When talking about Congenital Heart disease, which are multiple heart defects, both structural and electrical occurring in utero, I struggle to label it as a “disability”. That word, that admittance of a disability, labels me as such on medical applications, job applications, a professional work place, and even in sport. I want to break the…
Tag: health
Finding A Safe Place
At a time when our country feels more divided than ever, and opinions becoming touted as fact, I knew it was time to end my relationship with social media. I became tired of the negativity and hate speech I was reading, and realized that my reasons for joining Instagram and Facebook were no longer there….
My Epic – Rock and Ice Magazine
So much has happened this year, and it’s been an absolutely incredible journey. For the last few months, something pretty secretive has been in the works that involves a major climbing magazine, distributed worldwide. Rock and Ice Magazine was created by climbers, for rock climbers, ice climbers, and mountaineers. I am so blessed to be featured…
Inclusion, Not Seclusion
When you stare and silently judge, it makes my process of healing and self-acceptance more difficult. Nodes on my body, wires, and a heart monitor – it’s not what you see every day. I try to hide, be discreet, and not cause unnecessary distraction. I don’t want the attention; I want to hide. But…
Congenital Heart Disease is Relentless, But So Are We.
It has taken me about one week to write this post, because I wasn’t ready to face the flood of emotions, let alone discuss something so vulnerable publicly. However, the reason I started this site and blog was to help others who are going through similar circumstances, but too afraid to live their life. My…
Journey Into The Unknown: My Leap of Faith
My fight to live began about 6 years ago when my body attacked itself, causing my heart to fail and almost taking my livelihood. I thought my biggest battle would be clawing out of the black hole that was my health. Back then, everything was just so difficult and I had so much fear for…
An Answered Prayer: A Life Without Limits
Six years ago, I sat on my bed, alone in my room and prayed to not be sick someday. I grasped onto the possibility that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, which was unseen. After cardioversion, failed heart procedures, pulmonic valve replacement looming in the future, and PTSD, I didn’t know…
#WeAreHeart – Stepping into the Heart Disease Community and Creating Hope.
Like most patients with Congenital Heart Disease, I got good at hiding. I hid everything from pain, fear of the future and my current state of wellness. For years, I worked for a company where I had to hide my disease and how serious my surgeries and procedures were. I forced myself to go to…
Embracing Fear and Living Life
L“If you can’t beat fear, just do it scared”; I have been in a continuous cycle of repeating this mantra since my trip to Red Rocks Canyon a few weeks ago. On my second day in Red Rocks, we decided to hike Turtlehead Peak, which would prove as strenuous to both myself and boyfriend. Having…
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and PTSD
According to research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, a recent study of patients with “critical” congenital heart defects – which require at least one cardiac surgery – are at high risk for mental health problems, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression….
Hearts For Adventure 