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
24. More Than CHD: A 13-Year Friendship Between a Heart Mom and Adult CHDer
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In this episode, I’m joined by Lauren and Lauren. One, a heart mom, and the other, an adult CHDer. For Lauren Watson and Lauren Bednarz, that one message 13 years ago became the foundation of one of the deepest friendships either of them has ever known.
We talk about how they found each other, what it looked like to build a real friendship virtually before it was "normal" to do so, and why CHD brought them together but doesn't define what keeps them close.
Lauren Watson is a heart mom to Addie, who has tricuspid atresia and a hypoplastic right heart, and has been walking the CHD journey since Addie's diagnosis at her 20-week anatomy scan. Lauren Bednarz is a 38-year-old adult CHDer — also with tricuspid atresia and a hypoplastic right heart — and one of the most recognized advocates in the CHD community, having been in this space for over 18 years.
Their friendship is the kind this community makes possible: born out of shared diagnosis, deepened through grief and hard seasons of life, and now one of those rare friendships where CHD doesn't even come up in most conversations.
This episode is for anyone who has wondered whether the friendships you find in this community can actually go the distance. They can. And this one is proof.
Tiny Little Hearts is hosted by Katelyn McMahan. A portion of listener support goes to Stronger Hearts Foundation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another heart family who might need it today.
Support this show:
- Support Tiny Little Hearts — 10% of listener proceeds go to Stronger Hearts Foundation
Resources & Links:
- Connect with Lauren Bednarz on Instagram @laurenb_hopefulheart
- Stronger Hearts Foundation: strongerheartsfoundation.com
- Instagram: @strongerheartsfoundation
- Use the code TINYLITTLEHEARTS for 10% off Better Days Co
Let’s Connect!
- Follow me on Instagram @tinylittleheartspodcast
- Follow me on Substack at Tiny Little Hearts Substack
- This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.
Keywords: congenital heart disease friendship, CHD community, adult CHD, heart mom, tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic right heart, Fontan, heart warrior, CHD advocacy, Lauren Bednarz, CHD support, heart parent community, Tiny Little Hearts podcast