Heart To Heart With Anna

How do you enjoy the holidays when your heart warrior is in the hospital during the holiday season? What can you do, as a parent, grandparent, or friend, when a child is in the hospital during the holidays? Why is it especially difficult to have a child in the hospital during the holidays?We’ll answer these questions and more in this episode which features Jenny Muscatell and Lauren Backe. These heart moms have both faced plenty of hospital time and they have some advice and experiences to share with us.Jenny Muscatell is a Licensed Social Worker, author, and radio host for Christian Mix 106.  She is the Co-founder of Muscatell Ministries, The Heart Community Collection, and serves as Editor in Chief for CHD Magazine. As a licensed social worker, Jenny has established an extensive reservoir of expertise specializing in crisis intervention, health systems, and end-of-life care. Her best-selling book, The Journey of Faith and Open Heart, shares the story of how she found faith battling for her daughter's l

Gwen Fosse is a Clinical Outreach Specialist at U of MI Congenital Heart Centre at Mott Children's Hospital. She has almost 50 years of experience working with patients affected by CHD and their families. In this episode, Gwen Fosse, RN shares about what SCA is, who is affected, what Project A.D.A.M. is, and what people can do to be #READY to help someone who might have an SCA. Gwen’s Links:Project ADAM –·       National: https://tinyurl.com/3bh5hpxc·       Michigan: https://tinyurl.com/8vfd6bf3Michigan Dept of Health & Human Services – MI HEARTSafe Schools Program·      https://tinyurl.com/2ppdv9tcData:·       AHA info: https://tinyurl.com/mr3mv86x·     AED App. https://tinyurl.com/ycxef3j5 ·       SCA Outcomes: https://tinyurl.com/3t62b9svPediatric Guideline·       https://tinyurl.com/3xubxckjSchool Nurses·       https://www.nasn.org/home·       Cardiac Emergency Response Planning for Schools: https://tinyurl.com/5e9ubnhcAHA·       https://www.heart.org/·       CPR and First Aid https://cpr.heart.o

Who is Jake Ryan and why did he write a book? What happens when it’s the parent who is the Heart Warrior? How do you prepare your children for your heart surgery?Jake Ryan was a busy father of three-and-a-half-year-old twins - a son and daughter - when his life changed forever. He collapsed during a routine workout one day at the gym. Fortunately, he was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm and a faulty mitral valve. After his surgery, he worried that he would not be able to be the kind of involved and playful dad that his kids were used to. Finding no books for children that described a parent having a cardiac incident and needing surgery, he decided to write such a book. Today, he lives in New York City and is a single dad to his now teenage children. He runs a life coaching business and can be found on TicToc and Instagram as @FreeJakeRyan. We’ll start today’s program by learning a bit about Jake and his immediate family. In the second segment, we’ll talk about the book he

How is it possible an organ donor might actually be responsible for two lives, even when giving a heart to a man? What was life like for Nick May years after his heart transplant? Did Nick May have a similar experience as his siblings growing up, considering he had a heart transplant as an infant? Susan May is mom to Nick, 33, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries, coarctation of the aorta, and a septal defect.  He had three surgeries at 5 days, 3 1/2 months, and one year of age, prior to receiving a heart transplant just before his second birthday. Nick is one of the first children in the US to receive a heart transplant and is the 5th longest-living transplant recipient. Today, he is married with a daughter.Susan has written a book about her son's heart journey, with a revised edition released this year. Susan also writes professionally and has written 40 books in total, including a non-fiction book about a WWII flight surgeon and 33 medical romance nove

Baby Hearts Press People's Choice Award Winners, Dr. Brandon Lane Phillips and Jeremy Miller, return to "Heart to Heart with Anna' with an update on how their award-winning book is doing and all of the exciting news surrounding the book. Why would a cardiologist choose to write his life story about growing up with tetralogy of Fallot? How did his life intersect with his favorite childhood actor from the 1980s TV sitcom "Growing Pains"? What new project are these gentlemen working on?You'll learn the answers to these questions and more in this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna."Helpful Links to Broadcast Episodes Mentioned in the Show:Starlight Foundation (for wishes for kids with chronic illness) https://www.starlight.org/Fox and Friends interview with Brandon and Jeremy: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/growing-pains-star-jeremy-miller-and-doctor-discuss-30-year-friendshipDr. Brandon Lane Phillips’ Other “Heart to Heart with Anna” appearances:8th Anniversary Sp

