Your body can be giving you signals for years, and then one test changes everything. We’re talking about the emotional and mental health impact of receiving a heart diagnosis later in life, or learning that the condition you thought you had was never the full story. We also take a moment to honor Belen Blanton, a beloved advocate and friend of our heart community, whose legacy of service and openness continues to shape these conversations.
We hear three very different paths to answers. Heidi Scoggins goes from a routine appointment to a life-altering discovery: a heart murmur leads to a diagnosis of PAPVR and an atrial septal defect, and suddenly, open-heart surgery is on the calendar. Jeff Holden, an avid cyclist, lives through heart attack symptoms, a myocardial infarction, and the confusion of “no blockage” before finally learning he has a symptomatic myocardial bridge. Jackie Renfrow shares a heartbreaking family story where seizures and sudden deaths were long believed to be epilepsy until an ECG revealed Long QT syndrome, unlocking both grief and a way to protect the next generation.
Along the way, we talk honestly about fear before surgery, medical trauma, survivor’s guilt, the frustration of being dismissed, and the practical power of advocacy. If you’ve ever felt like you “shouldn’t” be sick, or you’ve struggled to get a clinician to connect the dots, you’re not alone. Listen, share this with someone who needs it, and please subscribe and leave a review so more families can find these stories when they’re searching for answers.
Jeff's Podcast, Imperfect Heart: https://www.myimperfectheart.com/
Jeff's book: https://www.amazon.com/Imperfect-Heart-Stories-Myocardial-Bridges-ebook/dp/B0DZ6Z4Y2J/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
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