Ep. 4- Richie Reeder is pressing on.

In this episode, Jim Barnard talks with Richie Reeder, executive director of Pressing On, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that supports hospitalized families, especially those on pediatric transplant journeys. Richie shares how his family’s own medical crisis with his daughter Myka led him away from a more traditional pastoral path and into hospital-based coaching, chaplaincy, and practical care.

We discuss the emotional weight of living with a medically fragile child, how to show up for families with presence before words, and why Pressing On serves tangible needs first to earn the right to offer deeper support.

Timestamps

02:49 - Introducing Richie Reeder and Pressing On

04:43 - What Pressing On does for pediatric transplant families

06:08 - Moving to Pittsburgh and building a life there

14:51 - How Richie discovered The suffering guy.

18:15 - The parallel between Jim’s ministry and Richie’s story

20:22 - Myka’s birth, MMA diagnosis, and emergency hospital care

23:46 - Understanding transplant complications and rejection

26:07 - Life with an immunosuppressed child before and during COVID

28:29 - How the pandemic and medical precautions affected relationships

30:37 - Seeing the pruning season that led to Pressing On

37:29 - The emotional weight of watching life continue outside the hospital

45:18 - Serving 4,000 families and the weight of that milestone

49:32 - How Pressing On is funded and why relationship matters more than strategy

56:09 - An update on Myka’s health, school, and activities

58:38 - Lightning round: Packers, hot dogs, Primanti Brothers, and Pirates hopes

Notable quotes

“We specialize in accompanying families on their journey of pediatric transplant.”

“We want to meet a physical need and then earn the right to meet an intangible emotional and spiritual need.”

“Every number has a name and every name has a story and every story points toward perseverance.”

Resources & Links:

• Pressing On website
• Pressing On instagram
• Richie’s instagram
• Pressing On facebook
• Pressing On youtube
• tiller coaching.