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
33. One Year of Tiny Little Hearts Podcast: CHD and Heart Mom Life
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If you're a heart parent navigating congenital heart disease, you know that the journey is rarely a straight line — and neither is building a community around it. In this special solo episode, Katelyn closes out Season 1 of Tiny Little Hearts with a heartfelt thank you to the CHD parenting community that has grown around this show.
Over the past year, Tiny Little Hearts has become a space where congenital heart disease families can feel less alone, more informed, and genuinely supported. From vulnerable guest conversations to listener stories that have poured in from heart parents across the country, Season 1 has been more than Katelyn ever hoped for when she hit record on that first episode.
In this episode, Katelyn shares:
- A reflection on Season 1 — the guests, the topics, and the CHD parent community moments that meant the most
- A personal and honest update on why she's pausing new episode releases for the summer — and how editing last week's episode with Katie Taylor of Child Life on Call about medical parent emotional burnout made her stop and listen to her own instincts
- What's coming in Season 2, launching in early August — including deeper conversations, more expert voices, and new topics for heart families
- How you can support the show during the break (hint: share it with a CHD parent who needs it)
Whether you're newly diagnosed, years into your congenital heart disease journey, or somewhere in the messy middle — this episode is a reminder that you are not walking this road alone.
Sponsors & Show Support:
- 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
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,caregiver burnout, medical parent burnout, child life specialist, medically complex child, hospital parent support, caregiver self-care