Open Heart Surgery with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

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Cultivating Mental Resilience: Lessons from Waiting for Open Heart Surgery

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

02/06/24 • 20 min

Join Boots Knighton in a thought-provoking conversation about the transformative power of reframing life's challenges. In this episode, Boots shares her experiences of waiting for open heart surgery and how she navigated through fear, impatience, and finally, acceptance. Through her personal journey, she presents valuable insights on embracing difficulties as opportunities for personal growth, resilience, and healing. Through her openness and wisdom, she challenges listeners to shift their mindset from asking "why is this happening to me?" to "why is this happening for me?" Don't miss this inspiring episode that offers a fresh perspective on navigating life's obstacles with courage and grace.

If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:

05:33 Boots shares how she endured months of fear before heart surgery, reflecting on wisdom gained.

09:39 Reflecting on heart journey, shifting the victim mindset, and focusing on moving forward.

13:41 Adopting a positive mindset can shift situations for the better. Gratitude and visualization can impact outcomes.

15:56 Despite the challenges of heart surgery, Boots feels amazing, emphasizing the importance of attitude and life's lessons.

Boots Knighton has been an educator since the late 1990s in all facets of education including high school science, middle school mathematics, elementary reading, college level ecology, ski instruction, backpacking, and experiential education. Her greatest teacher has been her heart thanks to a surprise diagnosis in 2020 (during the pandemic) of three different congenital heart defects. She is now thriving after her open-heart surgery on January 15, 2021 and is on a mission to raise awareness through her podcast, The Heart Chamber: patient stories of open-heart surgery and recovery, that heart surgery can be an incredible opportunity to begin again in life and live life wide open.

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:

Unveiling Stem Cells' Power: The Impact of Patches on Brain Function and Heart Health

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

03/05/24 • 56 min

#40 Guest, Darlene Greene, sheds light on a breakthrough in health technology - stem cells. She shares the potential of Lifewave patches to elevate the body's natural healing abilities, enhance brain function, and even offer respite for conditions like Alzheimer's. Darlene's firsthand account of witnessing her husband's remarkable progress after integrating these patches into their wellness journey is nothing short of inspiring. Whether you're seeking solutions for neurological decline, heart health, or simply looking to optimize your well-being, this episode offers a window into the promising world of health patches.

If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:

07:58 Lifewave products use stem cells for wellness without claiming to cure diseases.

12:10 Extensive research, testimonials, and FDA restrictions on stem cell claims. Patches led to reduced napping.

16:26 Darlene cares for her spouse with Alzheimer's, feeling hopeless and in pain.

19:22 Promoting gratitude for improving mental health and reducing medication dependency.

20:24 Addict gets clean, dies from medication mix-up, spouse on mission for alternative treatment, personal experience with skin issues.

26:16 GHKCU reduces aging effects, and increases stem cells.

27:15 GHKCU has potential health benefits for heart, brain, and cancer treatment through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gene-altering properties, without harming healthy cells.

36:14 IV and patch raise glutathione levels effectively and safely, with no contraindications or drug interactions.

37:07 Careful use of immune-boosting patches for organ transplant patients.

40:35 Peptide activates stem cells in heart, brain, and muscles, improving cardiovascular system and bone density.

43:38 Summary: A company offers patches for exercise performance and energy enhancement, with global distribution. Created by David Smith, they don't require a prescription and can be worn for 12 hours.

48:19 Offering special arrangement with Dr. Southwick for health concerns about the patches.

A Little More About Today's Guest

Darlene Greene is focused on helping people optimize their health, get to the root causes of issues that are causing illness, and get out of pain without drugs or pharmaceuticals. She wants to share the affordable photobiomodulation technology that she wishes she had known about four years ago when her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's because, after a four-year steep decline, he experienced dramatic improvement in his memory, energy, engagement, sleep, and task capabilities in his first week! He continued to regain skills like whistling and the ability to smell (which he lost 15 years ago). Darlene had a varied and unique background in the Navy and the technology industry. She is passionate about helping others improve their emotional and physical health!

Interested in how you can support this podcast?

