what is? I think it's more like of a goal in that contract. It's like emotionally, I think that's what I need from them. But it's also what I deeply like desire to have with my family. That is fascinating. What a beautiful, did everything change for your family in that moment?

In that moment, yes. You know, my husband, he's pretty skeptical about these things and he was sobbing and he looked at Yasmin and Lena and he said, listen, some people never have any experiences like this. This could be a once in a lifetime experience of the other side telling us this is what we need to do. It is time to set everything aside and just love each other in the time that we have. Any time you get frustrated by just remember this moment that you. You are literally getting divine guidance on what we need to be doing in this life. And so it is just been serving as a reminder. And then my question for Soraya was, you know, the next thing, like, do you remember that?

She's like, yeah. Because I'm like, was this like a transient state? Was she had? And she's like, oh, yeah, I remember the whole thing. I'm like, so people do come to you at night? She's like, oh, yeah. And I'm like, like she said, like she doesn't talk about it all the time, but surely people aren't asking her about this.

Right. Right, exactly. And as Soraya has gotten more weak in her physical body, she has asked, a lot of questions, has asked to meet spiritual leaders. But then also when she stopped going to school, she watches a lot of screens, but she would gravitate towards psychics, mediums, like ghost hunters. And I'm like, doesn't this freak you out? She's like, no. And then she's like, this is what I'm going to do when I grow up. And I was like, what do you mean? She's like, well, I can already. do this, but I just need to, like, learn the way that they're doing it. And she's like, different ways to they're doing it. She's like, mom, everybody can do this, but their ways are just, like, a different way of doing it. So she's like, my way is not like their way, but I can, like, I can work on the way that they do it so that way I can do that too. And again, it's just like a different way of thinking about things that I had never thought of. For example, when I started listening to this podcast and we were in season one,

And there wasn't a season two at that time. And I was like, Soraya, I am listening to this podcast. And it's about children who have autism and they're nonverbal. And there are these connections that they have with their caregiver. And I'm like, what do you think about that? She's like, yeah, mom, everybody knows that. And I'm like, what? She's like, yeah, they all can do that.

And I was like, no, but they like communicate with, you know, with each other. She's like, yeah. Like she was just so not impressed. By anything that I was saying. Meaning like reading minds did not shock you. That felt. No. She's still like, yeah, like what's something?

I'm like, I will. And she said every kid has superpowers. So it's not necessarily that one person has magical powers, but that any child that was born with any type of neurotypical difference, she feels, can do something like this. and she also has made it clear that people have different skills and different ways that they connect, but we all could. Does that sound right, Soraya? My mom's wholly correct on the details. And is it mostly people that are related to your family in some way,

like ancestors and loved ones that your family knew, or is it obviously Chloe but came? So it sounds like other people come. Yeah, it's kind of like all of, it's like random. It's like it just comes when it wants to come. Like now it's like all different, all different people. Yeah. It takes a little bit more.

It takes more time because of to like focus of what they're saying, focus what they're trying to do and all that comes. And can you see them or is it hear them like for you? I can see them, but I don't know what they like specifically look like or what they're wearing. but I can just hear by voice. And it kind of connects with, like, a little bit of, like, my brain can read it or just by hearing it. It's very different for me. Like, it definitely has helped me. And, like, when I talk about it, you, I'm like, I hope I'm not speaking you out, but I have speech reality.

Like, I'm very open to talk about that because, like, I think. not a lot of people talk about it when I think they should. And your mom said that at one point you've wanted more like teaching. I know it's really cool. I know. I'm so proud of you. I told you that already, but I'm just so proud of you. Yeah, my mom says it a lot.

