pulmonary_atresia

How can a 30-year-old Heart Warrior single ventricle survivor live without the Fontan? What special considerations need to be made when moving from Egypt to Canada? What are the biggest concerns when you fall out of cardiac care?

Ellen Banoub was born in Egypt 30 years ago. She is a Heart Warrior, diagnosed with a hypoplastic left ventricle, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), pulmonary atresia, and dextrocardia. Ellen has had two surgeries, a shunt operation at one year of age, and a half-Fontan when she was 11 years old. She moved to Canada in 2013. She is studying social services and academic English and hopes to study social work to help others with social and medical problems. She has three heart-healthy siblings. Her older sister is a doctor who takes care of Ellen's health. Ellen recently became an aunt to Molly, who was born in early 2022. Aside from studying and spending time with family, Ellen enjoys acting, watching movies, listening to music, and reading.

Ellen talks with Anna about how she was born with a single ventricle heart and had surgery abroad since she was unable to have the surgery in her homeland (Egypt). Ellen talks about how she eventually moved to Canada where she has been able to get the care she needed for her heart. She shares how she came to study social work and how working in this field is her new purpose in life.

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Texas Reardon is a Heart Warrior. Whitney is his wife of 10 years. Born with a host of congenital heart defects, Texas explains to Anna, in this episode of "Heart to Heart with Anna," about his complicated medical history, and some consequences he's had to face due to falling out of medical care for years. Whitney shares her story, with Anna, about the adjustments she's had to make to help her husband live optimally given his condition. Tune in to hear about the kinds of consequences Texas has endured and the advice he has for others so they won't suffer his same fate.

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Keith Flynn was born in 1975 and shortly after birth, he was diagnosed with Ventricular Septal Defect, Double Inlet Left Ventricle, Pulmonary Atresia, and Hypoplastic Right Ventricle. He had two Blalock-Taussig shunts at age 6 months and 5 years, and a modified Fontan procedure when he was 15. Despite experiencing atrial arrhythmias in early adulthood, Keith received limited cardiac care in his 20s and early 30s. 

In his 30s, Keith started experiencing syncopal (or fainting) episodes, and on one occasion was rescued by his wife after fainting while swimming. As a result of these episodes, Keith received a pacemaker and recording device and was treated with Sotalol, a beta-blocker. However, Keith had also begun to experience fluid retention related to heart failure, and doctors told him that he would need a heart and liver transplant. He is currently undergoing the required testing to be listed for both organs. 

Over the years, Keith worked for a variety of retail and restaurant businesses, before working his way up to managing and owning businesses. He also started doing stand up comedy. Most recently, he has worked in the health and disability rights fields and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He met his wife in 2003 and currently lives in Baltimore.

In this episode, Keith will share more about his life -- living with a congenital heart defect -- with Anna. He will also explain how he has come to need to be listed for two different organs. He will also share with Anna what he believes keeps him going, even when the going gets rough.

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Most people today (2019) with a single ventricle heart typically have one of two courses of treatment for their heart condition: 1) a series of surgeries culminating with the Fontan Procedure or 2) a heart transplant. That is not the case with our Guest in this episode. Born in 1970, returning Guest Laura Ryan, talks about what her life has been like growing up with a single ventricle heart palliated in a rather unusual way -- with a Potts shunt, a Waterston shunt and a Bi-Directional Glenn shunt. 

In this episode she shares what it was like for her as a child and what her endurance was like. She talks about how she interacted with her siblings and friends. She then moves on to share what it was like for her once she decided she wanted to start her family. In this very candid interview, Laura shares some of the travails she endured and what helped to her make it through the difficult times.

Finally, Laura shares how she feels pregnancy affected her body and her heart. She also shares her doctor's prognosis for her future, especially given her sequence of medical events thus far. Laura's story is one of inspiration and hope.

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If you enjoy this program and would like to be a Patron, please check out our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/HeartToHeart

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

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Website

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website

Anna's Buzzsprout Affiliate Link

Baby Blue Sound Collective

Social Media Pages:

Apple Podcasts
Facebook
Instagram
MeWe
Twitter
YouTube
Website