Tiny Little Hearts Podcast: CHD and Heart Mom Life
Tiny Little Hearts Podcast is your honest, unfiltered space for the CHD (congenital heart disease / congenital heart defect) community. Whether you're a heart parent, a CHD warrior, or someone newly navigating a complex congenital heart diagnosis — this podcast was made for you.
Hosted by Katelyn McMahan, a mom of three girls whose world changed the moment she learned her youngest daughter had complex cardiac abnormalities. She searched for real stories — kids with complex CHD, single ventricle hearts, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and other congenital heart defects— not the polished highlight reels, but the honest, raw truth of what this life actually looks like. She wanted to prepare her heart for the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Each episode features conversations with heart parents, CHD adults, providers, and others navigating the deeply real world of congenital heart disease, open heart surgery, and medical complexity. You'll hear practical advice, emotional honesty, and stories that remind you that you are not alone in this journey. Because this life is hard — and you deserve a place to feel seen.
Topics covered include: CHD diagnosis, heart surgery recovery, parenting a medically complex child, grief and resilience, NICU and PCICU experiences, fontan circulation, cardiac catheterization, and life after a congenital heart defect diagnosis.
Support this show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2464576/support
Tiny Little Hearts Podcast: CHD and Heart Mom Life
Latest Episodes
38. Pediatric Cardiology NP to Heart Mom: Sheradon Waits Story form Both Sides of the Bed
Summary:Sheridan Waits has spent 19 years as a pediatric cardiology nurse practitioner. She's cared for hundreds of heart families in the ICU. But 13 years into her career, everything changed when her own daughter, Mabry, was d...
37. Living with HLHS as an Adult: Mental Health, Clinical Trials and Community with Kelly DiMaggio
In this episode, Kelly DiMaggio joins me to talk about her life living with HLHS. Her mom didn’t receive a prenatal diagnosis. At one point, her doctors gave her 24 hours to live. Nearly four decades later, she's living a full life — married, w...
36. Sending My CHD Kiddo to Preschool
Katelyn shares her personal journey navigating her child's entry into preschool with a congenital heart defect, offering insights on choosing the right environment, advocacy, and supporting her child's growth.Chapters00:00 Introd...
35. Cole Wieland on Life with HLHS and Creating Half Heart Mission
35. Cole Wieland on Life with HLHS and Creating Half Heart MissionTwo podcasters. Two heart journeys. One community.In this episode, Katelyn sits down with Cole Wieland, founder of Half Heart Mission and a 20-year...