(included in this email are a list of many great resources at the bottom to go with this week's episode) Hello Heart Friends. I have returned from a week in North Carolina where I attended the funeral of one of my dearest childhood friends, Bess Harrell Little. I gave myself the entire week off so I could focus on Bess, her family, seeing my dad and stepmom, and just honoring my deep sadness. It's been such a disturbing couple of weeks since Bess died unexpectedly in her sleep the day before...
4 months ago • 4 min read
Hi friends. We had our first meetup on Zoom for the Patreon community this weekend. Folks who know me well know that I rarely shed a tear... like maybe once a year, if my tear ducts are lucky. Well, I shed a tear on Sunday evening as I looked at the souls who have supported my podcast and who are now showing up in the community to support each other. It's a small yet intentional community that holds promise and hope for those who will join in the coming months. While I can't save everyone, I...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Heart Buddies! How's your heart today? I hope you are being kind to your heart. Tamp down the anxiety as best you can. Your heart hears you and your worries and concerns. Make sure you tell it you've got everything handled. Trust me. I've learned from experience. Ha! I am having to be very purposeful with my thoughts, feelings, conversations, time on social media, and time in public this week. It's just been a super hard week for me. My heart is ultra-sensitive now, and I have no choice...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Heart Buddies. Have you heard? There's a way to support the podcast and this newsletter via The Patreon Community. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter today. Thank you. :) First.... a moment of joy. I rode my mountain bike three days in a row this past week... and not my e-mountain bike. I rode my human-powered mountain bike. THREE DAYS IN A ROW. FOR MULTIPLE MILES. And! I never got tired. My heart never hurt. I talked the entire ride with the friends we were riding with. This...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Hey my friends. I was on the road this last week, attending the Women Heart Science and Leadership Symposium at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and then zipped over to Milwaukee to see dear friends in a rental car. It was a true honor to be among 43 other women with various forms of heart disease for three days. All of us are focused on the same goal: improve the outcome of women who will come after us. Then, having the opportunity to drive through the bluffs of the Midwest during peak fall...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Heart Buddies, Many incredible people have come into my life since my congenital heart diseases diagnosis in 2020. Even though the journey has been arduous, I have never felt alone, have always felt loved, and never wanted for anything. May all who come after me have the same experience. One of the many amazing people that have joined my healthcare team is Michelle Routhenstein. I first met Michelle thanks to LinkedIn. I was looking for a dietitian to have on the pod and boom, she dropped...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Have you heard? There's a great way to support this podcast by...Joining The Patreon Community! Thank you for considering. Before I dish on this week's episode, there's an event my fellow heart buddy, Leigh, will be participating in this month which is the Adult Congenital Heart Association’s Walk for 1 in 100, an event to raise money and awareness about congenital heart conditions. Have you heard of the ACHA? It's one of the many non-profits in the U.S. that are working to improve the lives...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Heart Buddies. Wow. What a whirlwind lately. So many wonderful lessons came from my own heart journey that continue to serve me well until this day. I learned that all hard moments pass like a storm cloud over the Tetons. Knowing that all of us will be given challenges and that we don't have to wade through the challenge alone keeps me upright in times like right now. You see...My oldest dog and kitty fell ill last week. These two have been with me through it all for well over a decade....
7 months ago • 2 min read
Listen to Todd's story here Episode overview: At just 37, Todd experienced a whirlwind of life-threatening challenges, including endocarditis, a stroke, and an intracranial mycotic brain aneurysm. Despite these trials, Todd’s journey is a testament to the power of living each moment fully and the importance of creating memories with loved ones. Key Highlights: Todd shares his harrowing experience with severe health issues, which began with flu-like symptoms and led to multiple surgeries and...
8 months ago • 1 min read