Heart To Heart With Anna

Send us a textSeason 10 of Heart to Heart with Anna is focused on educational issues but almost all of the programs have dealt with Heart Warriors in the United States. Join us with this program as we go Down Under to talk with an Australian Heart Warrior and what she experienced growing up with a congenital heart defect. Did Megan have the same kind of experiences her American counterparts had? What advice does Megan have for others in the Heart Community? What kind of things did Megan's parents do which she felt have helped her in her adult life? Tune in for the answers to these questions and more!Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael Liben, Nancy Jensen, Alicia Lynch, Deena Barber, Carlee McGuire, Carter & Faye Mayberry, and Frank Jaworski. We appreciate you!Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite

Send us a textJoin us in this episode as we investigate a world filled with acronyms and letters (504 Plans, IEPs, ARDs). Special Education Instructor and Heart Mom Marie O'Donnell demystifies the world of special education as she explains what different kind of special education plans are, who can benefit from them and how the plans for children born with congenital heart defect can change over time. Discover what Marie has learned from being both a parent of a special needs child and the teacher who works with special needs children. Find out what things might be different from state to state (if you live in the United States) but what things are constant. Anna and Marie dig deeply into the world of special education from Early Childhood Education all the way to graduation. You won't want to miss this informative program.Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael Liben, Nancy Jensen, Alicia Lynch, Deena Barber, Carlee McGuire, Carter

Send us a textThe number of families in the United States and around the world who are choosing to homeschool seems to be on the rise. There are a number of countries where it is illegal to homeschool but in the countries where it is not illegal, it is a viable option and often reaps great rewards for the children and the families as a whole. For many people, homeschooling is more than an educational option -- it's a lifestyle choice. Homeschoolers frequently have more opportunities to serve their communities and to interact with people of all ages than children who attend traditional brick-and-mortar schools.. Tune in to this program to hear experienced homeschool mother Chelle McIntyre-Brewer share with Anna what event caused her to homeschool her two children, what advantages she believes the children have been afforded by being homeschooled and how they are learning self-advocacy in addition to typical subjects. Chelle McIntyre-Brewer is a military wife and she details how choosing to homeschool has

Send us a textWhat happens when you expect a perfectly healthy baby but after delivery you discover your baby has a heart defect -- one that will require open-heart-surgery to fix? How can ordinary parents learn about the function of the heart? What should they teach their children about their heart defects? Who can help parents to learn about heart defects? What kind of support is available for parents of children with broken hearts?Tune in to hear Katina Robalino discuss this important topic. As a teacher, Katina knows the importance of having valuable information before making potentially life-threatening decisions. Discover what Katina did to educate herself and how she now advocates for her two daughters born with congenital heart defects and the heart-healthy daughter she has as well. Learn from this teacher how you can teach your own children and what information they should be given at different levels of development.Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfe

Send us a textIt is a commonly known fact in the congenital heart defect (CHD) community that now there are more adults alive with CHDs than babies being born. That means we have more people reaching adulthood than ever before and that means that more people than ever before have had to make the transitions from infancy to adulthood with a special heart. What does that mean for children born with critical congenital heart defects?What special struggles might they face? How can parents help their children to transition over the course of their lives? What do parents need to do to help their children become independent and successful? If infants are diagnosed as a "special needs children" will they ever be able to shake that label to live "normal" lives? Vicki Lucas, special educator and Heart Mom, shares her stories about watching her son, Alex (born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome or HLHS) go from infancy to adulthood. She expounds upon some of the struggles Alex endured and how he ha

Send us a textThis season we're focusing on education for Heart Warriors and today's show exemplifies how learning is a life-long process. Today's show deals not only with how Heart Warriors can continue their eduation about congenital heart defects (CHDs), but how the entire CHD community can continue to become better education about heart issues. Perhaps even more importantly, today's episode speaks directly to how the CHD community can grow by having families and the professionals who serve them come together. Find out how the Atlantic Canadian region services their CHD community through the development of support groups (both online and face-to-face), conferences and summer camps specifically for Heart Warriors.Today's Guest is Heart Mom and Braveheart Support Society Founder, Yarrow Gillis. She'll entertain us with stories about the growth and development of multiple resources for the CHD community and how Listeners can take advantage of those resources, even if they don&apo

Send us a textThe United States Department of Education reports that homeschooling continues to grow with an estimated 1,770,000 homeschooled students in 2013. That is 3.4% of the school-aged population! This is an increase of 61.8% over the previous ten years. There are many reasons parents choose to homeschool their children but one obvious reason to homeschool a child with a congenital heart defect is to minimize a medically fragile child's exposure to germs and diseases. That's where today's Guest, Erin Ayscue, is an expert. As the mother of a child with a critical congenital heart defect, as well as other medical conditions and learning disabilities, Erin understands the importance of providing a learning environment rich in resources with minimal risk of exposure to illnesses that could hospitalize her child. Tune in to hear Erin share her experiences in homeschooling a special needs Heart Warrior with us. She'll share why she chose to homeschool her daughter, the kind of curriculum

