The Hope and Courage Podcast for CHD Parents

Mar 28 2024 2
The Hope and Courage Podcast for CHD Parents artwork

Hi, we're Tom and Kat Hansen! In 2014 our son Harding was diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease, and since then we've experienced the ups and downs that come along with being a CHD parent. In this podcast we share some of the lessons we've learned along the way, and the things we wish we knew at the start of our CHD journey. We also talk to CHD experts to get their stories of hope, encouraging insights, and valuable resources to give parents like us the right help at the right time. You can find us at www.tomandkathansen.com and @tomandkathansen on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter!

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37 - CHD Adult & Author Emily Falcon: Making the Most of Every Opportunity on the CHD Journey

Mar 28 2024 59 mins  
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 op

36 - CHD Adult & Creator of The Heart Dialogues Leigh Kamping-Carder: CHD Identity & The Importance of Sharing Unique CHD Stories

Oct 15 2023 48 mins  
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 li

35 - CHD Parent Grace Harvey: Cultivating Empathy While Working Full Time on the CHD Journey

Sep 05 2023 65 mins  
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

34 - CHD Parents Carlee & Randy Doss: The Importance of Remembering, Community, & Communication in the Grieving Process

Jun 14 2023 49 mins  
*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

33 - Heart Dad & Author Todd Hosea: Strengthen Your Relationships and Pursue Your Dreams on the CHD Journey

May 23 2023 56 mins  
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

32 - Heart Warrior & Psychotherapist Tracy Livecchi: Healing Hearts & Minds - Discovering CHD Mental Health Challenges & Providing Tangible Solutions

May 09 2023 49 mins  
In this episode we talk to heart warrior & psychotherapist Tracy Livecchi, LCSW ! Tracy shares about her new book Healing Hearts and Minds: A Holistic Approach to Coping Will with Congenital Heart Disease that she co-authored with Dr. Liza Morton. The focus of their book is mental health challenges in the CHD community and it gives tangible solutions for each of those challenge

31 - Heart Mom & The Love for Littles Shop Owner Josie Hau: Pursuing Certainty, Magic, & Having More Kids on the CHD Journey

Apr 11 2023 63 mins  
In this episode we talk to heart mom & The Love for Littles shop owner Josie Hau! Josie shares the incredible story of her heart warrior Maya, who also has Down Syndrome, and how Josie coped with the difficulties by searching for certainty and magic on her family's CHD journey. She also discusses how her family made the decision to have more children after Maya and what hel

30 - Heart Warrior Faith Brackett: Do It But Do It Differently

Mar 28 2023 35 mins  
In this episode we talk to heart warrior Faith Brackett! This incredible young woman has accomplished so much in her life thus far, from winning Ultimate International Miss Maine to starting her own foundation called CHD Tablet Talk to help keep children with CHD connected and engaged while experiencing lengthy hospital stays. We introduce you to her family's motto "Do it

29 - CHD Parent & Pediatric Cardiology Echo Tech Brittany Freese: Live in the Now with Your Heart Warrior

Mar 14 2023 41 mins  
In this episode we chat with Heart Mom & Pediatric Cardiology Echo Tech Brittany Freese. We discuss her unique position as a heart parent & a medical profession in the cardiology world, and what kind of perspective that gives her on her family's CHD journey. She encourages us & other CHD parents to enjoy the moment we're in with our heart warriors and to not let the pas

28 - Heart Warrior Letitia Aloysius: Your Child is More Than CHD

Feb 28 2023 34 mins  
In this episode we chat with Heart Warrior Letitia Aloysius! She is 21 years old and is wise beyond her years. You will learn so much from her about how to talk to young heart warriors about their CHD, and how to make sure they know that they are MORE than their CHD. We loved learning about what her day to day looks like as a young adult heart warrior & more about who she is!&n