From The Heart: The HeartKids Podcast

In this episode of From the Heart, we're joined by Elle Pendrick, a HeartKid herself and member of our HeartKids Board. Elle is also the founder of Adulting Well - on a  mission to empower and educate people with chronic illnesses. In this episode Elle discusses navigating the financial aspects of living with, or caring for someone, with a childhood heart condition. For those new to From the...

In this episode of From the Heart, we're joined by Tess Waterhouse who shares her remarkable journey of receiving a diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) at age 23. Tess shares her experience with open-heart surgery for her atrial septal defect (ASD) and reflects on her recovery process, coping strategies, and the crucial support networks that helped her. She offers valuable insights on...

This episode, Sami chats to Dr Gavin Wheaton about Rheumatic Heart Disease, and the Deadly Heart Trek. Dr Wheaton is a paediatric cardiologist at Adelaide’s Women and Children’s Hospital, and part of the Deadly Heart Trek. Deadly Heart Trek is a group of experienced doctors, local health workers and aboriginal leaders visiting communities across Australia to diagnose, treat and help prevent RHD, w...

This episode, Sami chats to Ellen Mitchell about the impact of becoming a Heart Mum, and how she gives back to the CHD community. Ellen is the Regional Community Coordinator for HeartKids in South Australia. Through her work, Ellen attends regional cardiac clinics, assists in facilitating community events, connecting peers across South Australia, and supporting the community in innovative ways. HE...

This episode, Sami chats to Dr Derek Tran, about exercise physiology, and supporting fitness for those with Congenital or Childhood-Onset Heart Disease (CHD) Dr Tran is a lecturer at the University of Sydney School of Medicine and Senior Exercise Physiologist at the Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.  Derek is also the co-coordinator of the world’s largest, and most inclusive...

This episode, Tahnee chats with Jayhrani Nicholls, a registered nurse and Aboriginal woman who works at Ngak Min Health, located on the Djarragun College campus in Gordonvale, Queensland. With a passion for empowering individuals to take control of their own health, Jayhrani has been dedicating her skills and expertise to supporting patients with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). HEARTKIDS From The H...

In this episode, Rachael chats with Ahmad, a remarkable 17-year-old who faced a life-saving heart transplant during the pandemic. His journey is a testament to unwavering resilience, overcoming challenges which included a leg amputation in his journey with CHD. Get ready to be inspired by Ahmad's indomitable spirit and unwavering determination to embrace all that life has to offer. Content no...

In this episode, Rachael interviews May Chan and Bambang Kurnia, from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. May is an experienced Clinical Nurse Consultant in Cardiac Surgery, with a tenure at RCH since 1985. Her primary role involves managing and coordinating teams for cardiac surgeries, ensuring the highest standard of care for patients and their families. Joining May is her colleague...

In this episode of From the Heart , Rachael Knowles speaks with Syeda Sultana a devoted sibling and steadfast advocate for her brother who sadly passed away in 2022. A passionate advocate for equitable healthcare, Syeda is now an aspiring medical student with a keen interest in congenital heart defects, hoping to one day to make a difference in the field of paediatric cardiology. Content note: Thi...

Mel is a project coordinator at HeartKids, as part of the National Action Plan, implemented to reduce the impact of childhood heart disease in Australia and achieve the goal that people with childhood-onset heart disease live longer, healthier and more productive lives.  In this episode, Mel chats about the projects she runs at HeartKids, focusing on increasing support for families online, and ove...

Dr Prem is cardiothoracic surgeon based in Queensland, at Queensland Children’s Hospital. He performs lifesaving surgeries on children with CHD, and is involved in cardiac initiatives across the state and overseas.  In this episode, Prem talks about CHD surgery, the close-knit team of professionals he works alongside, and his everlasting bond with each of the children he operates on. CONTENT WARNI...

Laura is a cardiac genetic counsellor and current PhD candidate with research projects focusing on inherited cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia. In this episode, Laura talks about what genetic counselling is, who can access it, and how genetic counselling is used to understand more about health conditions, and accessing the right supports around those conditions. HEARTKIDS From The Heart is brought to...

