On this episode of From The Heart, we’re getting to know Monica Tolic – a heart teen from Adelaide who recently finished her last day of high school! With big goals in sight for her future, Rachael chats to Monica about growing up with a heart condition and managing through the highs chool years. Monica shares her thoughts on mental health, creating balance and becoming independent with her heart health.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit the website at https://www.heartkids.org.au

CREDITS
Host: Rachael Knowles
Guest: Monica Tolic
Producer:  Becky Oakley

In this episode of From the Heart, we're joined by Elle Pendrick, a HeartKid herself and member of our HeartKids Board. Elle is also the founder of Adulting Well - on a  mission to empower and educate people with chronic illnesses. In this episode Elle discusses navigating the financial aspects of living with, or caring for someone, with a childhood heart condition.

For those new to From the Heart we highly recommend you check out an earlier interview we conducted with Elle on preparing for Open Heart Surgery.

For more information and tips, check out Elle's recently released Ultimate Surgery Success Guide.

Content note: This episode provides general ideas for navigating the financial aspects of living with a Childhood Heart Condition in Australia, but it does not provide financial advice. Everybody's situation is unique, so we strongly recommend you get independent financial advice.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit the website at https://www.heartkids.org.au

CREDITS
Host: Rachael Knowles
Guest: Elle Pendrick
Producer:  Becky Oakley

In this episode of From the Heart, we're joined by Tess Waterhouse who shares her remarkable journey of receiving a diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) at age 23. Tess shares her experience with open-heart surgery for her atrial septal defect (ASD) and reflects on her recovery process, coping strategies, and the crucial support networks that helped her. She offers valuable insights on self-advocacy and a message of hope and guidance for others facing a similar diagnosis.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit the website at https://www.heartkids.org.au

CREDITS
Host: Rachael Knowles
Guest: Tess Waterhouse
Producer:  Becky Oakley

This episode, Sami chats to Dr Gavin Wheaton about Rheumatic Heart Disease, and the Deadly Heart Trek.

Dr Wheaton is a paediatric cardiologist at Adelaide’s Women and Children’s Hospital, and part of the Deadly Heart Trek.

Deadly Heart Trek is a group of experienced doctors, local health workers and aboriginal leaders visiting communities across Australia to diagnose, treat and help prevent RHD, while learning and responding to the needs of communities.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit our website:  https://www.heartkids.org.au

LINKS
Learn more about Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD):
https://www.rhdaustralia.org.au/

Learn more about Deadly Heart Trek:
https://deadlyhearttrek.org/

CREDITS
Host: Sami Glastonbury
Guest: Dr Gavin Wheaton
Producer: Melissa Clarke

This episode, Sami chats to Ellen Mitchell about the impact of becoming a Heart Mum, and how she gives back to the CHD community.

Ellen is the Regional Community Coordinator for HeartKids in South Australia. Through her work, Ellen attends regional cardiac clinics, assists in facilitating community events, connecting peers across South Australia, and supporting the community in innovative ways.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit our website:  https://www.heartkids.org.au

LINKS
Learn more about Two Feet and a Heartbeat:
https://www.twofeetheartbeat.org.au/

CREDITS
Host: Sami Glastonbury
Guest: Ellen Mitchell
Producer: Melissa Clarke

This episode, Sami chats to Dr Derek Tran, about exercise physiology, and supporting fitness for those with Congenital or Childhood-Onset Heart Disease (CHD)

Dr Tran is a lecturer at the University of Sydney School of Medicine and Senior Exercise Physiologist at the Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. 

Derek is also the co-coordinator of the world’s largest, and most inclusive CHD exercise clinical trials, called CH-FIT – striving to optimise exercise prescription and delivery for those with CHD. 

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit our website:  https://www.heartkids.org.au

LINKS
Learn more about CH-FIT:
https://www.hri.org.au/our-research/clinical-research/optimising-exercise-prescription-and-delivery-in-congenital-heart-disease-the-congenital-heart-fitness-intervention-trial-ch-fit

CREDITS
Host: Sami Glastonbury
Guest: Dr Derek Tran
Producer: Melissa Clarke

This episode, Tahnee chats with Jayhrani Nicholls, a registered nurse and Aboriginal woman who works at Ngak Min Health, located on the Djarragun College campus in Gordonvale, Queensland. With a passion for empowering individuals to take control of their own health, Jayhrani has been dedicating her skills and expertise to supporting patients with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit our website:  https://www.heartkids.org.au

LINKS
Learn more about RHD:
http://www.rhdaustralia.org.au
 
CREDITS
Host: Tahnee Jash
Guest: Jayrahni Nicholls
Producer: Becky Oakley, Melissa Clarke

In this episode, Rachael chats with Ahmad, a remarkable 17-year-old who faced a life-saving heart transplant during the pandemic. His journey is a testament to unwavering resilience, overcoming challenges which included a leg amputation in his journey with CHD. Get ready to be inspired by Ahmad's indomitable spirit and unwavering determination to embrace all that life has to offer.

Content note: The content touches on medical procedures and challenges faced. If you or someone you know may find this content distressing, we encourage you to approach this episode with care or consider listening with a supportive presence.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit the website at https://www.heartkids.org.au

CREDITS
Host: Rachael Knowles
Guest: Ahmad El Haj Youssef
Producer:  Becky Oakley

In this episode, Rachael interviews May Chan and Bambang Kurnia, from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. May is an experienced Clinical Nurse Consultant in Cardiac Surgery, with a tenure at RCH since 1985. Her primary role involves managing and coordinating teams for cardiac surgeries, ensuring the highest standard of care for patients and their families. Joining May is her colleague Bambang Kurnia, an Associate Unit Manager at RCH. Bambang works closely with May in the cardiac theatre team, contributing his expertise to enhance the quality of healthcare provided.

Content note: The content touches on the topic of pediatric cardiology and the challenges faced in this field. If you or someone you know may find this content distressing, we encourage you to approach this episode with care or consider listening with a supportive presence.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit the website at https://www.heartkids.org.au

CREDITS
Host: Rachael Knowles
Guests: May Chan and Bambang Kurnia
Producer: Becky Oakley

In this episode of From the Heart, Rachael Knowles speaks with Syeda Sultana a devoted sibling and steadfast advocate for her brother who sadly passed away in 2022. A passionate advocate for equitable healthcare, Syeda is now an aspiring medical student with a keen interest in congenital heart defects, hoping to one day to make a difference in the field of paediatric cardiology.

Content note: This episode of From the Heart contains discussions of loss and grief related to a congenital heart defect. The content also touches on the topic of pediatric cardiology and the challenges faced in this field. If you or someone you know may find this content distressing, we encourage you to approach this episode with care or consider listening with a supportive presence.

HEARTKIDS
From The Heart is brought to you by HeartKids, the only national not-for-profit solely focused on supporting and advocating for people affected by congenital and childhood heart disease. For support, information or guidance on your CHD journey, call the HeartKids Helpline on 1800 432 785 or visit the website at https://www.heartkids.org.au

CREDITS
Host: Rachael Knowles
Guest: Syeda Sultana
Producer: Becky Oakley