Send us Fan Mail

How can a person’s spirituality help her when it comes to coping with her congenital heart defect? What spiritual practices can help Heart Warriors? Why would a Heart Warrior be willing to talk about her spirituality?

Allison  Holmes was born in 1972 with seven heart defects, and she is also a cancer survivor. She has been evaluated twice for the heart and lung transplant list but is not on the list at this time. Since Allison has Situs Inversus, doctors are not sure how to hook up a healthy heart and lungs to the rest of her organs. At present, her heart condition seems to be stable, but she is dealing with pulmonary hypertension. She works as an ESL tutor from home and volunteers with Meals on Wheels and Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. She is also an Adult Congenital Heart Association Ambassador for North Carolina. Allison feels that her spiritual beliefs have helped her through her CHD journey.   

In the first segment, we’ll meet Allison and discover a little bit more about her health journey. The 2nd Segment will involve us learning more about how her spirituality has helped her on that journey and in the last segment, we will learn about Allison’s future.

Links mentioned during the episode:

Allison's "Heart to Heart with Anna" episode: 'Thriving with CHD'

Belen Blanton's foundation
Fundacion Estrellita de Belen

Adult Congenital Heart Association 

Please visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:

Apple Podcasts

Facebook

Instagram

MeWe

Twitter

YouTube

Website

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link (we both benefit if you sign up with Buzzsprout with my link - yay!)

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

Loyal Listeners of "Heart to Heart with Anna" fill the studio in this extra-special episode. They celebrate the 8th anniversary of the podcast by sharing who they are in the congenital heart defect (CHD) community, what episodes are their favorites and why, as well as what they would like to hear on "Heart to Heart with Anna" in 2022.

Episodes and Organizations mentioned in this show

Amy M Le
https://62761.buzzsprout.com/62761/8324425-vietnamese-refugee-author-heart-warrior
https://62761.buzzsprout.com/62761/8667060-a-surprise-for-heart-warrior-amy-m-le

Ellen Banoub

Belen Blanton
Fundacion Estrellita de Belen - https://fundacionestrellitadebelen.org/
Guerreros Del Corazon - https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/guerreros-del-corazoacuten.html

Lisa Schaffer



Michael, Lisa, Mabel, and Maggie Olivares

Heidi Ingvaldson

Tony Codaro

Appu George

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

Lorrie Hill grew up in Texas, mostly Houston and Dallas. She was born with a single ventricle heart and has had four open-heart surgeries in her 25 years, including a pulmonary artery band and bi-directional Glenn shunt. She was listed for a heart transplant on February 24th, 2020. During this time, she graduated with honors from Texas A & M and moved to Houston to be closer to Texas Children's Hospital and to start her master of public health degree.

Unfortunately, due to increased symptoms and increased physical decline, Lorrie was admitted to the hospital in early February 2021 to finish the wait for her transplant. After seven weeks of being inpatient, Lorrie received her new heart on March 31st, 2021. After a bout of rejection and two biopsies in the first 3.5 weeks post-transplant, Lorrie was able to go home and continue the recovery process there.

Lorrie has been a Guest on "Heart to Heart with Anna" previously to share what it was like for her as she began to decline. She wanted to help others understand what it was like to go into congestive heart failure and have to make critical decisions for end-of-life care. We appreciate how earnest she has been with us and how much she has shared her own personal journey to help others who might be facing the same situation.

Links to Lorrie's other episodes:

Waiting for a Heart
Still Waiting for a Heart
8th Anniversary Special: Part 1

Please visit our Social Media and Podcast pages:

Apple Podcasts

Facebook

Instagram

MeWe

Twitter

YouTube

Website

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link (we both benefit if you sign up with Buzzsprout with my link - yay!)

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode celebrating 8 years of “Heart to Heart with Anna," we have many of the Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) Volunteers, the HUG Medical Advisory Board, and our Patrons.

Links to participants' past shows (if applicable):

Kathy Ware
A Heart Warrior’s Early Onset Menopause
From Learning Disabled to College Professor
Panel Discussion on Labels or Terms Used in the Heart Community
Chris Freeman
Marta Montero
CHDs Around The Globe Puerto Rico
You’re Never Too Old to Dream a New Dream: Education for Heart Parents
Guerreros Del Corazon
Deb Gerrits
Lisa Colvil
Lisa Colvil: Heart Warrior Author and Poet
Three Generations: Heart Warrior, Heart Mom & Heart Daughter
Brenda Vignaroli Pool
How Parents’ Relationships are Affected by Having a Child with a CHD
Belen Blanton
Heart Warrior from Venezuela to the USA
Sajani Nair
Mom to an Adult Heart Warrior in India
Dr. Huie Lin
5th Annual Adult Congenital Heart Symposium
Dr. Fred Wu
Advancements in Understanding the Liver in Fontan Patients: Part 1
Advancements in Understanding the Liver in Fontan Patients: Part 2
Coronary Artery Disease in the Congenital Heart Defect Community
Continuing Education for Understanding the Liver in Fontan Patients
Deena Barber, RN
Nurse Burnout in the CHD Community Part 1
Nurse Burnout in the CHD Community Part 2
The Natural Course of Congenital Heart Disease
A Nurses Perspective: Changes in Care over the last 30 Years: Part 1
A Nurses Perspective: Changes in Care over the last 30 Years: Part 2
Roslyn Rivera, RN
A View From the Other Side of the Bed
Nurse Burnout in the CHD Community Part 1
Nurse Burnout in the CHD Community Part 2
Congenital Heart Defects Around the Globe: The Novak Cardiac Alliance
Laura Redfern
Insurance Issues and Financial Planning in the Congenital Heart Defect Community
Behind the Scenes with Hearts Unite the Globe
End-of-Life Financial Planning: Considerations for the Members of the Congenital Heart Defect Community
Alex Jaworski
Sports and Extra-Curricular Activities for CHD Survivors
David Richman
Cycling Through the Pain