Send us a textMilitary families lead a very different life than civilian families do. Military families come from all walks of life and, when their children are diagnosed with heart defects, the challenges can vary according to location, branch of service, and of course separations that come at the most unexpected times. Despite these challenges, military families try their best to find ways to balance all aspects of their lives with a positive attitude. When a child is born to a military family and that child has birth defects, the one thing most families want is comfort -- and oftentimes comfort is found in what is familiar but many of our military families are not afforded that luxury. How do military families deal with having a child with a heart defect? What special challenges do they face? Who can help them through the difficulties associated with having a child who needs surgery in the first days or months of a baby's life and will require lifelong care? Our Guests today are military wives, Andrea

Send us a textMany years ago, when people were diagnosed with congenital heart defects, their doctors warned parents about the dangers of allowing their children to cry, to become upset or to exert themselves. What have doctors learned from those early pioneers in the realm of congenital heart disease (CHD)? How has the medical world come to view CHD Warriors' needs to take part in physical activities? What kind of activities are common amongst children who survive childhood with funky hearts? What can children, and adults alike, expect if they over-exert themselves? What kind of activities was our Guest, Jennifer Weiner, able to enjoy? How has her enjoyment for physical activities changed over time? Join us for the answers to these questions and much, much more!Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael Liben, Nancy Jensen, Alicia Lynch, Deena Barber, Carlee McGuire, Carter & Faye Mayberry, and Frank Jaworski. We appreciate you!Support

Send us a textCardiac athletes are all around us. There are athletes who develop heart problems or who discover, after they have been athletes for a while, that there heart has some imperfections that may require surgery and there are people who were born with heart defects who have a great desire to become an athlete and to enjoy the benefits of regular exercise. Lars Andrews, a cardiac physiologist, has created a website and an organization to eradicate heart disease. His organization serves thousands of athletes around the world. Cardiac Athletes is the world's largest online community for sporting heart patients, offering an unprecedented breadth and depth of help, support, advice and fulfilling our Mission of alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life. Listen to today's show to learn more about Lars, why he created this program, how athletes can help themselves, even if they have had open-heart surgery and learn about the book that Lars has put together, "Cardiac Athletes: Real

Send us a textPeople who are born with congenital heart defects (CHDs) are at greater risk for having a TIA (mini-stroke or transient ishcemic attack) or stroke. A stroke occurs when there is bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) or a blood clot blocking blood going into (or through) the brain -- which is called an ischemic stroke. Many people who have CHDs have rhythm problems and these electrical problems with the heart can lead to TIAs or strokes. Additionally, some people with CHDs have valve problems, holes in their hearts or heart failure. All of these conditions create an environment that is conducive to the formation of blood clots or blockages which could lead to a stroke. This is why it's extremely important for people with CHDs to be aware of the warning signs of strokes or TIAs.Carol Raimondi, a CHD and Stroke Survivor, is today's Guest Host. She interviews TIA survivor, Frank Lynn, and Stroke Survivor, Terese Quarino, about what happened to them when they suffered their neurologi

Send us a textToday's podcast deals with a topic that all Heart Parents know all too well -- the emotional impact of having a child with a congenital heart defect. Our expert Guest, Yarrow Gillis, talks candidly with Anna about what it's like to have a child born with a critical congenital heart defect, what it's like to have to go through surgeries, the feelings of isolation many parents experience and a possible amazing solution to some of the problems that parents face! Tune in to hear Yarrow and Anna talk about their experiences and what they've done to try to make life a little better for the families who have had children born after them.Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael Liben, Nancy Jensen, Alicia Lynch, Deena Barber, Carlee McGuire, Carter & Faye Mayberry, and Frank Jaworski. We appreciate you!Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsF

Send us a textNow that more Heart Warriors are surviving to adulthood than ever before, there is a growing cohort of individuals actually entering middle age. So for the first time ever, there is a group of female Heart Warriors who are actually experiencing the consequences of aging. What happens when female Heart Warriors enter menopause? Are there special considerations that need to be taken for Heart Warriors who are peri-menopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal? What symptoms are typical? Are there physiologic differences that happen to women who have experienced multiple open-heart surgeries? What kind of symptoms should female Heart Warriors be aware of? What groups of medical professionals can help female Heart Warriors who might worry they are experiencing menopause? Tune into today's show to hear Guest Host, Heart Warrior Laura Ryan, as she interviews fellow Heart Warrior, Kathy Ware, about this very important topic.Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laur

