Tiny Little Hearts Podcast
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.
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Tiny Little Hearts Podcast
5. Positive Impacts of Medical Play with Mary Jenner
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In this conversation, Katelyn McMahan sits down with Mary Jenner, a former pediatric oncology nurse and the owner of The Butterfly Pig, a company dedicated to creating medical toys that make healthcare more child-friendly. They discuss the importance of play in pediatric healthcare, the journey that led Mary to starting this business, and the various ways The Butterfly Pig supports families and healthcare systems. The conversation highlights the significance of representation in medical play and the role of community in navigating medical journeys.
Let’s Connect!
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This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.
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Check out The Butterfly Pig online