Other Organizations Mentioned:
Belen's website
Zipper Sisters
Sisters by Heart
Team Uncle Joe
David's website

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

In this first of a 2-part series of episodes celebrating 8 years of “Heart to Heart with Anna. we have many of the Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) Volunteers, the HUG Medical Advisory Board, and our Patrons celebrating and sharing with us.

Our participants and links to their past shows (if applicable):

HUG Volunteers

Rita Scoggins
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness 2015!
Heart Warrior Mom Raising Children to Adulthood
Allison Holmes
Thriving with CHD
Vicki Lucas
Special Education Transitions for Heart Warriors
The Changing Landscape of Care for Young Adults with CCHDs
What is Normal Child Development in Children with Complex Congenital Heart Defects?
Megan Tones
Expressions from the Heart on HeartWire
Travels of a Heart Warrior!
When You're Married to a Heart Warrior
One Heart Warrior’s Educational Experience Down Under
CHD in the 1980s: Mum, Dad and Daughter
Janet Thompson
Deborah Meisten Nagarajan
A Family Dealing with Tetralogy of Fallot
Lorrie Hill:
Waiting for a Heart
Still Waiting for a Heart
Laura Ryan:
Heart Warrior Mom Raising Children to Adulthood
Panel Discussion on Labels or Terms Used in the Heart Community
A Heart Warrior’s Early Onset Menopause
Living with a Bi-Directional Glenn Heart

HUG Medical Advisory Board Members
Dr. Brandon Lane Phillips
Interwoven Lives and Congenital Heart Defects
Heart Warrior Doctor-Nurse Team: Treating Pediatric Cardiology Patients
A Wish-Made Friendship
Chris Donald, RN
Heart Warrior Doctor-Nurse Team: Treating Pediatric Cardiology Patients
Dr. Edward Bove
Advancements in Treatments for HLHS Heart Warriors
Learning about ccTGA and the Double Switch Procedure

Patrons
Joey Jaworski
Siblings in the CHD Community
Brother of an HLHS Warrior
Frank Jaworski
How Parents’ Relationships are Affected by Having a Child with a CHD
Miracle of a CCHD Baby's Survival
Pam Davis
Alicia Lynch
Jack Lubben

The Writers League of Texas
Annual Texas Book Festival
The Heart Community Collection

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

How does having obstacles to playing sports affect a boy’s feelings of self-worth when growing up? In what ways can a young man feed his desire for sports and athletics, even if his body isn’t able to do what his mind wishes he could do? How can an adult Heart Warrior enjoy a passion for sports when he only has half a heart?

Michael Hills was born in February of 1998 in Ontario, Canada. He was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome when he was five and a half months old. He has had three surgeries: a Norwood at nearly six months, a Glenn at nine months, and a Fontan at two years and four months of age. Ever since the last surgery, he has enjoyed good health. Michael has a passion for sports and played on several sports teams during his school days. Since leaving school, he has studied sports management and sport and event marketing and currently works for a variety of sports clubs and teams. He also enjoys traveling to different countries. Michael wants to share his story about how sports allowed him to live a life with joy and a sense of normalcy, and to show a healthy, active life with complex CHD is possible. 

Links mentioned in the episode:

Links Michael sent me to better understand curling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igG5WyPvyDo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iZbrteHx1o

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/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearttoheartwithanna/

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/annajaworski

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaJaworski

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw

Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=16817 (we both benefit if you sign up with Buzzsprout with my link - yay!)

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

Why are conferences specifically for adults with congenital heart defects important? Who attends ACHD conferences? What can a person expect to learn at a virtual conference?

