Heart to Heart with Anna

HUG Podcast Network
  • 4.4 (19)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Revitalize your spirit and connect with the vibrant congenital heart defect (CHD) community through 'Heart to Heart with Anna,' the pioneering podcast that has been inspiring and informing listeners since 11-12-13. Join us as we dive deep into the personal journeys, triumphs, and challenges of Survivors, their loved ones, esteemed medical professionals, and other remarkable individuals within the CHD community. With unwavering dedication, our heartfelt conversations bring to light the stories that need to be heard. Gain invaluable insights, expert advice, and a sense of empowerment as we explore the multifaceted world of CHD. Our mission is to uplift, educate, and enrich the lives of every member of this incredible community. Embark on a transformative listening experience where compassion and understanding thrive. Discover the resilience and unwavering spirit that resides within each person touched by CHD. Together, let's build a community where support and knowledge flourish, bringing hope to the forefront. Tune in to 'Heart to Heart with Anna' and embark on a remarkable journey that will leave you inspired, enlightened, and connected to the beating heart of the CHD community.

  1. A Parent’s Guide To CHD, Neurodevelopment, And Resilience

    12/28/2025

    A Parent’s Guide To CHD, Neurodevelopment, And Resilience

    Send us a text What if the most powerful lever for your child’s growth isn’t another appointment, but how you care for yourself? We sit down with neuropsychologist Dr. Dawn Ilardi to connect the dots between CHD, early brain development, medical trauma, and the everyday choices that help families thrive. From prenatal influences on cognition and behavior to the protective force of stable routines and responsive parenting, we translate research into practical moves you can make this week. We explore why CHD outcomes are shaped long before surgery and how heterogeneity makes each child unique, yet still able to benefit from adapted tools used in the general population. Dr. Ilardi explains how family factors—predictable structure, warm communication, and realistic challenges—can buffer stress and build resilience. We also address the quiet weight of medical trauma for parents and teens, outlining small, affordable supports like gratitude journaling, micro‑breaks, and CHD‑savvy counseling, alongside the healing power of honest community. You’ll also hear about a new resource: Parenting Kids with CHD, an on‑demand library of short videos and monthly live Q&A designed to bridge the gap between science and everyday life. Topics range from ADHD meds and evaluation paths to tackling anxiety, early language delays, and transition to adult care. As Anna announces a writing hiatus, we highlight where to find archives and why the broader HUG network continues to amplify CHD stories and support. Subscribe for more conversations that blend empathy and evidence. If this episode helped you feel seen—or gave you one concrete tool to try—share it with a friend, leave a review, and tell us the next question you want answered. Dr. Ilardi’s other episodes: Season 1: What is Normal Child Development in Children with Complex CHD? https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/episodes/852321 Season 19: Unlocking Neurodevelopmental Breakthroughs: Impact of CHDs and Parental Influence https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/episodes/15872291 Season 20: When Hearts and Minds Unite: Navigating Neurodevelopment in CHD https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/episodes/16895529 Dr. Ilardi’s blog: https://pedneurocenter.com/author/dilardi/ Join the waitlist for the Parenting Kids with CHD: https://pedneurocenter.com/parenting-kids-with-chd/ The news article I mentioned at the top of the episode (Neurodevelopment in Congenital Heart Disease: A Review of Antenatal Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-025-04360-y Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    43 min
  2. Connecting Hearts: The Science and Stories of Congenital Heart Innovation

    12/01/2025

    Connecting Hearts: The Science and Stories of Congenital Heart Innovation

    Send us a text A month of movement—across states, across continents, and across ideas—shapes this episode of Heart to Heart with Anna, where personal connection meets the frontiers of heart medicine. We begin with gratitude, travel, and family updates, then explore two breakthroughs shaping the future of congenital heart care: a major open-access study using whole-genome sequencing to forecast outcomes after CHD surgery, and nanotechnology that turns everyday implants into infection-resistant, tissue-regenerating tools. CHD News Article Referenced: “Genome sequencing is critical for forecasting outcomes following congenital cardiac surgery,” published in Nature Communications (open-access). 🔗 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61625-0 Our guest, Tom Webster, has spent more than two decades showing that the tiniest details can change everything. By adding nanoscale textures to already-approved implant materials, his teams have helped more than 30,000 patients—without a single reported implant failure. Tom explains how these nanostructured surfaces reduce infection without antibiotics, encourage heart and vascular tissue to heal, and speed up regulatory approval by keeping the chemistry the same while transforming the surface. Together, we explore cardiac patches that act like “Band-Aids for the heart,” vascular stents that resist clotting, and lessons learned from nature’s own antibacterial designs. We also talk about emerging strategies that combine nanomaterials with stem cells—guiding differentiation without drugs and anchoring cells exactly where the body needs repair. And we look ahead to implantable nanosensors that may one day send real-time data straight to your phone, giving families and clinicians a continuous picture of heart health far beyond today’s occasional lab tests. If you’re curious how genetics, materials science, and continuous monitoring could personalize heart care for people living with CHD, this is the episode for you. Press play, share it with someone who needs hope grounded in evidence, and subscribe for more conversations like this. If this episode moved you, please leave a review and let us know which ideas you’d like us to explore next. Have a question for Tom? He welcomes inquiries from listeners who are curious about nanotechnology, innovation, and heart health. Please send your question to Anna@HeartToHeartWithAnna.com, and I will be happy to pass it along to him. Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    43 min
  3. ECMO To Ironman: Elmar Sprink's Story about Life After Heart Transplant

    11/08/2025

    ECMO To Ironman: Elmar Sprink's Story about Life After Heart Transplant

    Send us a text What does it take to learn to sit again, then stand, then chase the horizon at the Ironman World Championship? We sit down with endurance athlete and keynote speaker Elmar Sprink to trace the steps from sudden cardiac arrest and seven months on ECMO to a disciplined, data‑driven comeback fueled by routine, empathy, and stubborn hope. Elmar opens up about the invisible work of recovery—why he treated hospital life like a training plan, how a visitor spreadsheet kept his spirits up, and the role therapy and humor played when the outcome was uncertain. We unpack the nuts and bolts of training after a heart transplant: threshold testing to set safe zones, the difference denervated hearts can make to heart rate response, and why indoor cycling and carefully staged swim returns protect against infection while rebuilding fitness. Elmar explains how steady training lowered his blood pressure and reduced medications, and he shares the small, daily wins—like a perfect cappuccino—that kept his motivation alive. Along the way, he reflects on gratitude for his unknown donor and the ritual of honoring that gift at every finish line. Anna also spotlights creative sparks and community momentum: new children’s stories in the Living with CHD series that portray everyday family life with honesty, plus highlights from the SV-ONE conference where scientists, clinicians, and advocates collaborate for single ventricle care. We share upcoming inclusion goals, from an ASL episode to a new German episode featuring Elmar, and we talk candidly about organ donation advocacy—what messaging moves people, and how real stories can shift culture and save lives. If you’re navigating CHD, recovery, or any long road back, this conversation offers a clear playbook: start small, be consistent, protect your body, lean on your people, and celebrate the quiet victories. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a lift, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway—we’d love to hear what small win you’re chasing this week. Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    41 min
  4. From Antidepressants To Arrhythmias: A Candid Guide To Drug‑Induced Long QT

    10/21/2025

    From Antidepressants To Arrhythmias: A Candid Guide To Drug‑Induced Long QT

    Send us a text We share community updates and new events, then sit down with Ayrton Beatty to unpack how an antidepressant triggered Long QT syndrome, what symptoms to watch for, and the everyday tactics that keep them safe while honoring Edward’s memory. The conversation blends hard science, lived experience, and practical steps anyone can use to advocate with confidence. • Red Hat Society join and conference highlights • Down syndrome and CHD awareness link • Upcoming Zoom listening session details • Live recording on transition and life stages • Ayrton’s diagnosis of drug‑induced Long QT • Warning signs during exercise and daily walks • Role of wearables in spotting heart‑rate thresholds • Tapering off venlafaxine and mental health impact • Switching to citalopram and ongoing vigilance • Triggers to avoid including sudden noises and swimming • Practical safety tips including hydration and potassium • Advocacy advice and seeking second opinions • Remembering Edward and hidden electrical disorders Join us on November 25th, 2025 at 4 p.m. Central Time for a Zoom listening event to hear Ellen Boyer’s episode "Shattering Stereotypes in the World of Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Defects.” Here is the Zoom link:  https://tinyurl.com/HUGZoomRoom Patrons, meet us on October 30th at 4 p.m. Central Time for our live recording on "Transition and Life Changes." Here is the Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/HUGZoomRoom Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    36 min
  5. CHD Connects Hearts: A Grandmother’s Mission to Unite Us All

