Across the Road: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Staying Close

Send us Fan Mail A son who could make you laugh, a heart that worked harder than most, and a mother who still talks to him across the road. We’re joined by Connie Wilhoit, who shares the story of her son David, born with a complex congenital heart defect and raised through multiple surgeries, including the Fontan. Connie brings David to life in the small specifics: a jokester with a huge personality, a gamer who loved to holler across the house, and a legendary “trader” who always had a new deal up his sleeve. We also get honest about the parts families rarely say out loud. How do you explain to a child that he’s different from his friends? How do siblings carry the diagnosis, the school questions, and the strange unfairness of hospital time? And what happens when the twin who shared every birthday has to face that date after loss? Connie speaks plainly about daily grief, memory, and the rituals that keep connection close, from visiting a headstone nearby to noticing a truck in the yard that still feels like him. Then the medical reality hits again: the day David asked for an ambulance for the first time, the terror of a sudden crisis, and the loneliness of hospitalization during COVID restrictions. We talk about adult congenital heart disease care, why many adults born with congenital heart defects still rely on pediatric specialists, and what it means to get “miracle” time at home before everything changes. If you’re searching for bereaved parent support, congenital heart disease stories, or real conversations about child loss and sibling grief, this one holds space with warmth and clarity. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more grieving families can find these stories. Hearts Unite the Globe is happy to welcome David and Ann Corbly as Patreon supporters of our nonprofit organization. Together, we provide educational programming to the congenital heart defect and bereaved communities. Don't forget to listen to their endearing episode about their daughter Kelly on the Bereaved But Still Me podcast. Support the show Links to “Bereaved But Still Me” Social Media and Podcast Pages: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bereaved-but-still-me/id1333229173 Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/show/heart-to-heart-with-michael Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HugPodcastNetwork YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPKwIU5M_YOxvtWepFR5Zw Website: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/ Become a Patron: https://www.hug-podcastnetwork.com/patreon.html