What are warning signs a doctor may be experiencing doctor burnout? How are some nonprofits affected by doctor burnout? What can members of the CHD community do to try to reduce doctor burnout? Today's program is 'Dr. John Calhoon on Doctor Burnout in the CHD Community' and our Guest is Dr. John Calhoon.Dr. Calhoon is both a congenital and adult cardiac surgeon and was my Heart Warrior’s surgeon. He also wrote the Foreword for my first book: “Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: A Parent’s Handbook.”Dr. Calhoon is the Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center and also is the Director of the Congenital Heart Center in San Antonio, a partnership of UHS and UTH. Over the years, his interests and expertise have included complex congenital heart surgery; heart and lung transplantation; less invasive cardiac surgery, and improving education and patient care.He has served as the President of many national cardiac associations

What are some of the dangers of addiction when you have a Fontan heart? How does a Heart Warrior who has addiction problems break free from the addiction? What new project is Joe Flowers embarking upon in 2023?Today’s show is Addiction and Congenital Heart Defects and our Guest is Joe Flowers. We’ll start today’s program by learning a bit about Joe in Segment 1. In the second segment, we’re going to talk about complications that Joe has had and in the third segment, we’ll discuss Joe’s pacemaker and future prognosis.Joe Flowers was born in 1980 with Tricuspid Atresia, an ASD, and a VSD. He had a chronic sinus infection in his early life but remained well enough to avoid heart surgery until the age of 11 years. He had a modified Fontan which was successful and he enjoyed good heart health for almost 20 years. In 2009 at the age of 29, he was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, for which he received a defibrillator. Around this time, Joe also had back surgery. Unfortunately, a private struggle was building

What considerations need to be made if people are born with congenital heart defects and determine their gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth? Is it possible for someone with a critical congenital heart defect to take hormones safely? What advice would an adult transgender woman have for others in the CHD community?Hope Jaworski was born in Temple, Texas with a single ventricle heart in 1994. She lived as a male under the name Alexander for twenty-seven years before realizing and accepting that she was a transgender woman. Hope enjoys writing, playing tabletop games with friends, and 3-D printing. She has worked in healthcare for seven years.Today Hope and I will be discussing her coming out as transgender, the trans community, and in particular, concerns for trans people with complex medical conditions. Hope is my child and she has been on my program numerous times in the past, including when she interviewed me to celebrate my 300th podcast episode."Heart to Heart with

Why would a doctor recommend parents take their child to a facility to live his life in the 1980s? Is there ever a good reason to take your child out of the hospital and take him to Disney instead? How did Peg trust her gut when it came to her son needing cardiac transplantation during COVID-19?Peg Eitl is a mom of three children: Joe, 40, Jason, 36, and Lacey, 31. Joe was born with Down Syndrome and a single ventricle heart. Due to his medical complexity and intellectual disability, the doctors advised Peg and her husband Craig to put him in a facility but they would have none of it! Fortunately, they met with cardiologist Dr. Black who encouraged them and gave them hope for Joe. Over the next few years, the new parents worked tirelessly with their son, enrolling him in early intervention, therapies, and extra-curricular activities in between cardiac appointments and procedures including a B-T shunt at 11 months, a Modified Glenn and Fontan at 7 years of age. Throughout his health battle, Joe and his parents

How can a family deal with the loss of a child? What happens when a surviving child needs a transplant? What advice does a long-time Heart Mom have for other heart families?Bridgett Streacker has been married to her husband Brian for 34 years. They have four children: Jacob 33, Chesna (stillborn), Mallory (their Heart Warrior), and Haleigh 24. As a family, they have gone through many surgeries and obstacles, heartbreak and triumphs, which have made them closer.  Bridgett describes her Heart Warrior as one of a kind, who never let her CHD define her and lives like there is no tomorrow. The family faced one of its biggest challenges during COVID when Mallory had a heart transplant and was allowed no visitors for her entire hospital stay.In this episode, Bridgett and Anna discuss what it’s like to be a CHD family, how they deal with mental health issues, and some advice for other families facing situations such as the ones they’ve faced.Please visit our Heart to Heart with Anna Social Media and Podcast pages:App

