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How do you enjoy the holidays when your heart warrior is in the hospital during the holiday season? What can you do, as a parent, grandparent, or friend, when a child is in the hospital during the holidays? Why is it especially difficult to have a child in the hospital during the holidays?

We’ll answer these questions and more in this episode which features Jenny Muscatell and Lauren Backe. These heart moms have both faced plenty of hospital time and they have some advice and experiences to share with us.

Jenny Muscatell is a Licensed Social Worker, author, and radio host for Christian Mix 106.  She is the Co-founder of Muscatell Ministries, The Heart Community Collection, and serves as Editor in Chief for CHD Magazine. 

As a licensed social worker, Jenny has established an extensive reservoir of expertise specializing in crisis intervention, health systems, and end-of-life care. 

Her best-selling book, The Journey of Faith and Open Heart, shares the story of how she found faith battling for her daughter's life against odds in a true but inspirational journey of trial and triumph. 

Through faith-filled presentations, and heartfelt written words, Jenny’s mission is to give voice to the vulnerable, hope to the hurting, and to make way for the unspoken to be told.

Lauren Backe is Mom to Jack and Everly. Her daughter Everly was born with a congenital heart defect. Everly was induced at a hospital 65 miles from home after a prenatal diagnosis determined she would need open-heart surgery right after birth. Lauren and Matt Backe decided after their daughter’s surgery that they wanted to make life better for children born with CHDs, and other hospitalized children. Lauren currently serves on the Advocate Children's Hospital Family Advisory Council, is a board member for LJ's Healing Hearts and is an active contributor in planning and running LJ's events. She is also a committee member for Children's Heart Foundation Red Tie Ball.

Together, Lauren, Matt, Jack (10), and Everly (5) work with Brave Gowns to get soft, comfortable, and fun hospital gowns on kids. They collect pop tabs to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, and attend school kickoffs for the American Heart Association: Kids Heart Challenge. The Backe Family also enjoyed writing a book about Everly's CHD journey in 2020 with the foundation, Books that Heal. The Backe Family recently set up a blood drive with the American Red Cross.

Helpful Links to Broadcast Episodes Mentioned in the Show:

Jenny Muscatell’s previous Heart to Heart with Anna appearances:

Jenny Muscatell: Heart Mom, and Author
The “CHD Magazine”: A Magazine for the Congenital Heart Defect Community
Jenny’s book
Matt Backe’s episode: Beyond the Scar: Bonding with our CHD Children
LJ’s Healing Hearts
Brave Gowns

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