Description

Summary:

Every CHD parent remembers the moment the world stopped. The diagnosis. The surgery date. The waiting room. But what happens to the family holding it all together while their child is in the OR?

In this episode, Katelyn sits down with Conner Hill, co-founder of Stronger Hearts Foundation, to talk about his son Dawson's diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) at 20 weeks, the 100+ inpatient days that followed, and how one family's experience navigating the gaps in the CHD support system became a foundation that is already changing lives.

From emergency housing assistance and day-of-surgery care packages to a community built on the belief that no CHD family should walk this road alone, Stronger Hearts Foundation is filling a critical gap that too many families don't know exists until they're already in crisis.

Katelyn also shares exciting news: she and her husband Stephen have joined Stronger Hearts Foundation as Managing Directors, leading West Coast expansion efforts — and 10% of all Tiny Little Hearts listener support goes directly to Stronger Hearts Foundation.

In This Episode:

• Dawson's HLHS diagnosis at the 20-week anatomy scan and the overwhelming first 24 hours
• Navigating the Norwood, a Christmas Day discharge, two emergency flights during the interstage, and the Glenn procedure
• The unspoken logistics of CHD life — Airbnbs, hotel bills, waitlists, and coordinating family across state lines
• Why Ronald McDonald House isn't always available immediately and the gap Stronger Hearts was built to fill
• How Conner designed the foundation's logo from Dawson's hospital room as a way to cope
• Getting 501(c)3 approval in just two months — and hitting the ground running
• The first Instagram DM from a care package recipient that made Conner cry in his kitchen
• Being invited to the CNOC cardiology conference and overcoming imposter syndrome
• What's next for Stronger Hearts Foundation — nurse incentive programs, improved single-ventricle monitoring, and national expansion
• Katelyn and Stephen joining as Managing Directors and the West Coast presence they're building together

Resources & Links:

• Stronger Hearts Foundation: strongerheartsfoundation.com
• Instagram: @strongerheartsfoundation
• Support Tiny Little Hearts — 10% of listener proceeds go to Stronger Hearts Foundation
• Use the code TINYLITTLEHEARTS for 10% off Better Days Co

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: CHD financial assistance, congenital heart disease support, HLHS family resources, CHD housing help, day of surgery care packages, Stronger Hearts Foundation, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, CHD nonprofit, cardiac surgery family support, CHD community, interstage monitoring, Fontan surgery, CHD advocacy

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