There's a lot to be proud of. When you said that you wanted to kind of gain more information or like learn more, but what did that look like? And like, were you able to meet, like, what would that be called? spiritual masters, I guess. I think I would call it like a spiritual journey. I think that it was like when I became a child. And I think as I got older, I think the more in tune I am. And I get to learn something new a little bit every day that I get to experience it. Like who do you learn it from? I think I learn it from like my instinct.

and myself and how whatever, like whatever it wants to show its way or whatever technique it does, I'm going to do what I think is easier for me or just something that I can make sure that like, okay, I'm talking to this person. I don't know this person, but I'm going to just have a conversation with it. And I sometimes have conversations, but like not like I do it sometimes, but like as I talk to them and I'm very like, I'm focused of like the way they're speaking it or what they're attributing. So it's so interesting because you're plugging into something it sounds like. Yeah, I'm very like in tuned. Can I share one thing that kind of.

really surprised me in what she's saying, which is in line with what you're saying, is she had told me once, we tell Soraya that her gift is her ability to feel what other people are feeling, that she has a way to, like, read when somebody's having a bad day or a good day or a vibe. They could just read real people's emotions. Yes. And one day she's like, you know, mom, you always think that I'm saying the right thing, but she's like, it's the angels that put the words in my mouth that have me say it.

And so when she's talking about I'm learning from something and I just go where they guide me, it is an example of that where I don't know either. But I'm like, how do you sense or know that I'm having a bad day? Or how can you tell that I'm stressed? I think body language or their face emotion or like if I could, I just sense by energy. What does that mean? I think a very good example was when I first met one of my friends,

her name's Quirney, like from Ulta. And I saw her struggling, being very emotional. And I'm just like, there's something going on. But whatever it is, I should just go front with this person. So this is a worker at Alta. She is shopping. And she's talking about visualizing somebody looking. like they had a bad day that works there.

Yeah. This is the first time she's ever even met this person. I don't know this person. She's there to shop and she is now eyeing this girl that she's sensing has had a bad day. And I just go up to her and I'm like, are you okay? She was like, well, I'm kind of being overwhelmed because I'm moving in a new apartment. And I was like, hey, can I give you a hug? And I get that person that hug.

And I was like, we could be friends, you know, like best friends. And, you know, like, I'm here winning me. And I just do that. I'm very, I have very big instincts who I want to be friends with. Who do I not want to be friends with? I just, I think it's depend on what I feel. But it also like, is that the right person? And Courtney and you guys are still best friend.

Still best friend. I still have a full number. Yes. And Courtney actually, you know, shared later with me that she had, was struggling with even a lot more than what she had shared. Yeah. And how that moment meant so much to her that then Soraya and Courtney carried on their

friendship so that she would come over, spend time. They'd go to my house. Yeah. Lunch dates. And, you know, Courtney's in her 20s. And so maybe not a. typical friendship, but I have a lot of, like, adult friends. Yes, yes, which may not be very conventional for this pediatrician mom to say, but Saraya has taught me to think outside of the box.

And so Courtney had twins recently and one of her babies. One of them had a heart condition. Her condition and one was healthy. So she would go to the hospital, see the child that's sick. then she misses the health kid. Then when she sees the healthy kid, then she misses the sick kid. But do you know what she says? Yeah.

I'm so glad I've met you, Soraya. Like you're, she always says positive things about me. Yeah, like you helped prepare her for this life and now she's a part of our life. Definitely. It's a sweet story. Yeah. You and Courtney are lucky to have each other. Definitely.

And I think it's very good to have friends of all sorts of ages. Yeah, definitely. Like last year for her birthday out of nowhere, she's like, I want to spend time with the drag queen. I love it. And so it's like she wants to be the voice for the underdog. And the underdog is anybody who has been on the outside. Oh, yeah. And she likes to know, like, so what she wanted to do with the drag queen is not a show.

She said, I want to know like the struggles of their life. And like, how did they still like find their passion and like, what? Yeah. And then I want to go do makeup. So there's like that human experience. Like she has this like profound thing that she says and then she's like, and then we're going to go to Alta. I love that. And I think it is true though. Like if you've been othered or marginalized or had a fight for your belonging in any way, like I think if you're at least a bit of an older soul, then you relates to all the trials of everyone else. That's it.

