Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Ever since he was a teenager, Dave had been told that he had a heart murmur. Despite this, the murmur didn’t have an impact on his life, and he never really considered that he might have a heart disease. It wasn’t until he was in his mid-fifties when he was referred to a cardiologist in [...]

Kara Felton was sitting on a bench at the playground, watching her son, Julian, play. Upon spotting a free patch of wood chips, 3-year-old Julian decided to explore. This, however, was unacceptable to another 3-year-old playing nearby. Little did Julian know, this other kid had claimed that foot-wide section of wood chips for himself, and [...]

It was the Fourth of July and we were celebrating in style: food, firecrackers — fierce Texas heat. We swam, and drank, and roasted s’mores on the fire pit. The kids ate popsicles. The men smoked cigars and tended to the bar-b-que. I hid my six-week postpartum body behind a mu-mu, making my husband the [...]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what exactly are those words? What’s the worth of something that’s carefully curated, filtered and posed? I’ll tell you. I’m a recovering pretend-post addict, after all. Our most recent family photos were met with many words of praise: “Your children are beautiful!” “You look so [...]

I am a heart mom, and our family is full of stories. Stories of joy and of a journey with unexpected hurdles and the glorious victories that come with having a child born with a rare and serious heart condition. Our world is complicated, but beautiful. It is hospital grays and multi-colored rainbows, equipment and [...]

Today was a hard day. I am so glad to be home. So glad to have this sweet boy snuggled in my lap again, sleeping next to me in bed. Yet, when I look at him, there is a flash – just a nanosecond – where I think of his death. My heart shudders, and [...]