Heart To Heart With Anna

Send us a textThe Fontan Procedure has been used since the 1970s to treat people with a single ventricle physiology -- also known as a univentricular heart. It has also been used in the last few decades to treat hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS). Now there are enough long-term survivors of the Fontan Procedure for the medical establishment to know what kinds of consequences having such a radical physiology poses. When the heart's sole function is to pump blood to the body, and it travels passively to the lungs for oxygen, how does that anatomy affect other organs, specifically the liver?Dr. Fred Wu of Boston Children's Hospital is an expert in working with adults with congenital heart defects with liver involvement. Today's episode is a continuation of the conversation he had with Anna last week. In today's program he talks about whether or not Stage IV of the Fontan is actually transplantation, what advice he feels Fontan Survivors and paren

Send us a textThe Fontan Procedure has been used since the 1970s to treat people with a single ventricle physiology -- also known as a univentricular heart. It has also been used in the last few decades to treat hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS). Now there are enough long-term survivors of the Fontan Procedure for the medical establishment to know what kinds of consequences having such a radical physiology poses. When the heart's sole function is to pump blood to the body, and it travels passively to the lungs for oxygen, how does that anatomy affect other organs, specifically the liver?Dr. Fred Wu of Boston Children's Hospital is an expert in working with adults with congenital heart defects with liver involvement. He explains what about the Fontan heart makes involvement with other organs something to be expected and prepared for. He will explain what kind of consequences are commonplace when dealing with a Fontan heart and what kind of monitoring sh

Send us a textDeena Barber has been a nurse for over 30 years. Over that time she has seen many changes in care for those born with congenital heart defects (CHDs). Tune in today to hear her discuss some of the most impactful advancements that have led to a change in the CHD population from being mostly comprised of babies to now having the greater percentage of the population being adult survivors.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textDeena Barber has been a nurse for over 30 years. Over that time she has seen many changes in care for those born with congenital heart defects (CHDs). Tune in today to hear her discuss some of the most impactful advancements that have led to a change in the CHD population from being mostly comprised of babies to now having the greater percentage of the population being adult survivors. In Part 2 we'll be discussing the changes that have occurred regarding specific heart defects, namely tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, valve problems, rhythm problems and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFac

Send us a textJennifer Gutman is the mother of a son born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. In today's show Jennifer talks with Anna about finding out about her son's condition after having lost a sibling to the same condition 30 years earlier. She also shares her advice with other parents considering saving umbilical cord blood for future surgeries. She informs Anna how her son's pediatric cardiologist feels about this state-of-the-art procedure. Tune in today to hear Jennifer and Anna in this first episode of Season 9 of Heart to Heart with Anna. The theme for this season is Advancements in Congenital Heart Disease.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple Pod

Send us a textOne 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 of certain textures. This can make feeding our CHD children a great challenge. If you are suffering from this situation, this show is one you shouldn't miss! Our Guests today include Heart Mom, Danielle Leppo, and pediatric dietician, Kristi King. The discuss the diagnosis of Failure to Thrive and why some babies and children with congenital heart defects suffer from oral aversions and poor nutrition and what parents can do about it. Listen to our show to hear of others who have dealt with these issues and find out how they have overcome problems. There is hope!Sheri Turner is our newest

Send us a textChris 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 by many since it was written in 1987: today Chris will give it a fresh new spin!Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textToday'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. Jessie will tell us about the miracle she - and doctors - witnessed in her daughter's life, and how that propelled her towards starting her business: The Cookie Cult. Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textThe Fontan Procedure was first described in 1971 as a treatment for tricuspid atresia. In the last 45 years, the Fontan Procedure has grown and changed and is currently used to save the lives of people born with a number of single ventricle diagnoses -- including tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic left (and right) heart syndrome, common-inlet left ventricle or double-inlet left ventricle. Survivors of this procedure are increasing as the surgical techniques, mediations used, devices used to enhance life and diagnostic methods have improved. What does this mean for long-term survivors? What are common complications? What red flags should Survivors and their parents' (and doctors) be aware of?Today's episode features two Guests: Dr. Wilson Lam, electrophysiologist at Baylor College of Medicine and Lauren Bednarz, 29 year old Fontan Survivor. They will share their experiences and advice with us in this show.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources.

Send us a textIs 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.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textWhen teens become young adults, so many changes occur. For teens with congenital heart defects (CHDs), the changes that occur are often magnified. With the changes that happen in the body as children become adults, there are other changes that happen, too. Oftentimes, CHD Survivors had surgery over a decade earlier and some of those early surgeries may need attention. Suddenly, these Survivors have many decisions to make, yet they may not feel equiped to do so. How can we help teens through this transition period?Two adult CHD Survivors are our Guests today. Lena Morsch was born with double outlet right ventricle, D-transposition of the great arteries and a ventricular septal defect. She has had 3 open-heart surgeries. Christy Sillman, RN, was born with tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. These two adults share their own experiences in transitioning from pediatric care to adult cardiology care and Christy also shares her experiences as a nurse working with adults with CHDs.Thank you to e

Send us a textWhat 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 congenital heart patients at Akron Children’s Hospital. Tune in to hear Deena Barber discuss the natural course of congenital heart disease with Anna.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textMisty Castaneda was born with a heart defect known as tetralogy of Fallot. Told she'd never be able to have children, she was surprised at 19 to discover she was pregnant. Now, 19 years later, Misty has a 19-year-old daughter of her own. Misty has undergone multiple challenges in raising her daughter. Her daughter has had to witness her mother undergo surgery to replace a heart valve and to have a new transcatheter Melody Valve® inserted in her heart. Misty and Milena will talk with Anna about the challenges each of them faced living with tetralogy of Fallot and what others can learn from their experiences. Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFace

Send us a textHow 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? Two adults born with congenital heart defects, Sarah Clark and Nicole Vickery, share their life experiences with Anna and offer advice to listeners.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textDr. 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 (or 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 with increasingly complex needs. He believes that doctors and patients can work together to improve the quality of life of those living with congenital heart defects.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textDo 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 thanks to Certified Financial Planner, Laura Redfern and child and adult psychotherapist, Austin Wilmot, M.S.W. Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textDue to the complexity of the surgeries needed to help people with complex congenital heart defects, it is not uncommon for some survivors to suffer some neurological insults resulting in cognitive delays or even permanent neurological damage. How do parents of children with heart defects and neurological problems cope? What can parents do as their children become adults but are not able to function as adults? What kind of considerations need to be made for these children? Kathy Keller is the mother of an adult transplant survivor who has suffered two strokes and has dealt with neurological issues for a good deal of his life. Tune in to hear how Kathy and her husband Dennis have coped with this situation, what interventions Garrett has undergone to try to undo some of the damage caused by the strokes and what Garrett's prognosis is for the future.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join

Send us a textWhat 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?Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textDavid 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 heart defects (CHDs) need to be aware of and what kinds of questions to ask. He will also share with us what some of his concerns have been in the past and what complications he's experienced. Best of all, David will give advice about what others with CHDs need to consider when they know they will need non-cardiac surgery.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defec

Send us a textWhat'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.Thank you to everyone who has helped HUG in creating our podcasts and other resources. Visit https;//www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to donate or join us!HeartWorks: We Build HeartsHeartWorks empowers the CHD community by advancing research and finding cures for heart defects.Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite