The Hope and Courage Podcast for CHD Parents

In this episode we talk to the incredibly inspiring CHD adult and author of From the Sidelines to the Finish Line: A Chronic Illness Survivor’s Challenges and Everyday Triumphs Emily Falcon! She has an amazing story of overcoming struggle and achieving what she never dreamed she could. We discuss her Benjamin Button-like life story and how she learned to make the most of every opportunity she was given. She truly displays how to live life to the full while having a CHD diagnosis. We were so inspired by Emily and we know you will be too!

CLICK HERE to get copy of Emily's book From the Sidelines to the Finish Line: A Chronic Illness Survivor’s Challenges and Everyday Triumphs

In this episode we talk to CHD adult and creator of The Heart Dialogues Leigh Kamping-Carder! She is a journalist located in New York with a master's in journalism from NYU and runs the newsletters team at a big media outlet. You will hear her thought-provoking perspective on the part CHD plays in a person's identity, and how the presence of it affects all parts of their life. We discuss the importance of various CHD narratives being shared with the CHD community, exploring the nuances of their stories and appreciating their perspectives. We loved gaining her insight on all of this and more, and we know you will too!

In this episode we talk to CHD parent Grace Harvey! She & her husband live in Michigan where they both work full-time jobs as they try to navigate their family's CHD journey. Grace shares her story about how they make their heart warrior's health, family, careers, relationships, and mental health all priorities along the way. She has some great insights on authenticity and empathy in her work life as well. So CHD families who have two full time working parents, listen up, because you will gain a lot from this episode!

*TRIGGER WARNING* This episode contains discussion about child loss. 

In this episode we talk to CHD parents and James Doss Memorial Foundation owners Carlee & Randy Doss! Five years ago they lost their son James to congenital heart disease and today they talk to us about their grieving process since it happened. We discuss how communication was key to sustaining their marriage during that difficult time, and how community and remembering have been helping them ever since. They have lots of great advice for parents grieving the loss of their child and we learned so much from them sharing their experience with us. The James Doss Memorial Foundation Golf Outing & Banquet is on July 15th, 2023 so make sure you go to their website listed below to sign up or contribute to their incredibly important cause!

Carlee & Randy's Foundation: James Doss Memorial Foundation

In this episode we talk to heart dad and author of the books Steal the Reaper & Hunt the Reaper Todd Hosea! Todd has been a heart dad since 1999 and has so much wisdom to share on taking care of your relationships, letting go of normalcy, and pursuing your dreams on the CHD journey. He also encourages CHD parents that they are capable of so much more than they can imagine. Todd is so inspiring so go listen to this episode immediately!