Category: Podcast

  • Why Heart Scans Matter: A personal Battle with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

    Why Heart Scans Matter: A personal Battle with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

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    Hey Heart Buddies! We hear from Holly Morrell who shares the profound impact of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy on her family and herself including her personal experience with a faulty defibrillator implant, multiple surgeries, and a life-threatening rupture that necessitated open-heart surgery. Despite these challenges, Holly finds strength and purpose, continually striving to prevent sudden cardiac arrest…

  • “Am I loving well?” How a life-threatening heart surgery led to living on purpose

    “Am I loving well?” How a life-threatening heart surgery led to living on purpose

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    #64 Boots brings you her childhood friend, Todd Sykes (aka Toddy), a survivor of endocarditis, a stroke, and a brain aneurysm. At just 37, Todd faced a life-threatening situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to two heart surgeries and a remarkable recovery. He needed his mitral and bicuspid valves replaced and had unknowingly been living…

  • Medical Miracle: How Hyvelle Ferguson-Davis Overcame Stroke, Heart Attack, and Surgery

    Medical Miracle: How Hyvelle Ferguson-Davis Overcame Stroke, Heart Attack, and Surgery

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    #63 Listen up, Heart Buddies. Today’s conversation with Hyvelle is important. She walks us through the importance of gaining information and taking accountability for one’s health by sharing her truly shocking personal experience that highlights the consequences of ignoring early warning signs. A stroke ultimately saved her life by revealing a critical heart condition. Hyvelle…

  • Own Your Heart Surgery Journey: Embracing Responsibility for Healing and Positive Mindset

    Own Your Heart Surgery Journey: Embracing Responsibility for Healing and Positive Mindset

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    #62 Heart surgery buddies! I needed this episode when I was facing heart surgery and I know you do too. Dr. Kim Peirano and I discuss the power of storytelling and mindset in managing pain and medical experiences. She emphasizes the importance of choosing empowering narratives, embracing vulnerability, and finding balance between taking control and…

  • From Triple Bypass to 70.3 half Ironman in One Year

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    #61 Despite leading a healthy lifestyle, John Spilman required a triple bypass due to severe blockages. He describes warning signs like fatigue and shortness of breath that led to lifesaving surgery. John’s recovery included challenges like Afib, but through cardiac rehab and determination, he completed a half Ironman just a year later. His experience emphasizes…

  • From Triple Bypass to 70.3 half Ironman in One Year

    From Triple Bypass to 70.3 half Ironman in One Year

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    #61 Despite leading a healthy lifestyle, John Spilman required a triple bypass due to severe blockages. He describes warning signs like fatigue and shortness of breath that led to lifesaving surgery. John’s recovery included challenges like Afib, but through cardiac rehab and determination, he completed a half Ironman just a year later. His experience emphasizes…

  • Fuel Your Heart: Science-Backed Nutrition Methods for a Stronger Heart

    Fuel Your Heart: Science-Backed Nutrition Methods for a Stronger Heart

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    Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter and support this podcast! Flashback to episode 34 when this podcast was called The Heart Chamber Podcast, I had nutrition expert Michelle Routhenstein share her wisdom on heart health and nutrition. We talked about the importance of personalized care and finding qualified healthcare professionals, cautioning against one-size-fits-all diet…

  • Second Heart Surgery Fears: A listener’s Courage and Boots’ Wisdom

    Second Heart Surgery Fears: A listener’s Courage and Boots’ Wisdom

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    #59 In this episode, host, Boots Knighton, addresses a heartfelt email from a listener named DH. DH shares her struggles with failed heart surgeries and the upcoming need for another complex procedure to repair her mitral and tricuspid valves. Boots discusses the emotional and physical challenges of heart surgery, emphasizing the importance of mental health…

  • From Heart Failure to Heart Hero: A Journey from LVAD to Transplant Success

    From Heart Failure to Heart Hero: A Journey from LVAD to Transplant Success

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    Hey heart buddies, this episode is truly extraordinary. Try to imagine plugging your heart in at night to keep it beating. Yeah, I can’t imagine it either. I say this often when I have the honor of interviewing heart transplant recipients and this time is no different. Allow me to introduce you to Christian Jousset.…

  • Mind and Spirit Preparation: Enhancing Heart Surgery Recovery

    Mind and Spirit Preparation: Enhancing Heart Surgery Recovery

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    Host, Boots Knighton, discusses mental and spiritual preparation for heart surgery, highlighting its crucial role in recovery. Knighton stresses the importance of educating oneself about the procedure, setting realistic expectations, and practicing stress management techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. She also emphasizes positive thinking, seeking professional support, and connecting with one’s spirituality. Emotional…