Email Boots [email protected]

How to connect with Darlene

Website: iamreverseaging.com

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

Risk of heart disease rises sharply in women after menopause, study - Times of India (indiatimes.com)

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Crucial Connection: Loneliness, Fasting Glucose, Menopause and Heart Health

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

04/30/24 • 23 min

**Alert! The name of this podcast is changing on June 4th to Open Heart Surgery with Boots! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the announcement. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter!**

Boots brings you heart news that caught her eye for the month of April in a new monthly segment! Let Boots know what you want to hear more of or less of by sending her an email [email protected]

Artificial intelligence shows that social isolation impacts cardiovascular age and mortality rate - Mayo Clinic

4-year-old who received new heart after waiting 1,025 days goes home from hospital - ABC News

Research uncovers hidden link between heart attacks and cancer - ISRAEL21c

Blake Hospital performs first minimally invasive mitral valve repair (mysuncoast.com)

Longitudinal blood glucose level and increased silent myocardial infarction: a pooled analysis of four cohort studies | Cardiovascular Diabetology | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:

Hope for the Holidays: Still feeling 20 years younger after HCM diagnosis and myectomy

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

11/12/24 • 15 min

Hey Heart Buddies! I am back for part two of Hope for the Holidays with Lisa Mihan who returns to share her incredible progress post-myectomy. Lisa was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy but never gave up. She has transformed from struggling with daily symptoms to thriving on the tennis court and embracing a more vibrant life. This episode isn't just about physical recovery—it's about overcoming mental and emotional hurdles too. Tune in to hear relatable stories of finding hope, building community, and the surprising gifts that come from life's toughest challenges.

You can listen to Lisa's original interview here.

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:

Boots' Open Heart Journey from Climbing Mountains to Finding Ways to Forgive

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

12/19/23 • 74 min

**Alert! The name of this podcast is changing on June 4th to Open Heart Surgery with Boots! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the announcement. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter!**

In this emotionally charged episode of The Heart Chamber Podcast, host Boots Knighton takes listeners on a raw and powerful journey through her harrowing experiences with open heart surgery and her complicated recovery. From the life-threatening health journey of her mother overlapping her own diagnosis, to the challenges in receiving the life saving surgery she needed, to unexpected complications post-surgery --Boots shares her deeply personal struggles and the transformative power of forgiveness that bubbled up through it all.

Join her as she delves into the profound impact of chronic pain, emotional turmoil, and the crucial role of self-love, patience, and accepting support as you navigate the healing process. Prepare to be moved as Boots opens up to us to discuss the uncharted territory of these major life changes and what helped her navigate through it all. If you're seeking a story of resilience, forgiveness, and the triumph of the human spirit, don't miss out on this gripping episode.

This is a re-release of episodes 1 & 2 of The Heart Chamber podcast that have been combined into a single episode for ease of listening.

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:

After five open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant, Mallory Streacker is now a body builder. -19

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

05/23/23 • 38 min

Mallory Streacker, a professional body builder and currently studying exercise science, was born with a tricuspid defect called Epstein Anomoly. She had her first open heart surgery at 12 years old which caused serious depression for her. Then, at 16 years old, she had another valve replacement as well as a bypass to reroute blood flow to reduce pressure on the right ventricle. At 25 years old, she went into atrial flutter which put her in end stage heart failure. It was then she had open heart surgeries 3 and 4. At 30 years old, her heart took up 75% of her chest cavity and she was admitted to Cleveland Clinic and put in IV meds to keep her alive. There, she had her 5th open heart surgery to transplant a RVAD. 3 days later, she got a new heart.

After such a series of events, Mallory had two choices: feel sorry for herself or become a body builder. She is now thriving as a body builder and is in school for exercise science. She is also acutely aware of the importance of nutrition in her healing journey.

Boots asks her pointed questions about the physical, mental and spiritual impacts this path has had on her and Mallory is raw and real in her answers.

Mallory and Boots also talk about how they met through WomenHeart and their new roles as Heart Champions.

No Shame in Scars: Open Heart Surgery for a Double Chambered Right Ventricle

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

11/28/23 • 44 min

#26 Host Boots Knighton invites guest Jacque Avalon, a nurse, to share her inspiring story of thriving post open heart surgery. Jacque's journey began when she went to the emergency room with chest pain, which turned out to be a rare condition called double chambered right ventricle. It took some advocacy and prompting from Jacque's primary care physician for a full work to be completed. This led to the discovery of her Double Chambered Right Ventricle, and other structural challenges with her heart. Jacque underwent open heart surgery and was surprised by a few things along the way. She took these struggles in stride. You'll be thrilled to learn the impressive feat she accomplished a year after open heart surgery. It was something she dared not attempt pre-surgery, and was able to do once her heart was repaired. Its a testament to the fact that it's possible to aim even higher when congenital heart constraints have been resolved..

