Today, I am excited to bring to you my chat with Leslie Glasco, mom of two, including Jade, a 9-year-old who was born with the heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot. Leslie opens up to us about finding out this news during pregnancy and what is was like having a baby with a heart condition, including open heart surgery when Jade was only 9 months old. Leslie also discusses post-partum mental health struggles, brought on by not being able to leave her home for nine months in order to keep Jade from becoming sick before she had her surgery.

You can learn more about Tetralogy of Fallot here: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/t/tof

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

This week's guest is Jamie Freedlund. While pregnant, Jamie was given the news that her daughter, Mattea, had only a 5% chance of surviving birth. Despite the odds, Mattea lived for nine months, and this experience led Jamie to create Mattea's Joy, a non-profit she has run for 13 years. Mattea's Joy has served over 10,000 meals to families of hospitalized children in the Chicagoland area and has expanded to include many additional projects to help families of hospitalized kids.

You can find out more about Mattea's Joy at www.matteasjoy.org

You can also find out more about Jamie and the services she offers at www.jamiefreedlund.com

Don't forget her podcast, Joy in the Journey!

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

This week, I chat with Katie Hamby who has not just one but TWO sets of girl/girl twins! Katie takes us along her journey with her first set of girls born five years ago. Hadley and Harper were born at 24 weeks and spent over 100 days in the NICU. A few years later, after deciding to grow their family, Katie and her husband used ultrasounds and fertility physicians to try to ensure their next child would be just one (not twins) because of their first experience, but .... she once again became pregnant with twins! Katie takes us along as her medical team tried an experimental intervention to try to avoid preterm delivery the second time around. You'll have to listen to see if it worked :)

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

My guest today is Melanie Bill, and her family has such a unique story. Melanie and her husband, Jeremy, began life as dorm parents working with troubled teen boys in Florida. She shares what it was like to raise toddlers and then be pregnant while living with teenage boys in a dorm. They then moved their family of five to Taiwan and later Germany to continue their dorm parent journey. Listen in to hear what it is like living, eating, and working with teenagers from all over the world. She also shares how the cultures of Taiwan and Germany are different from the US and how that changes family life. On top of everything else, she shares what it was like being in Germany with her family during the pandemic!

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

Kaylee Hurt is back this week for part TWO of her incredible story! This week, we chat about what it was like caring for a baby/young child with a trach, and she takes us along Kaydee's journey to becoming trach-free several years later. Also, she shares about what is was like being pregnant again after the trauma of Kaydee's delivery/NICU journey, including Kaylee's experience with post-partum depression.

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

Kaylee Hurt and her family have had QUITE a journey - so much so, that we are breaking this into our first ever two-part series!

Today, Kaylee takes us along as she shares about pregnancy expectations and how her plans changed when she was diagnosed with preeclampsia, which ultimately led to HELLP Syndrome and preterm delivery. Kaylee's daughter, Kaydee, was born at 1 pound 6 ounces and spent nine months between two different NICUs. Kaylee shares about how she ended up havig a SECOND surgery following her emergency c-section and how Kaydee had multiple surgeries as well, including laser eye surgery, placement of a G-tube, and a tracheostomy.

Stay tuned for next week when Kaylee will tell us about caring for a child with a tracheostomy at home, what it was like getting pregnant again after such a traumatic experience with Kaydee, and how their family is all doing today!

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

** Trigger warning: This episode discusses child loss and miscarriage - if you feel this may be triggering for you, feel free to return later when/if you feel ready.

This week, I'm so honored to sit down with Kati Kennedy, who speaks about child loss, miscarriage, and raising her daughter, Haylee, who was born with the rare genetic disorder, Central Core Disease, caused by a mutation in the RYR1 gene. Kati shares about her daughter's long NICU stay along with a more recent long stay in the PICU, after Haylee contracted RSV. Kati has had to fight for her daughter from day one, and she continues to do so every day of Haylee's life, while also raising an older son. Kati is such an inspiration, and I can't wait for you to hear her story!

Find Kati on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/kkennedy915 and Instagram at: @kennedy_mama3

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

Today, I had the honor of speaking with Erin Thomassen who walks up through her journey of when her 4-year-old son, Alex, experienced MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children) after a COVID infection in August 2020. She shares about his symptoms, his hospital stay, his treatment, how it felt parenting a child in the hospital during the COVID lockdown, and how Alex is doing today!

Check out her MIS-C support Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/717408268881155

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

Today's guest is Lindsey Vaughn, mom of 10-year old Ollie. Lindsey was born with spina bifida, and she opens up to us today about pregnancy, delivery, and motherhood while using a wheelchair. Join us to hear about challenges, innovations, and toddler mischief, all related to her unique journey!

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather

Today, I had the joy of chatting with Chelsea Zagalik. Chelsea is a mom of two, and her youngest, Carly, had a stroke around the time of delivery, leading to cortical visual impairment. Listen to hear how Chelsea advocates for her daughter and how her daughter has beat all the odds (walking, going to school, and even riding a bike!)

You can find my book, Learning to Breathe, at:

https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Breathe-story-micropreemies-defied-ebook/dp/B083S6R3CN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RUDD8XIP3YUT&keywords=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans&qid=1675870004&sprefix=learning+to+breathe+heather+evans%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

You can find my book, The NICU Mama Survival Guide, at:

https://www.amazon.com/NICU-Mama-Survival-Guide-Post-Partum/dp/B09MGJ7RSX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24Q2C9CKTALJ2&keywords=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide&qid=1675870037&sprefix=the+nicu+mama+survival+guide%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1

Have a great week!

Heather