Heart to Heart with Anna

How can members of the congenital heart defect (CHD) community lobby for change in today's laws in the United States? One thing they can do is to come together as a unified group to speak to their lawmakers and request, in a collective voice, for changes to occur. This is how the Congenital Heart Futures Act came into effect. Members of the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) organized a coa...

What is life like for a person born in the late 1950s with a complex congenital heart defect known as L-TGA? What complications were experienced? What miracles were witnessed? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support .

Today's encore presentation features a very special "Heart to Heart with Anna" Guest, Carolyn Robinson. Carolyn was on the podcast in both Season 3 and Season 7 -- to talk about Eisenmenger's Syndrome in Season 3 and in Season 7 to address what it was like to live with a congenital heart defect in Canada. Much to our dismay, Carolyn passed away in October 2016. This encore presentation is in memor...

According to Corience: An Independent European Platform on Congenital Heart Defects, "As many as 40–60% of children with congenital heart defects are undernourished." Healthy babies double their weight in 6 months; however, children with congenital heart defects put on weight more slowly. Their growth is also affected by the heart defect. Why do children with congenital heart disease not grow as o...

One of the problems many of our CHD children suffer from is "Failure to Thrive" and because the children with critical congenital heart defects usually have surgery within the first days or months of their lives, they may develop oral aversion (very probably because of being intubated for extended periods of time). Because many of our children have oral aversion, they frequently do not like foods...

Chris Perez is a Heart Dad from North Carolina. His son Nolan was born in 2012 with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. For almost 3 years he's written a blog called Half Heart. Whole Life: an HLHS Dad's blog, where he lays out the life of a Heart Dad with honesty and humor. On today's episode, Chris will be presenting an update to the well-known essay "Welcome to Holland." This essay has been read b...

Today's episode of Heart to Heart with Anna features Guest Host, Chris Perez (a.k.a. the HLHS Dad) and shows how a heart mom - inspired by her daughter's determination - has begun a successful small business. The guest for this exciting episode is Jessie Wimmer, who is a heart mom from Charlotte, NC. She has two beautiful children: Noah and Sparrow, who was born with a congenital heart defect. Jes...

Is the stress of caring for a child with a serious medical condition wearing you down? Do you find yourself being snappy with others? Is negativity showing through? Tune in to hear Guest Host, Chris Perez (a.k.a. HLHS Dad) interview Daniel Miles, the Assistant Director of Spiritual Education at Carolinas Medical Center, as he shares his wisdom and advice with us. Become a supporter of this podcast...

What is the natural course of congenital heart disease? What obstacles do adult congenital heart defects Survivors (ACHDers) faces as they age? What transition challenges do ACHDers have to deal with? As Nurse Program Coordinator of the Akron Children's Hospital Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, Deena Barber has the privilege of managing and coordinating the specialized care of adult congeni...

Many people born with a single ventricle heart end up with a Fontan physiology but what are the long-term consequences of that anatomy? As the Fontan Procedure has changed over time, have the long-term consequences also changed? What are the red flags? Tune in to hear the answers to these questions and more! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-a...

Now that children with congenital heart defects (CHDs) are living to adulthood, it's time to rethink transition care. What can we do to help CHD Survivors have a quality life? How is transition for CHD Survivors different from their heart-healthy peers? Today's Guests, Lena Morsch and Christy Sillman, RN, share their experiences and advice with us. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.s...

Do you wonder what a financial planner does and if you can even afford one? Can you afford NOT to have one? What kind of emotional issues are common with chronic illness? How can anyone afford to have congenital heart disease and anything else happen to them? Tune in for answers to these questions and many more! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-wi...

Dr. Ari Cedars is a cardiologist at Baylor University medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He is a physician and the director of the Center for Adults with Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD). He trained in Adult Congenital Heart Disease at Washington University in Saint Louis. He is passionate about research in the realm of adults with congenital heart disease, especially since it is a growing population...

How does a teen with congenital heart defect transition to being an adult with a congenital heart defect? What can go wrong? What kinds of things can parents do to help the transition go more smoothly? What makes transitioning so difficult? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support .

What is it like growing up with a parent with a congenital heart defect? What kind of challenges do mothers and daughters face? What lessons can be learned from living with adversity? Today we'll talk with Misty and Milena Castenada about living with tetralogy of Fallot and what it was like growing up with a CHD and being raised by a parent with a heart defect. Become a supporter of this podcast:...

What is the natural course of congenital heart disease? What obstacles do adult congenital heart defects Survivors (ACHDers) faces as they age? What transition challenges do ACHDers have to deal with? As Nurse Program Coordinator of the Akron Children's Hospital Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, Deena Barber has the privilege of managing and coordinating the specialized care of adult congeni...

What kind of neurological problems can children with congenital heart defects acquire? What prognosis is there for an adult CHD survivor who suffers from cognitive problems? What kinds of things can parents do to help their adult children? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support .

What is it like to grow up with critical congenital heart defects requiring surgery in the first year of life? How does having multiple surgeries through a person's life affect their career choices? How are two amazing adult survivors giving back? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support .

David Franco was born with congenitally-corrected transposition of the great arteries and a ventricular septal defect (or VSD). David is 49 years old and has had several cardiac and several other, non-cardiac surgeries. In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna" David will share with us what he has learned from having non-cardiac surgeries. He will inform us what he knows adults with congenital...

What's new with anticoagulants? What should adults with congenital heart defects know about anticoagulants? What should adults with CHDs know about Coumadin? Pharmacist Rebekah Brunell shares her knowledge about anticoagulants with us and what new drugs are available which might change the lives of those in the congenital heart defect community. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spre...

How can a coarctation of the aorta affect a person's life? What happens to a person when their congenital heart defect, once dormant, suddenly becomes an issue? How does an adult deal with the intrusion of a birth defect after living a normal life? Tune in for the answers to these questions and more! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--125...

How did a transposition of the great arteries Survivor take charge of her health and change the course of her heart disease? What are some powerful ways you can take back your health, despite what your doctor might say? What advice does this Survivor have for others? Tune in to hear Keri Kasaboski's triumphant story! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-hea...

We are providing this special encore presentation in honor of Frank Celeskey -- one of the Guests in today's show. He was a sweet heart dad who adored his daughter. Sadly, Frank passed away on May 14, 2016. Lauren has set up a GoFundMe to help take care of his burial expenses and to provide for her younger brother. If any of you would like to contribute to it, here is the link: https://www.gofundm...

How do adult survivors of congenital heart defects feel about becoming a mother? What options are available to Survivors who wish to become mothers? What challenges do these Survivors face when it comes to pregnancy and motherhood? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support .

What inspired Lori M. Jones to become an author? What nonprofit organization does Lori work with? How is she using her voice to help those in the CHD community? Tune in to hear Lori share stories and information with us. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna--1256958/support .