We have to start to wrap up. So as of today, have you gotten a formal diagnosis? Surprisingly, we actually did get a diagnosis very recently. And here we've been 13 years really coming to a place of accepting that she wouldn't have a diagnosis. And lo and behold, the lab at the NIH did find out that she has a gene called tau K-1. It's called T-A-O-K-1 gene deletion. And this is a very rare condition. She is one in 50 cases worldwide. But for Soraya, surprisingly, she's the only one out of the 50 that actually has symptoms of a neuromuscular disease.

And so while it was very exciting to get the diagnosis, it was also really hard to accept that her medical symptoms are more severe than anyone else's. And I think she's kind of bummed about her genetic diagnosis. So she's bummed because we at this point can't do anything with it. But in talking to the scientists that are behind it, they're like, don't give up hope. Like while the science doesn't exist yet for Soraya, the possibility is there. This just takes funding. And the only way that we can even look into a possibility is if we raise like millions of dollars to put into the research. But the research exists and the people are there.

We just need the funds. So for all the 49 other cases of what's the right has, people can go get gene therapy and hopefully have a much more productive life. There's actual treatment available in the sense that the science does exist. The funding is not there. And so they all have the ability for potential gene therapy. And the science and the scientists are there, but the funding has not been covered yet. And so that is where they need help.

Wow. And how much do you think would like help get this? At minimum, $3 million. Okay. I mean, we're talking millions of dollars. And that is just due to how much goes into thoughtfully doing research on humans. You want to make sure that this can be done safely. And in order to do that, we need funding so the research can be done. Yeah.

In case there's any listeners who want to fund toward this research and hopefully Saraya's, you know, gene therapy, which would be a miracle for your family, Is there a website where they can go donate or is there anything like that that's out there? Yes. Currently, there is a researcher at University of Washington and we have her website. Oh, wow. Okay, so I was just handed where people can go to donate. It's together.w.edu slash campaign slash T-A-O-K-1. We'll also put this in our show notes and on social media and that type of thing.

Thank you. All right. Awesome. What final thoughts do you want to add, Sarai, or things you want people to know? know or understand or wisdoms you've acquired. I think that special needs should not be made fun of or judged or looked because they really don't know what they're going through. Yeah, and maybe we talk about this again.

You put a note on your wheelchair and what did it say and what do you want people to do? Like, even if you're scared or hesitant, just do it because... And just come up and ask you. Yeah, because, like, you don't assume what they're thinking or what they're. whispering what they're talking about. Yeah. Soraya, do you want to say anything to your sisters who might watch this? I will say I miss them and I hope that they're doing well.

That's sweet. Well, if anyone out there is listening who could put a few million toward this, I mean, it could save it could save lives and it would be the foundation to save so many people not only like Soraya, but this really sets things off for anyone with a rare disease. This is not just about one gene. This is about the possibilities that are there for so many rare kids. Yeah. Awesome. University of Washington's doing the research? Yes. So cool. Dr. Smita Yadoff. She's wonderful. Dr. Smita, we're coming for you. We're going to make it happen. Thank you. Awesome. All right. Well, thank you for making the way all the way from Cincinnati. Yeah. That's it for this episode of the Talk Tracks. But new episodes will be really

least every Wednesday. So stay tuned as we work to unravel all the threads, even the veiled ones that knit together are reality. And please remember to stay kind, stay curious, and that being a true skeptic requires an open mind. To dive in deeper, subscribe to our backstage pass by visiting our website. With it, you'll unlock access to bonus content like telepathy tests, ask me anything interviews with myself and guests. You'll be able to enjoy the podcast ad-free, connect with other members on our telepathy tribe discord, and hear and see exclusive content from the telepathy tapes vault. Visit our website at the telepathy tapes.com. More info on how to subscribe to our backsage pass. Thank you to my amazing collaborators. Producer is Catherine Ellis and

Selena Kennedy, technical directing audio mix and finishing by Jeremy Cole, opening and closing music by Elizabeth P.W. And original logo and cover art by Ben Kandora Design. I'm Kai Dickens, your executive producer, writer, and host.