Hartfelt: Living Life with Congenital Heart Disease hartfeltchd

Welcome back! Check out the new episode to celebrate CHD Awareness Day. My friend Jenna Ohrn (from Episode 4) joins me for an informal chat about living life with Congenital Heart Disease. Enjoy!
 

Hello everyone, 
Welcome to Episode 6. In this episode I interview my therapist, Charu Malhotra (click Charu's name for her Facebook page). We discuss all the emotions we're feeling these days, how to deal with them and ways we can reach out for help. In this episode I also talk about my own mental health journey.
I want to let you know, this podcast may be triggering for some people. Please know, that is not my intention. Rather, I'm choosing to share my story because I'm okay now. I am a survivor and yet, still a fighter. Mental health is not just a temporary thing. It's an every day thing. 
In the episode, Charu mentions a few websites and organizations that you can reach out to for help. Here is a list:
Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com
Distress Line Ontario http://www.dcontario.org/centres.html
Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre (ORCC) http://www.orcc.net/
Government Mental Health Portal https://ca.portal.gs
 
 
 
 

In this episode I talk to Heidi Shallow, an end of life Doula from Cornwall, Ontario. We met randomly via Facebook and it just so happens that Heidi has a pacemaker/defibrillator (ICD) as well. How random. 
One of the topics discussed is how to make an advance care directive. These directives (or plans) are so important to have. It tells your loved ones how you would like to pass. It discusses needing medical machines to stay alive, pain control, feeding tubes, etc. It's important to let your advocate (partner, child, mother, father, best friend, etc) know exactly what you want. To start your advance care directive, you can go to www.advancecareplan.ca 
To get in touch with Heidi, you can find her on her Facebook page or you can reach her at heidimshallow@gmail.com 
Continue to stay safe and healthy!

Meet Jenna. A phenomenal young lady trying to live a normal life. Learn what Jenna does to make her life appear normal. 
FYI: This episode is quite technical in the beginning. To help, I have posted a glossary of terms along with photos on our social media pages. I hope this helps to explain everything. Even if you don't quite understand Jenna's congenital heart defect, you'll still very much be able to relate to her. 
Search @HartfeltCHD on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter
 

Hi Everyone, 
So I openly admit that I've had a rough couple days. I've been very sad and angry and in this journal I try and tell you why and what I'm doing about it. I'm not sure that I'm doing a good job, but it's the best I can do right now. 
Continue to stay healthy and smart!
Jen

Here's today's audio journal. 
I'm thinking of you all! Continue to hang in there!
 
Cheers, 
Jen