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Heart to Heart with AnnaAuthor: Anna Jaworski
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. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Medicine, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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One Voice: United Against Congenital Heart Disease with Monique Kemp
Episode 479
Monday, 30 June, 2025
Send us a textMonique Kemp's world turned upside down when her unborn son was diagnosed with an interrupted aortic arch at seven months of pregnancy. What followed was a harrowing journey through six open-heart surgeries, months of hospitalization, and the birth of something unexpected – a powerful vision for supporting other families facing similar challenges.From those early days sitting beside her newborn's hospital bed to founding Heart of Hope-Cape Town, Monique shares with raw honesty how she transformed her personal pain into purpose. Her support group, now running for 12 years, fills a critical gap she identified during those long hospital stays – medical staff trained to heal bodies, not necessarily to hold space for parents' emotional trauma.The conversation takes a dramatic turn when Monique reveals how her maternal instinct potentially saved her son's life. As Daniel entered his teen years, his complaints of pain were repeatedly dismissed as psychological by doctors who had known him since infancy. Only after switching to a new pediatrician did they discover his heart conduit had grown down into his stomach, displacing organs and causing genuine physical distress. This experience highlights a dangerous blind spot in CHD care–the critical transition period between ages 10-21 when patients are most likely to fall through the cracks.Perhaps most eye-opening is Monique's perspective on global CHD care disparities, comparing attitudes toward heart interventions between North and South India, and advocating passionately for what the CHD community needs most: to become "one voice" as prominent as the condition itself, which remains the number one birth defect worldwide.Whether you're a heart parent seeking community, a medical professional wanting deeper insight into patient experiences, or simply someone interested in how personal tragedy can transform into powerful advocacy, this conversation will leave you understanding why the CHD journey requires both medical expertise and emotional support that only other heart families can truly provide.Links Mentioned in the Episode:Top 20 Congenital Podcasts: https://podcast.feedspot.com/congenital_disorders_podcastsBaby Hearts Press: https://www.babyheartspress.comSupport the showAnna's Buzzsprout Affiliate LinkBaby Blue Sound CollectiveSocial Media Pages:Apple PodcastsFacebookInstagramMeWeTwitterYouTubeWebsite