Jacque's story emphasizes the importance of perseverance and resilience after undergoing major heart surgery. There were intense moments on her path, when things were incredibly challenging, but there was also another side.

If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:

[06:20] Stressors were taking a toll. And the chest pain wasn't going away.

[11:25] Results from the TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram): Rare adult condition: DCRV, VSD, PFO.

[15:44] Preparing for Open Heart Surgery- who will make your health decisions if you can't?

[22:43] Anesthesia slows blood circulation. Your options to prevent blood clots.

[26:44] Unbearable pain, unforgettable feeling.

[35:35] Value of attending Women Heart and the reflections it brought to the surface.

[36:17] Coming to terms with the changes - a physical scar in a day and at an age with such an emphasis on appearances.

[41:29] Advice to others facing open heart surgery.

Links mentioned in this episode

Women Heart - www.womenheart.org

Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in LA - www.cedars-sinai.org/programs/heart.html

A Little More About Today's Guest

Jacque Avalon is a 31-year-old registered nurse based in Los Angeles CA. She was born with a congenital heart disease that was left untreated until September 2020. She had open heart surgery at the age of 28 after finding out that she had a rare congenital heart defect among adults called DCRV (double-chambered right ventricle).

How to connect with Jacque

Instagram: @apple.jacqs

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:

Complications and Second Chances: Navigating Unexpected Hurdles in Heart Surgery

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

11/14/23 • 36 min

#24 From a life-altering heart attack to a misplaced bypass graft, embark on a rollercoaster ride of resilience and self-discovery with Sherri Hansen. Sherri walks us through her heart attack diagnosis and subsequent open-heart surgeries. This story is important and is a reason why we all need to be our own best advocates.

If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:

[04:14] Experienced chest pain but didn't seek help.

[07:48] Had issues with pain medication, received Ketamine treatment in ICU, lacked proper rehabilitation after discharge.

[11:59] Surgery mishap, vein instead of artery. Redoing bypass.

[13:25] Sherri received good advice, adjusted her perspective, and advocated for herself.

[15:51] Bright Spots - Nurse helped with wound care; puppy visit boosted spirits.

[17:15] Bridge misdiagnosis, life-threatening blockages, and complications.

[27:45] The importance of having a Caring Bridge & a Strong Network

[32:40] The Effects of Societal Pressure, especially as a woman

[33:55] Be your own advocate, ask for help.

A Little More About Today's Guest

Sherri Hansen is originally from Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Madison, WI in 1996 to work at the University of Wisconsin. She is a psychiatrist and has been in private practice for the past 23 years. She is also a musician and when not working or attending doctor appointments, sings in several community choirs, plays piano, and writes church music. She loves hiking and biking, knitting, reading, and gardening.

How to connect with Sherri

Website: www.womenheart.org

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to:

From Pediatric to Adult Care: Navigating Life with a Complex Heart Condition

Open Heart Surgery with Boots

11/21/23 • 32 min

#25 Join host Boots Knighton as she welcomes Leigh Kamping-Carder, the mind behind The Heart Dialogues, to delve into the realities of living with a complex heart defect. She shares her journey of childhood surgeries from tricuspid atresia to navigating the uncharted waters of adult care. Leigh sheds light on the emotional toll of her condition, while offering hope and support to others facing similar battles.

A Little More About Today's Guest

Leigh Kamping-Carder is the writer of The Heart Dialogues, a free newsletter featuring candid conversations and writing for people born with heart conditions (and the people who care about them). She was born with a complex heart defect called tricuspid atresia and had three heart surgeries before the age of 4, including a Fontan operation. She is also a professional journalist, currently heading up the newsletters team at one of the top newspapers in the U.S. She has been a reporter, editor and digital journalist for a decade and a half, covering everything from luxury homes to innovation to arts and culture.

How to connect with Leigh

Newsletter: theheartdialogues.substack.com

Twitter: @Leigh_KC

Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.

Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.

If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.

**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**

How to connect with Boots

Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton

If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well. You can share directly from this platform or send them to: