Heart To Heart With Anna

Send us a textDavid Franco was born on December 19, 1966, with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (or cc-TGA). David was actually a pioneer as an early cc-TGA Survivor. He was an avid athlete, an advocate for the congenital heart defect (CHD) community, and a devout Catholic. David passed away after over 5 decades of living with his funky heart. He passed due to complications from his CHD on March 12, 2020 - during a coronavirus-complicated world so some family members weren't even able to attend the funeral.This episode is an opportunity for David's mother, sister, and two of his brothers to share memories with Anna of David. Anna also shares some memories and conversations she had with David, who was the Producer of "Heart to Heart with Anna" for years, as well as a frequent Sound Engineer, and the Host of "Heart to Heart with Nicole and David" - one of the podcasts in the HUG Podcast Network.Join us in this episode as we share stories, laughter, and tea

Send us a textWhat is it like to be a physician assistant working in the NICU and then having your firstborn son admitted to the same NICU? Meagan Sheakoski talks to Anna about her experience with Anna after giving birth to a son who had an unknown birth defect. It wasn't until after her son was born that a problem presented itself. Meagan shares what it was like to go from being the expert in the NICU to being the mother of a premature son wondering what was going to happen next.In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Meagan Sheakoski, P.A., and Anna Jaworski talk about Meagan's life choices -- her decision to become a physician assistant, her pregnancy with her son, and her decision to use her experience as a Heart Mom to help other families in the NICU. You won't want to miss this heartwarming interview with 2 Heart Moms.Links to our Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts Facebook  YouTube  Instagram If you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please chec

Send us a textTexas Reardon is a Heart Warrior. Whitney is his wife of 10 years. Born with a host of congenital heart defects, Texas explains to Anna, in this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," about his complicated medical history, and some consequences he's had to face due to falling out of medical care for years. Whitney shares her story, with Anna, about the adjustments she's had to make to help her husband live optimally given his condition. Tune in to hear about the kinds of consequences Texas has endured and the advice he has for others so they won't suffer his same fate.Links to our Social Media and Podcast Pages:Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna/id1132261435?mt=2)Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/HearttoHeartwithAnna/)YouTube  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw)Instagram  (https://www.instagram.com/hugpodcastnetwork/)If you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please check out our Patreon pag

Send us a textTen years ago, Chelsea King discovered that the twins she carried had a potentially deadly secret. The months that followed were full of doctor's appointments, a move to another city, bed rest, and concern. Tune in to hear Chelsea King talk with Host Anna Jaworski about what it was like for her to go from diagnosis through surgeries, and into 2020. Since Chelsea's twin was born with two major congenital defects (tetralogy of Fallot and Duane's Syndrome), she has had many medical procedures and she understands the importance of support. In this episode, she talks with Anna about where she found support, how she's giving support today, and the support she believes she still needs to find.Pages and Episodes mentioned in this program:CongenitalHeartDefects.com Camp Information PageSiblings in the CHD Community -- "Heart to Heart with Anna" featuring Don Meyer and SibShopsSibShops informationPlease visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookYouTubeIns

Send us a textBarbara Ann Angarone is an adult born with a rare congenital heart defect known as dextro-transposition of the great arteries or d-TGA. She had an operation known as the Mustard Procedure. In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Barbara shares with Anna what it was like growing up with d-TGA, her medical history and complications, and what it was like for her to decide to get pregnant and start her family. How difficult was it for her? What complications arose after her first pregnancy? Did her son also have a heart defect? You'll discover the answers to these questions and so much more in this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna."Please visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple PodcastsFacebook YouTube Instagram If you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please check out our Patreon page  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/HearttoHeart)Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long-standing Patrons: Laura Redfern, Pam Davis, Mi

Send us a textJeffrey Romine is a CHD survivor, nurse, and patient advocate. Thirty years ago he was born with dextro-transposition of the great arteries,d-TGA, and was the first patient in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas to receive the arterial switch operation (ASO). Afterward, he had two more surgeries during childhood to repair pulmonary stenosis. He is a licensed practical nurse and is currently studying to become a registered nurse. Until recently, he was a patient care technician and cardiac monitor technician at his local hospital. Jeffrey lives in Wichita with his wife Ashley and two heart-healthy children: Mason and Amelia. In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Jeffrey talks about why he is becoming a registered nurse, how he feels about the quality of life a person with d-TGA should have, some modifications that may need to be made, and what the future holds for him and his family.Please visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple PodcastsFacebook  YouTube  Instagram  If you e

Send us a textHeart Mom and Registered Nurse, Lori Irvin, joins Anna in this July 2020 episode to talk about COVID-19 and a complication that happens in some children called "MIS-C." Lori joins Anna to talk about the challenges and concerns surrounding coronavirus for families with a child who has a congenital heart defect (or CHD) and offers her perspectives and guidance for staying safe, as well as providing information on what we know about symptoms and treatment for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a rare but devastating complication of COVID-19.Article Mentioned in the PodcastPost-Intensive Care Syndrome by the Cleveland ClinicPlease visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple PodcastsFacebook  YouTube  Instagram  If you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please check out our Patreon page  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 McGu

Send us a textHeterotaxy Syndrome is a rare congenital disorder which usually includes a complex congenital heart defect. In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Faith Earnest, a heterotaxy syndrome survivor, shares with Anna what she has uncovered with her research, what her life has been like growing up with this rare congenital syndrome, and what she believes others with heterotaxy syndrome need to know.Other Heart to Heart with Anna Episodes involving heterotaxy syndrome:Ivemark Syndrome: Yesterday and Today Raising Awareness of Ivemark SyndromeHomeschooling a Special Needs Heart Warrior A Connection Between Flu, Arthritis & Heart Disease: A Mother's Instincts Facebook Heterotaxy Support Groups:Heterotaxy Connection SupportThe Heterotaxy NetworkPlease visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple PodcastsFacebook  YouTube  Instagram  If you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please check out our Patreon page  Thanks to our newest HUG Patron, Ayrton Beatty and long

Send us a textBorn in 1960, Kimberly Russell was diagnosed as a "blue baby" and wasn't expected to survive infancy. Kimberly Russell's care for her complex heart was always just a step behind what was necessary to keep her alive. In 2020, Kimberly is preparing to celebrate her 60th birthday with a complex congenital heart defect and she wants to give back to the community which has honored her life. As an author, speaker, and ambassador for the CHD community, Kimberly is holding contests, raising awareness, and showing by example how to enjoy every day of one's life. To take part in Kim's contests in July 2020, visit her Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Kimsheartbeat/Please visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna/id1132261435?mt=2)Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/HearttoHeartwithAnna/)YouTube  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw)Instagram  (https://www.instagram.com/

Send us a textDaphne Davis-Patrick is a mother, a grandmother, a nurse, and an author. She joins Anna in this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna" to share her cardiac journeys as multiple members of her family have had to deal with living with congenital heart defects. Along this journey, Daphne's family discovered a hereditary defect that has affected two of her granddaughters and her son-in-law. The loss of her son, Joval, and the discovery of her family's other congenital heart defects led Daphne to write a book to help other families have hope and never give up.To purchase Daphne's book, go to this websitePlease visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple Podcasts Facebook YouTube  InstagramIf you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please check out our Patreon page  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 Mayberr

Send us a textBiörn Ivemark is credited with the discovery of Ivemark Syndrome in 1955. According to the National Organisation for Rare Disorders, Ivemark Syndrome is comprised of: 1) an absent or underdeveloped spleen, 2) cardiovascular anomalies and 3) abnormal placement of the organs in the chestand or abdomen. Julia Mayfield is an adult born with this rare genetic condition called Ivemark Syndrome.Julia is joined on this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna" by Biörn Ivemark's grandson, Richard Ivemark. Growing up, Richard’s family sometimes spoke of Ivemark Syndrome, butnobody fully understood what it was. After the passing of his grandfather in 2005, Richard was unable to get a complete picture of the disorder. So, in 2019 at the age of 18, he decided to write a paper on Ivemark Syndrome to understand his grandfather’s legacy. In doing so, he found the small, yet welcoming, Ivemark Syndrome community online trying to raise awareness about this rare disorder.Julia and Richard share what th

Send us a textBrandon Lane Phillips and Jeremy Miller are unlikely friends. Brandon was born with tetralogy of Fallot and lived with his family in Louisiana. Jeremy was a child actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Ben Seaver on the hit 1980s sitcom "Growing Pains." The two men met when Brandon, at age 11, had a wish granted to him and he had a chance to meet Jeremy on the set of "Growing Pains" and theirs has been a friendship to transcend the years.On this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," these long-time friends talk to Anna about how they were brought together, what transpired in their lives for them to be brought together time and again, and how they came to write a book together -- "When I Wished Upon a Star: From Broken Homes to Mended Hearts" and what it meant to them to win the Baby Hearts Press People's Choice Award.Here are Brandon Lane Phillips other "Heart to Heart with Anna" appearances:Heart Warrior Doctor-Nurse Team: Treating

Send us a textAnnie Ulchak is a unique Heart Warrior. Born in Lima, Peru in  1979 with nomenclature HLHS, she came to the United States for life-saving surgery, after she was adopted. She joins Anna on this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna" to talk to her about what her medical journey has been like, what complications she has encountered as an adult, and how she has taken control of her medical life.In the 3rd segment, Annie mentions creating a medical history that Heart Warriors can keep with them. Here is a link to the Adult Congenital Heart Association page which helps adults build a convenient History Passport:  https://www.achaheart.org/media/1215/php2018web.pdfPlease visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna/id1132261435?mt=2)Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/HearttoHeartwithAnna/)YouTube  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw)Instagram  (https://www.instagram.com/hugpodcastnetwork/)If you en