Send us a textGuest Host, Rita Scoggins, interviews Heart Warrior, Laura Ryan, today about what it was like to raise two children. Laura Ryan is a congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and DILV (or double inlet left ventricle) Heart Warrior. Rita Scoggins is a Heart Mom to a single ventricle Heart Warrior. They talk about what it means to raise children and what special challenges Laura faced raising her two sons Jed and Liam. What differences are there between Laura's childhood and her children's childhoods? How was she able to cope with raising the children when they were younger and as they grew up? What does Laura look forward to in the future? Tune in to hear answers to these questions and more!Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael Liben, Nancy Jensen, Alicia Lynch, Deena Barber, Carlee McGuire, Carter & Faye Mayberry, and Frank Jaworski. We appreciate you!Support the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affili

Send us a textToday's show features two Heart Warriors -- Guest Host Carol Raimondi and Guest Roslyn Rivera. Both of these Heart Warriors decided to go into nursing. Tune in to hear why Carol (a cc-TGA Heart Warrior) and Roslyn (an partial atrio-ventricular septal defect and mitral valve replacement Survivor) became nurses, how the job made them view their own heart defects and what changes had to be made in their lives over time regarding the stress and strain of being a nurse. Now that more babies with congenital heart defects are surviving to adulthood than ever before, it's more likely that some Heart Warriors will go into the medical field. Discover what these two Heart Warriors think about other Heart Warriors entering the medical field and what their own experiences have been like.Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael Liben, Nancy Jensen, Alicia Lynch, Deena Barber, Carlee McGuire, Carter & Faye Mayberry, and Frank Jawo

Send us a textDr. Wayne Franklin is a pediatric cardiologist specializing in the care of adults with congenital heart defects, and especially those adults with pulmonary hypertension. Today he talks to Anna about the advancements made regarding pulmonary hypertension, what the warning signs are and who is at risk as well as what he sees for the future regarding those who develop PH or PAH (pulmonary arterial hypertension). Find out what percentage of adults with congenital heart defects also suffer from some form of pulmonary hypertension and what efforts are being made by the congenital heart defect community regarding determining baseline pulmonary function in those most at risk for developing pulmonary hypertension. What are some of the new drugs that have been created to help those with pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary arterial hypertension? Dr. Franklin discusses these topics and much, much more!Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael

Send us a textDr. Timothy Nelson is the director of the Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for HLHS at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Nelson and his team are specifically interested in the cause of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and finding ways to delay and prevent heart failure for individuals with HLHS. To better understand and treat this congenital heart disease, the program has taken a multifaceted approach that includes research into stem cells, genetics, imaging tools, and the creation of a biorepository. The program has launched clinical trials using autologous stem cells, also known as stem cells collected from an individual’s own body.In today's program, Dr. Nelson talks with Anna about the research that is being conducted at Mayo Clinic for both infants and adults. He talks about who can participate, how to find out more information and how people can contact his program for more information. Dr. Nelso also talks with Anna about where he believes the future of stem cell therapy and research is hea

Send us a textHypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a critical congenital heart defect -- meaning that surgery within the first year of life is necessary to survive. Several decades ago, HLHS was uniformly fatal (except in some very rare cases) and most infants died within the first month of life. Since the 1980s there have been efforts made to save babies with HLHS. The results have been amazing. Now the success rate for babies born with HLHS is at an all-time high. What advancements have been made? What current treatments are most promising? What new treatments are on the horizon?Dr. Edward L. Bove is known throughout the world as "the man with the golden hands" because of his surgical skill working on babies with critical congenital heart defects. He joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as director of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and became Head of the Section of Cardiac Surgery in 1999. He has given hundreds of presentations on heart surgery around the world. He has served o

Send us a textThe field of pediatric cardiology and that of congenital heart disease has changed a great deal in the last couple of decades. Once upon a time, people born with critical congenital heart defects were called "blue babies" or "cardiac cripples" and were expected to die in infancy or in early childhood. Now that there are more adults alive with congenital heart defects, than babies born each year, everything is changing. One of the biggest changes to occur has happened in the area of family planning for those born with critical congenital heart defects. Dr. Peter Ermis is a specialist who works at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. As a certified pediatric cardiologist with a specialization in working with adults with congenital heart defects, he is in a unique position to help men and women deciding to start their own families. Tune in today to hear Dr. Ermis tell us about the advancements he has seen and expects to see regarding preganancy and family planning f

Send us a textThis episode features two very special Guests -- Michelle Steltzer is a nurse and the sister of a Heart Warrior born with a single ventricle heart in the 1970s. Susan Romanesko is Michelle and Greg's mother. She talks with Anna about what it was like to give birth to a Heart Warrior in the 1970s, and how, as an infant and even into adulthood, medical technology and treatments seemed to be just a step ahead of where her son, Greg, needed to be in order to save her son's life. Michelle also shares important observations with Anna about the trends she sees in family-centered care centers and why families have needed to become a more vital part of any care plan for a child with a congenital heart defect, especially for those born with complex congenital heart defects.Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Michael Liben, Nancy Jensen, Alicia Lynch, Deena Barber, Carlee McGuire, Carter & Faye Mayberry, and Frank Jaworski. We ap