Author: Melanie Medina
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A Doctor Turned Heart Patient Gives Back
By Alin Gragossian There is so much in life that we cannot control. Unfortunate things happen to us. But I have always believed that we have to embrace these experiences and adversities in order to fully grow and give meaning to our lives. I am currently a doctor-in-training, specializing in Emergency Medicine. At work,…
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Caring for Pericardial Mesothelioma
By Emily Walsh at Mesothelioma.com February is American Heart Month, which seeks to raise awareness for the leading cause of death in the United States: Heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease, however, heart disease is not the only threat to the heart. From…
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A Heart Mom Reflects on a Year of Surgery
By Katelyn Stocker A close group of friends recently asked me to reflect on 2018 and remember the highs and lows as we anticipated the new year. I promptly replied, “Pass!” As soon as they suggested we do this I knew I couldn’t. I wanted to leave the room. I didn’t want to stay for…
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Holly’s Story
By Jen Gill Holly’s story began in utero. We tried for a couple of years to get pregnant, and ultimately needed IVF to achieve our dream of being parents. We transferred one embryo under the advice that twin pregnancies are much more challenging, and I was likely to get pregnant without any problems. After…
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Communicating a Difficult Diagnosis
By Jodi Smith Lemacks, Esq., National Program Director of Mended Little Hearts “There is something wrong with your baby’s heart,” the doctor said, and in an instant, your world changed. Pregnancy excitement and anticipation turns to fear, sadness, worry and anger. Well-made plans are altered to make room for hospital stays, heart surgery, medications, special care and a…
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I Am a Heart Mom
By Katelyn Stocker I’ve really been wrestling with my identity as a heart mom. I don’t want it, and I don’t want it to define me, but it does. The day we found out about Mae’s heart, my life changed. My title changed. I didn’t feel ready, but I never will. I felt totally…
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What Is ‘Hearts Unite the Globe’ or HUG?
By Anna Jaworski You may have seen a logo that is a globe with a circle of hearts hugging it. That’s the logo for Hearts Unite the Globe: A Nonprofit Organization for the Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Community. This organization was started 20 years ago by a group of heart parents and grandparents. The purpose…
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The Great Sibling Debate
By Lauren Garda **This article may or may not contain personal risk and the data stated in the article does not represent the CHD population as a whole. This article is one mom’s journey of the question of whether to have another child. It should not be considered medical advice or solid data claims.…
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Memories Have Value
By Robert Dacey As our daily lives become engulfed in required and complex technology, elders like me find some comfort in recalling the good ol’ days of our younger years. The aging audience for our memories keeps shrinking, yet the memories have some value as we forge into a technology-loaded future. As children growing…
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I am a Warrior: Embracing My Scar Everywhere I Go
By Ashley Nuxoll I was born with a congenital heart defect called bicuspid aortic stenosis. My parents’ names are Terri and Cliff — all they knew was that they were getting a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Only to find out a couple of days later that their baby had a heart murmur that was…