Annie Ulchak was born in Lima, Peru in 1979 with nomenclature HLHS, pulmonary stenosis, double inlet right atrium, and double outlet right ventricle.  She was adopted and had the two-stage HLHS process: BT shunt at age 3 and classic Fontan at age 7 at Boston Children's Hospital.  She was diagnosed with CHF and cardiac cirrhosis in 2010.  In June 2014, she was diagnosed with autoimmune serositis of the peritoneum. In December 2014 and January 2015, she was diagnosed with atrial flutters and has undergone two cardiac ablations. Following her most recent health struggles, Annie developed a passion for nutrition and improved her health dramatically via an overhaul of her diet. Annie works full-time as a dual executive assistant and project coordinator for a prominent Boston health care system.  When she's not working she can be found volunteering at Quincy Animal Shelter or cooking something delicious in her kitchen.

In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Annie will be sharing with us a little bit about her history, how she became involved with Houston Methodist Hospital, and what we can expect from their upcoming Adult Congenital Heart Conference -- which will be virtual this year. Annie will tell us how she'll be participating in the conference and what others in the CHD community can expect to hear and learn, and why it's important for us to have conferences devoted to adults with congenital heart defects.

Links to things discussed in this episode:

Annie's former "Heart to Heart with Anna" episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/4107911

Registration Link for the Houston Methodist Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Conference: https://tinyurl.com/62nx499d

Fontan Outcomes Network: https://www.fontanoutcomesnetwork.org/

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/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearttoheartwithanna/

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/annajaworski

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaJaworski

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw

Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=16817 (we both benefit if you sign up with Buzzsprout with my link - yay!)

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

What is it like to be the mom of not one but two children with CHD? 

How can you manage epilepsy in a child with CHD?

Melanie Letzer is a geriatric nurse practitioner. She lives in Maryland with her husband Jack and their three children. Her older son, Freddy, now 16, was born with Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia with Multiple Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (MAPCAS). Her younger son, Nicholas, now 5, was also born with TOF and later developed epilepsy. Melanie and John also have a heart-healthy daughter, Alexandra, who is 13.

In this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," Melanie talks with Anna about finding out her sons would be born with heart defects, their surgical treatments, and what it was like for Melanie to have a heart-healthy daughter. She also talks a bit about their family dynamic and their philosophy in living with chronic illness.

Links to 'Heart to Heart with Anna' 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/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearttoheartwithanna/

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/annajaworski

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaJaworski

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw

Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

What was it like raising a daughter with a congenital heart defect in Australia in the 1980s? What challenges did parents of a daughter requiring open-heart surgery face? What does an adult Heart Warrior appreciate about her parents now that she's all grown up?

Donna and Ian were born in Brisbane, Australia in the 1950s. They met in the early 1980s and married in 1982. Megan was born in February 1983. All was going well for the new family until Megan became unwell at 6 days old. Megan made her first ambulance trip to the pediatric cardiology unit at Prince Charles Hospital. With her parents by her side, Megan spent the first four months of her life in the hospital where she had a pulmonary banding operation and finally became strong enough to go home. Megan had two more surgeries as a child, at age 5 and 10, and one surgery at age 25. Today, Donna is very active in her local church and the sewing guild, and Ian plays drums in several local bands.  

Megan's former "Heart to Heart with Anna" appearances:

"Expressions from the Heart on HeartWire" https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/398986
"One Heart Warrior's Educational Experience Down Under" https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/546571
"Travels of a Heart Warrior" https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/1512628
"When You're Married to a Heart Warrior" https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/1686034

Links to 'Heart to Heart with Anna' 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/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearttoheartwithanna/

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/annajaworski

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaJaworski

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw

Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Send us Fan Mail

What lessons can we learn from our Heart Warriors? Why might a Heart Mom write a book about her life experiences dealing with CHD? How does a Heart Mom use her personal experiences to fight for others in the hospital?

Australian Libby Andrew is a busy mom to four sons: John, 14, Matthew, 12, Stuart, 10, and Daniel, 7. Her youngest son Daniel was born with half a heart. Diagnosed in utero at 20 weeks, Daniel was not expected to survive. He had his first surgery at 21 days old, his second surgery, a Glenn shunt, at 5 months, and a Fontan at 3.5 years of age. 

Unable to find the resources she needed to guide her on her journey, Libby wrote a book “Living with HALF A HEART: A Mother's Guide to Navigating Fontan Surgery.”   

Since his surgeries, Daniel has been thriving - he enjoys being with his older brothers and attends school. 

Libby's show on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Living-HALF-HEART-Mothers-Navigating/dp/1925884910/ref

Libby's book in The Heart Community Collection: https://heartcollection.wixsite.com/bookstore/chd-education-wellness

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link (if you'd like to try Buzzsprout for your podcast and get a bonus gift card -- and Anna will, too!) use this link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=16817
 

Links to 'Heart to Heart with Anna' Social Media and Podcast Pages:

Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-to-heart-with-anna/id1132261435?mt=2

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/annajaworski

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HearttoHeartwithAnna/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hearttoheartwithanna/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaJaworski

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw

Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/

The Hearts Unite the Globe (HUG) nonprofit organization is happy to welcome our newest Patreon subscribers, David and Ann Corbly to our HUG family.

Support the show

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website