    09/29/2025

    CHD Connects Hearts: A Grandmother’s Mission to Unite Us All

    Send us a text What happens when a grandmother's love collides with a broken system? When Christy Pace's grandson Hunter was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome before birth, she found herself thrust into an unexpected role – not just as a supportive grandmother, but eventually as a visionary determined to transform how the CHD community connects. Our conversation pulls back the curtain on the rarely discussed perspective of grandparents in the CHD journey. Christy's raw honesty about her emotional response – moving from shock to protection, anger to fear – reveals the complex ripple effects when a heart diagnosis enters a family. When COVID restrictions prevented her from being present for Hunter's birth or even meeting him until he faced a life-threatening cardiac arrest at two months old, Christy's determination only grew stronger. The isolation heart families experience emerged as a central theme in our discussion. As Christy watched her daughter retreat from social gatherings to protect Hunter between surgeries, she recognized a hard truth many relatives miss: this isolation isn't a choice but a survival strategy. "This isn't 'I don't want them to get a cold,'" Christy explains. "This is life and death." Her passionate plea for extended family to keep inviting, even when the answer is consistently "no," offers valuable perspective for anyone supporting heart families. But what makes this conversation truly special is how personal trauma transforms into purpose. After years of searching for resources to help her daughter and grandson, Christy grew frustrated with the scattered nature of CHD support. Rather than starting another foundation, she's created something revolutionary: CHD Connects Hearts, a distraction-free ecosystem bringing together patients, families, organizations, and researchers in one private community without the noise of advertising or algorithms. Whether you're a heart parent, grandparent, or supporter, this episode offers both emotional validation and practical hope. As Christy reveals her vision for united progress in the CHD world, you'll be inspired to consider how connection might be our most powerful medicine. Link to CHD Connects Hearts: https://chdconnectshearts.com/home Anna's Blog: https://www.heartsunitetheglobe.com/hug-blog/moving-beyond-facebook-joining-forces-with-chd-connects-hearts Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    46 min
  6. Half a Heart, Whole Stories: Steven Hutchison, Jessica Cowin, and More

    09/10/2025

    Half a Heart, Whole Stories: Steven Hutchison, Jessica Cowin, and More

    Send us a text Steven Hutchison has defied expectations his entire life. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) nearly four decades ago, he is now a 38-year-old husband, father of three, and full-time worker who approaches each day with remarkable perspective and gratitude. Diagnosed at two weeks old, Steven underwent staged surgeries including the Glenn and Fontan procedures, and now lives with Fontan-associated liver disease, one of the long-term complications that requires careful monitoring. But his story is about more than medical milestones. Steven shares how living on the same street as his parents and brother has created a strong support system, how he explains his condition to his children with honesty and hope, and how his faith and outlook shape the way he moves through life. From two 12-hour ablations to participating in groundbreaking research with HeartWorks, Steven’s resilience continues to inspire. His message to parents of newly diagnosed HLHS babies is simple but powerful: there is so much more possibility today than when he was born. Steven’s story is a reminder that people born with congenital heart disease can build meaningful lives filled with purpose, family, and joy—not despite their condition, but alongside it. Links to events mentioned in this episode: Link to register for FON-ONE: https://web.cvent.com/event/80f0addb-25c0-4d87-9cb1-99931b9062db/summary CNOC Scientific Session: https://cardiacneuro.org/scientific-sessions/ HeartWorks: https://heartworksinc.org/ Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    47 min
  7. Voices of Strength: Tyler Šajdák's HLHS Journey and Advocacy in the CHD Community

    08/28/2025

    Voices of Strength: Tyler Šajdák's HLHS Journey and Advocacy in the CHD Community

