Not A Perfect Heart Podcast: Discussions for the Heart

Cortney Given, Mom to Zola (HLHS), Podcast host of Mindset for Medical Moms, and Life Coach, is truly inspirational with her passion to help other Medical Moms. When her middle child, Zola, was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in utero she turned to Instagram for answers and support. Shocked by the lack of others on the platform, she began documenting her journey and grew a following. She has helped medical moms all over and continues to do so with her podcast, coaching business, and Instagram profile. Take a listen to this episode to learn more about her. Follow her @cortney.given

In this episode, Mary speaks with Heather, a Labor and Deliver RN and mom to 3. Her youngest son, Judah, was born with a complex congenital heart defect. We discuss how this journey has impacted their family and her work as a nurse, specifically the importance of promoting empowerment and advocacy for her patients.

Mary speaks with Lindsay, a  fellow Adult Congenital Heart Disease survivor, about the importance advocacy, mental health, relocation with a chronic illness, and so much more.  Lindsay has never let CHD define her and is passionate about  patient advocacy and using her own life experiences to help CHD patients and their families get the right care. 

Mary speaks with Anna Jaworski, she is a heart mom, host of "Heart to Heart with Anna", and writer.  She has been active in the Congenital Heart Defect community for many years. We discussed what it was like to have limited information about CHD when her son, Alexander, was diagnosed, anxiety, and her future book plans. 

Mary and her dad, David, discuss the murmur that changed everything for their family. His gut feeling that something wasn't right, which lead to admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and multiple open heart surgeries. Join along for their journey back to the beginning!

Dr. Daniel Ganger, Hepatologist at Northwestern Medicine, and Mary discuss the difference between congestive hepatopathy and Fontan Associated Liver Disease (FALD) as well as when a Heart - Liver Transplant may need to be considered. 

Mary goes back to the beginning with her own Heart Mom, Barb. They discuss the early days, months, and years of Mary's life. From finding out about Mary's congenital heart disease, being on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), cardiac tamponade, anxiety as a heart mom and more.