Who is Alessandra Lichtenfeld and why did she write a film entitled “Broken Hearts”? What can a heart warrior teach the world about living with a CHD through film? How does a Heart Warrior go from being “fixed” to needing open-heart surgery at 23 years of age?Alessandra Lichtenfeld was born with pulmonary stenosis and has 6 procedures on her heart, starting from when she was 2 years of age. Throughout her life, she has had periods of illness at age 9 and as a young adult. She is a filmmaker and music video director whose work has been showcased in Billboard, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Under the Radar, and more. She received her B.A. from U.C. Berkeley with a double major in psychology and linguistics. She has an MFA in Film and Media Production from UT Austin. She enjoys making surreal, absurdist comedies and dramas about difficult subjects such as bullying and chronic illness. To date, she has directed four films including Broken Hearts, Pixie Sticks, Just Here for the Good Vibes, and Just in My Head.In this epis

Why are members of the CHD community more at risk for certain kinds of psychological problems than those outside of the heart world? What makes people more at risk and what can be done about it? Thanks to Covid, people seem more reluctant to leave home for elective medical help so how can people receive treatment within the privacy and safety of their own homes?Amy Bjorkman is the mother to a 17-year-old daughter with a single ventricle heart who has had 6 heart surgeries and spent her first 7 months in the hospital. She is also a licensed psychologist who has specialized in trauma for the last 20 years. She is an expert on how the body holds trauma and the concomitant dysregulation of the nervous system that directly impacts our sense of safety and ability to self-soothe. She works with clients from a somatic perspective to enhance their window of tolerance in managing stress such that they are able to feel more grounded and connected to themselves and others. She has a deep understanding of complex medical

Why would a heart mom work for a CHD organization?  What would prompt a young woman to leave her career and work for the same organization? How does this organization help families affected by CHD?Kate Stacy and Sydney Philpott-Streiff both work at Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation, a nonprofit committed to year-round support for families and children affected by pediatric heart disease. Kate is mom to six-year-old Stella, born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in 2015. She underwent three open-heart surgeries at two days, 4 months, and 3 years of age. In her early months, she was hospitalized frequently with GI issues but has been very active, happy, and healthy since her last OHS. Kate and her husband Adam also have twins born via IVF, Connor, and Ellie, aged 8 years. Sydney was unexpectedly diagnosed with a CHD at age 27. She was on a morning run with her husband Andy when she went into cardiac arrest. Andy performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Sydney was in a coma for 48 hours and needed open heart surge

Amy M. Le is the guest host for this episode of “Heart to Heart with Anna.” She interviews Anna Jaworski and Megan Tones about their upcoming book “The Heart of a Heart Warrior.” Anna Jaworski became part of the congenital heart defect (CHD) community when her child was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).  She looked for resources to learn about HLHS, and unable to find anything suitable, she created and shared resources, thus the publishing company, Baby Hearts Press, was born. She has written several books for families and edited two books of essays – one written by heart dads and another written by heart moms called The Heart of a Father and The Heart of a Mother, respectively.  Megan Tones has been on several “Heart to Heart with Anna” episodes over the years. She was born with a VSD and had a pulmonary banding operation at 4 months of age. She had two more surgeries as a child, at age 5 and 10, and one surgery at age 25. Megan works as a researcher and likes to do creative things in her spa

How can Heart Mom use therapeutic techniques to overcome PTSD and CTSD? What is CTSD anyway? What is mindfulness and how can it help someone suffering from traumatic events?Djinni Yancey is the mother of 3 young adult children. Lauren is 23, Brianna is 21, and Isaac is 19. Isaac is a Heart Warrior who was born with a single ventricle heart. In addition to his congenital heart defect, he has other medical issues. Djinni is a US Navy veteran, a recent college graduate (she graduated in Dec. 2020), and she works full-time in PR for the Federal Government. Officially diagnosed with PTSD (or post-traumatic stress disorder) in 2018 after several panic attacks and mental breakdowns. After several months of therapy, Djinni’s therapist suggested she attend a mindfulness group. Fearful of the group at first, it took a lot of encouragement and motivation for her to go, but she has learned that mindfulness is really helpful.Today Djinni and I will be discussing Djinni’s history as a Heart Mom, what PTSD and CTSD are, wha