    Send us a text Tyler Šajdák wasn't supposed to grow up. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 1993, he was part of a generation receiving experimental surgeries with uncertain outcomes. Today, at 31, he works as an academic advisor, pursues a master's degree, and serves as a powerful advocate for the adult congenital heart defect community. "I've been told by people that just by looking at me, they wouldn't know that I had a heart defect," Tyler shares during our conversation. This invisibility is both a blessing and a challenge for the growing population of adult CHD survivors who must navigate a healthcare system still learning how to treat them. Tyler's involvement with Single Ventricle One (SV1) - the recently unified organization combining pre-Fontan and post-Fontan networks - puts him at the forefront of efforts to improve care for adults with complex heart conditions. "I think my role is making sure the other planners are thinking of how the adults can be served as well," he explains, describing how medical conferences historically focused primarily on pediatric care. Our conversation delves into deeply personal territory as Tyler recounts his experience with vocal cord paralysis following surgery and the profound moment when his grandfather, after suffering a stroke, heard Tyler speak with a full voice for the first time shortly before passing away. We also discuss his recent transplant evaluation, where doctors delivered some surprising news. For anyone living with CHD or caring for someone with a heart defect, Tyler's story offers both practical guidance and emotional resonance. From balancing health concerns with career ambitions, to finding community with others who share similar experiences, he demonstrates how adults with congenital heart conditions can thrive while helping shape a medical field still discovering what lifelong care looks like for this first generation of survivors. Connect with the SV1 community through their upcoming patient day in Indianapolis this October - whether you're a patient seeking connection, a parent looking toward your child's future, or a medical professional committed to advancing care standards for this unique population. Helpful Links mentioned during this episode: Boston Children's Hospital Single Ventricle Family Day at the New England Aquarium: https://ow.ly/omax50WAN8A Kristi Pena’s episode about Barth Syndrome: https://www.buzzsprout.com/62761/episodes/398916 Link to register for SV-One Fall 2025: https://www.svone.org/events/fall-2025-learning-session Link to "The Heart of a Heart Warrior" book series on Baby Hearts Press. Tyler's essay is in Volume One: Survival: https://babyheartspress.myshopify.com/products/the-heart-of-a-heart-warrior-volume-1 Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    46 min
  8. Creating Change: The Heart Behind Embers of Love

    08/01/2025

    Creating Change: The Heart Behind Embers of Love

    Send us a text What happens when a tiny heart warrior inspires a movement of love and advocacy? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Haley Graham, whose daughter Emberly Dawn was born with multiple heart defects, including a rare Taussig-Bing anomaly. Haley takes us through the emotional journey from that first concerning ultrasound to the founding of Embers of Love, a nonprofit that's changing lives across Manitoba. Haley shares the raw truth of those early days—the quiet car ride home after receiving concerning news at her 41-week ultrasound, being flown from Winnipeg to Edmonton for emergency treatment just days after Emberly's birth, and the month spent in a hotel across from the children's hospital. Her story captures both the inherent isolation of receiving a CHD diagnosis and the profound community support that emerged to sustain them. The name "Embers of Love" came from a touching observation made during Emberly's hospital stay—that this tiny baby somehow "spreads embers of love to everyone she meets." What began with handmade keychains and candles has blossomed into a significant advocacy organization that's participated in over 35 initiatives since 2023. From donating sound machines to the NICU to organizing craft kits for Heart Camp campers, Haley shows how personal experience can transform into meaningful community action. Most moving is Haley's reflection on how Amberlee has become "the flame to our family fire," completely shifting their perspective on what matters in life. Her story reminds us that even in our most vulnerable moments, we can find purpose, create lasting change, and spread those precious embers of love to others walking similar paths. Ready to get involved in supporting the CHD community? Visit www.heartsunitetheglobe.com to learn how you can join our volunteer team and make a difference in the lives of heart warriors and their families. Links: Embers of Love: https://www.embersoflove.ca/ World’s smallest pacemaker story: https://tinyurl.com/TinyPmaker Fascinating article about the history of the Taussig-Bing Anomaly. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2801930/ Support the show Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link Baby Blue Sound Collective Social Media Pages: Apple Podcasts Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter YouTube Website

    46 min
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4.4
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Revitalize your spirit and connect with the vibrant congenital heart defect (CHD) community through 'Heart to Heart with Anna,' the pioneering podcast that has been inspiring and informing listeners since 11-12-13. Join us as we dive deep into the personal journeys, triumphs, and challenges of Survivors, their loved ones, esteemed medical professionals, and other remarkable individuals within the CHD community. With unwavering dedication, our heartfelt conversations bring to light the stories that need to be heard. Gain invaluable insights, expert advice, and a sense of empowerment as we explore the multifaceted world of CHD. Our mission is to uplift, educate, and enrich the lives of every member of this incredible community. Embark on a transformative listening experience where compassion and understanding thrive. Discover the resilience and unwavering spirit that resides within each person touched by CHD. Together, let's build a community where support and knowledge flourish, bringing hope to the forefront. Tune in to 'Heart to Heart with Anna' and embark on a remarkable journey that will leave you inspired, enlightened, and connected to the beating heart of the CHD community.

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