Tiny Little Hearts Podcast: CHD and Heart Mom Life

In this conversation, host Katelyn McMahan speaks with Dr. Jennifer Cropp about her personal journey with her son's heart condition and the importance of building connections in pediatric care. They discuss navigating the complexities of healthcare for medically complex children, the significance of continuity of care, and the need for parents to advocate for their child's health. Dr. Cr...

In this conversation, Katelyn sits down with Hannah Keime from HeartCharged. Hannah Keime was unexpectedly diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) her first month of high school. A year later, she received an implanted defibrillator due to the severity of her condition. Within months, it saved her life when she went into sudden cardiac arrest in her sleep. Hannah created the organization...

In this  episode, Katelyn McMahan and her husband recount their transformative journey to Boston Children's Hospital for a life-saving in utero procedure for their daughter Goldie, who was diagnosed with congenital heart defects. They share the emotional rollercoaster of preparing for the procedure, the chaos of travel logistics, and the overwhelming support from family and the CHD community....

In this conversation, Katelyn McMahan sits down with Mary Jenner, a former pediatric oncology nurse and the owner of The Butterfly Pig, a company dedicated to creating medical toys that make healthcare more child-friendly. They discuss the importance of play in pediatric healthcare, the journey that led Mary to starting this business, and the various ways The Butterfly Pig supports families and he...

In this episode, host Katelyn McMahan interviews her father, Steve, about his experiences growing up with congenital heart defects (CHD). They discuss the medical challenges he faced, the advancements in cardiac care over the years, and the emotional impact of living with a chronic condition. The conversation also touches on the generational aspects of CHD, the importance of advocacy for patients,...

In this episode, host Katelyn McMahan shares her personal journey as a mother to Goldie, who was diagnosed with congenital heart defects during pregnancy. She discusses the emotional impact of the diagnosis, the medical complexities involved, and the various surgical pathways available. Katelyn emphasizes the importance of community support and the need for open conversations about the challenges...

In this conversation, Katelyn sits down with Sarah Michelle Boes, who shares her journey as a mother of a child with congenital heart defects. Sarah discusses the unexpected diagnosis of her daughter, the emotional and psychological challenges she faced, including grief and guilt, and the complexities of navigating the healthcare system as both a parent and a medical professional.  The conversatio...

In this conversation, Lauren Celeskey Bednarz shares her journey living with a congenital heart defect, specifically a single ventricle condition. She discusses her early diagnosis, the challenges of growing up with a heart condition, the dynamics with her siblings, and the importance of mental health advocacy. Lauren emphasizes the need for support within the CHD community and how she finds hope...

This podcast is about Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), complex medical journeys, parenting through uncertainty and the deep resilience of walking through big life changes.  Hosted by Katelyn McMahan, a mom to three girls whose life was changed in an instant when she found out her youngest daughter had complex cardiac abnormalities. She went searching to hear about kids with a similar diagnosis and...