Why would it be helpful for parents of adults with congenital heart defects (or CHDs) to have group therapy? What kinds of problems might parents of adult Heart Warriors face? Who provides this specialized kind of therapy?Dr. Smorra is passionate about psychotherapy for the CHD community. Being born with CHD herself, she brings experiential knowledge, along with her training, and research when working with clients, families, and medical professionals impacted by CHD. Her research interest is social work services, and therapy for individuals who are born with congenital heart disease. Her experience is counseling individuals who are permanently impacted by automobile accidents, afflicted with chronic disease, and experiencing grief, depression, anxiety, and end of life. She enjoys helping students succeed academically. Dr. Smorra earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Western Michigan University, Master’s in Social Work from Western New Mexico University, and Doctorate in Social Work from Walden

Why devote a magazine to the congenital heart defect community?Who are the editors of the "CHD Magazine" and how do they choose their articles?What have been some of the featured articles and what is yet to come?This program features former Guests and authors Jenny Muscatell and Amy M. Le. We discuss how the "CHD Magazine" came to be, who helps in various ways, and how members of the CHD community can find the magazine and even become a part of it.Helpful links:Jenny’s previous appearance: Jenny Muscatell: Heart Mom and Author https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/8195423Amy’s previous appearances:A Surprise for Heart Warrior Amy M. Le! https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/8667060Vietnamese Refugee, Author & Heart Warrior https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/8324425Tasty Thursday: Lemon Cheesecakehttps://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/10127357Tasty Thursday: Boeuf Bourgignonhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/10080444Tasty Thursday: Yellow Curry Chickenhttps://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/10049265Tasty Thursday

How can a 30-year-old Heart Warrior single ventricle survivor live without the Fontan? What special considerations need to be made when moving from Egypt to Canada? What are the biggest concerns when you fall out of cardiac care?Ellen Banoub was born in Egypt 30 years ago. She is a Heart Warrior, diagnosed with a hypoplastic left ventricle, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), pulmonary atresia, and dextrocardia. Ellen has had two surgeries, a shunt operation at one year of age, and a half-Fontan when she was 11 years old. She moved to Canada in 2013. She is studying social services and academic English and hopes to study social work to help others with social and medical problems. She has three heart-healthy siblings. Her older sister is a doctor who takes care of Ellen's health. Ellen recently became an aunt to Molly, who was born in early 2022. Aside from studying and spending time with family, Ellen enjoys acting, watching movies, listening to music, and reading.Ellen talks with Anna about how

What is tricuspid atresia? What kind of complications did Amanda Braun face over the last three decades? What surgical interventions have helped Amanda overcome her cardiac challenges?Born in 1988, Amanda Braun was diagnosed with Tricuspid Atresia, VSD, and HRHS. She had her first of 6 surgeries at 3 months old, which was a pulmonary artery banding. At 4 she developed endocarditis and had to have the PA banding redone. Amanda required no other surgeries until age 14 when she had the Glenn and Fontan done. Apart from a sternal wire removal at age 22, Amanda was well until 32 years of age, when she began to develop a range of symptoms as her heart struggled. She had a dual-lead pacemaker implanted, which was complicated and required two procedures due to her Fontan anatomy. Amanda lives in Indiana and works as a Cardiac Monitor Technician. She also runs “Amanda’s Blankets” where she makes customized blankets for adults, children, babies, and pets.The program starts with us learning a bit about Amanda in Segment

Why would an Australian support group start a podcast? Why is it valuable to have ‘HeartKids’ doing interviews? What topics interest Aussies who listen to this podcast?Sam Stolberg and Rachael Knowles are the hosts of 'From the Heart,' a podcast by HeartKids - the only national charity solely focused on supporting people impacted by childhood heart disease based in Australia. Childhood heart disease (CHD) includes both congenital conditions, and heart conditions acquired during childhood. HeartKids seeks to give everyone with CHD  a fighting chance to live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life. ‘From the Heart’ explores stories of people impacted by CHD. Sam's CHD didn't affect him much growing up, as he played high-level rugby league throughout high school. Then all of a sudden he needed open-heart surgery at the age of 26. Rachael grew up in a small town and vowed never to let her heart condition (tricuspid atresia) get in the way. However, she found herself pushing through rather than pr