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
31. My Top 5 Takeaways From Advocating for CHD on Capitol Hill
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31. My Top 5 Takeaways From Advocating For CHD on Capitol Hill
Summary:
In this episode, Katelyn McMahan shares her top five takeaways from attending the National CHD Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. — her very first advocacy trip to Capitol Hill. As a member of the Every Hundredth Heart Coalition, Katelyn joined patients, heart parents, clinicians, researchers, and advocates from across the country with one shared goal: to elevate congenital heart disease as a national health policy priority. Whether you were able to join this year or not, this episode is packed with encouragement, insight, and a challenge to every CHD family to use their voice.
In this episode:
- Advocacy at local and national levels
- Community strength and collaboration among foundations
- Importance of staying informed on research and innovations
- Storytelling as a tool for awareness and hope
- The unstoppable nature of the CHD community
Resources & Links:
- Stronger Hearts Foundation: strongerheartsfoundation.com
- Instagram: @strongerheartsfoundation
- Support Tiny Little Hearts — 10% of listener proceeds go to Stronger Hearts Foundation
- Register for the Co-Op with HeartWorks
- Every Hundredth Heart Coalition — everyhundredthheart.org
- National CHD Advocacy Summit — hosted annually through the Every Hundredth Heart Coalition
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 advocacy · CHD advocacy summit · National CHD Advocacy Summit · Every Hundredth Heart Coalition · Capitol Hill advocacy · heart mom podcast · CHD awareness · congenital heart defect resources · CHD foundations · pediatric heart disease · heart warrior · CHD community · advocacy for rare disease · CHD research · heart parent · stronger hearts foundation · CHD storytelling · CHD funding · congenital heart disease statistics · Washington DC health advocacy