Marjorie is a Kombumerri woman, who was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, and had surgery at the age of 13, in 1968.  In this episode, Marjorie talks about her surgery, the support available for those in 1968 with CHD, and raising awareness of other adults living with CHD. HEARTKIDS From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advoca...

Kenya was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 14. In this episode, Kenya talks about travelling for open heart surgery, her connection with her family, and raising awareness of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) through her film making work and Champions 4 Change.  HEARTKIDS From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advoc...

Arthur is a dad to a daughter with CHD, and a passionate fundraiser for HeartKids through his workplace. In this episode, Arthur talks about his family’s grassroots fundraising efforts, Greek sweets, and the joy of supporting the heart kids community with scholarships via his workplace, Drake’s Supermarkets. HEARTKIDS From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit...

Catherine is a mother to a 13-year-old with CHD and has worked in the education system for 18 years. In this episode, Catherine talks about children with CHD entering the education system, and the preparations and supports that are beneficial in this space   HEARTKIDS From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for peo...

Matt has been touched by CHD as both a husband and a father. Matt’s first wife Tina passed away in 2013 due to complications from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Two of Matt’s sons also live with this condition.  In this episode Matt talks about the complexity of navigating diagnoses, bereavement, and the strength of his sons. Content Warning This episode contains information about bereavement. Pleas...

Eve is a 23-year-old from Melbourne who lives with a congenital heart condition. Eve is a keen skier, ice hockey player and cold water swimmer! In this episode, Eve talks about how having a heart condition has impacted her body image and relationship with her body, her journey to becoming more independent with her health care, and the importance of support networks.   LINKS Join HeartKids' In...

Ben Taylor runs HeartKids Dads, a national support group for fathers of children with heart conditions. In this episode he talks about his own family's journey with CHD, as well as all the different ways the HeartKids Dads group provides support to the community. The group has been running for 9.5 years and has grown from 6 members to over 250 today.   LINKS Join the HeartKids Dads group: Hea...

At Sami's 21-week scan, she was told her unborn baby had a heart condition. In that moment, life changed forever. In this episode, Sami bravely opens up about losing parts of her identity after becoming a heart mum. She talks about what it's like entering the extreme caregiver role and the sacrifices she made as a result, like missing some of her other children's milestones, and hit...

Counting down our most popular episodes of 2022... #1! When your child is unwell, often it's the only thing you can focus on or think about. But what happens if you start to notice you are struggling? Kimberley opens up on the recovery she has had to navigate since bringing her daughter home from surgery. This story is about parent's mental health, self-care, and learning how to reach ou...

Counting down our most popular episodes of 2022... #2! What is neurodevelopment? What is the connection between CHD and neurodevelopment in children? What are the early indicators that a child may be experiencing neurodevelopmental difficulties? How are neurodevelopmental issues diagnosed? What sort of treatments and therapies are available? What research is happening in this area? What is the CHD...

Counting down the most popular episodes of 2022... #3! Should I exercise if I have a heart condition? The answer is, almost everyone with a congenital or childhood heart condition can benefit from exercise. When done safely, regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your heart and overall health. Cardiologist Rachael Cordina joins us to bust some exercise and CHD myths and help all...

Dr Ben Reeves is a paediatric cardiologist in North Queensland. He's one of only three paediatric cardiologists you'll find north of Brisbane.  Between 30-40% of Dr Reeves workload is related to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a type of childhood heart disease. RHD was common in Australia's big cities in the 1950s and 1960s. Since then it's largely been eradicated in white popul...

Liza is a psychologist. She also lives with a congenital heart condition. In this episode, we talk all about the psychological needs and challenges that come along with living with a childhood heart condition. Dr Morton also shares psychological coping strategies for people living with CHD and talks about her upcoming book 'Healing Hearts and Minds: A Holistic Approach to Coping Well With Con...