Send us a textSandra Wallis is the author of "Not What I Bargained For: My Journey Raising Four Incredible Kids, Including Two With Severe Medical Conditions." She joins Anna in this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna" to talk about what it was like for her to raise two children with special needs and how she because an author. With one child born with spina bifida and another born with gastrointestinal pseudo-obstruction, Sandra certainly had her hands full! Tune in to hear how Sandra faced seemingly insurmountable medical complications, almost losing her precious son, and how she and her husband managed to raise all 4 children to adulthood. To listen to the episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna" featuring Sandra's son Darryl, use this link: https://tinyurl.com/ych3a6hvFind Sandra on Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/sandra.wallis1https://www.facebook.com/Sandra-Wallis-AuthorInstagram:    sandrawallis1To purchase Sandra's book, contact her on Facebook or Instagram

Send us a textSandra Harper Lamgo has a very special story. She talks with Anna about what it was like for her to grow her family and how one loss, in particular, changed her husband's and her life forever. Undiagnosed hypoplastic left heart syndrome resulted in a tragedy that Sandra never could have predicted. Tune in to hear what happened to Sandra and her family, how the loss of her son, William, has affected her life, and the unexpected outcome of losing a child.To be put on the waiting list for Sandra's book, Twenty-Seven Hours of Will, visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SandraHarperLamgo/Please visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna/id1132261435?mt=2)Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/HearttoHeartwithAnna/)YouTube  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw)Instagram  (https://www.instagram.com/hugpodcastnetwork/)If you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please check out

Send us a textBonnie Hunt is a mother of three children, including a medically complex child, who has spent a lot of time in hospitals and doctors’ offices. Greg hasGoldenhar Syndrome, as well as LPA ring-sling complex. She is from theCanadian Prairies and is familiar with many hospitals in the country.She is a devoted mother and advocate for families dealing withGoldenhar Syndrome. Bonnie joins Anna to talk about what Goldenhar Syndrome is and how this rare birth defect has affected her family. She also talks about what it means to have a child with special medical needs in rural Canada and the special challenges her family faces dealing with hospitals that are many miles from her home. Recorded during the height of the COVID-19, Bonnie and Anna discuss what it means for a medically-fragile child to deal with germs, how the coronavirus is affecting the congenital heart defect community, and what language is now part of the world's experience and how that vocabulary might help Bonnie in the future.To lea

Send us a textBrandon Lane Phillips, M.D. and Chris Donald, RN are a unique doctor-nurse duo. Both of these professionals work with children born with heart defects -- just as both of them were born with heart defects themselves. In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," this medical pair talks with Anna about how they met, why they work together, and why they choose to work with families like their own. Recorded during COVID-19, these medical professionals also talk about how viruses affect them and what they do to stay safe when faced with potential medical threats to the health of their patients and themselves.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 PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWe

Send us a textSilent Cries is an internationally acclaimed documentary created by the father of a son with hypoplastic left heart syndrome for the congenital heart defect community. David Franco was an instrumental part of the team that helped to create this documentary. In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," we meet three other members of the team responsible for the documentary. Phillip Wolf, Nicole Vickery, and Dr. Greg Johnson share with Anna about how they came to know David, how they became involved in the project, and what they feel people need to know about David.David Michael Franco passed away on March 12, 2020. He is remembered in this program but this episode is about even more than that! We also get a sneak peek behind the scenes and learn about how the documentary was made, where they went to shoot the film, and who was instrumental in creating a legacy for all involved.Other programs and information mentioned in the show:Silent Cries: Breaking Through CHD AwarenessPhillip Wolf

Send us a textNavin P. Kumar is an extraordinary person who has met medical challenges head-on with a positive attitude and a smile. As a child of the 1970s born with a rare, severe congenital heart defect, Navin has endured multiple open-heart surgeries. He was operated on by cardiac surgeon legend Denton Cooley and feels he owes a debt of gratitude to many for his survival.In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Navin shares with Anna what kind of surgeries he has undergone, what challenges he has faced, and how he believes that he has a purpose in life that has transcended any medical obstacles that he may have encountered -- including early-onset Parkinson's disease. He shares his philosophy of life, and in the final segment, he tells Anna about some new and upcoming projects he is excited to be working on.To read more about Navin P. Kumar here is his IMDB pageTable tennis articles: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Table-Tennis/Features/2014/September/16/Navin-Kumar-Featurehttp://www.mhta

Send us a textAccording to the American Psychological Association, “Marriage and divorce are both common experiences. In Western cultures, more than 90% of people marry by age 50. Healthy marriages are good for couples’ mental and physical health. They are also good for children; growing up in a happy home protects children from mental, physical, educational, and social problems. However, about 40-50% of married couples in the United States divorce.” I scoured the Internet for statistics on families of children with congenital heart defects and was only able to find one small study. That study from 1979-1980 Pediatric Cardiology looked at 40 families of children with tetralogy of Fallot, and they concluded that “stress due to reparable tetralogy of Fallot appears to be well tolerated in the family and is associated with no more family instability or marriage dissolution than a childhood appendectomy.” Each of our Guests today is the parent of a child with a CHD. Our Guests today are Brenda Vignaroli, Leah Ann