Parenting in the Middle of Medical Chaos: Anna’s Story as a Medical Mom

Hi, I’m Anna—mom to Emmie, wife to Phillip, and the operations arm behind Get Mom Ready. Today I’m sharing something that no mama-to-be plans for: our journey with congenital heart disease (CHD) and what it’s looked like to embrace being a “medical mom.”

In this episode, I talk about finding out during pregnancy that something was wrong with our daughter’s heart, navigating multiple hospital stays and surgeries, and how we’ve learned to hold the tension of making everyday life magical while still parenting with boundaries. If you’re walking through medical unknowns—or love someone who is—I hope this conversation helps you feel seen and a little less alone.

In this episode, I share:

* The day we learned about Emmie’s congenital heart disease and how quickly life changed

* What hospital life really looks like (including the 2:22 moment I’ll never forget)

* How community carried us—and practical ways to let people help

* Marriage in the middle of medical trauma: what supported us and what we learned the hard way

* The phrase I’m living by right now: “It’s not that serious” (and when it is)

Links & mentions

* Get Mom Ready: Subscribe free or join the paid community → GetMomReady.com

* Paid members get my Hospital Packing List (what to bring for everything from a quick stay to the long hauls).

Get Mom Ready is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Get Mom Ready is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

* Pediped Footwear (today’s sponsor): Thoughtfully made kids’ shoes from sandals to sneakers → pediped.com

* Use code MOMREADY for 20% off your first order.

* Jones Road Beauty: Bobbi Brown’s clean makeup line we keep mentioning → jonesroadbeauty.com

* BrüMate: The handled, twist-to-close water bottle Meredith won’t stop talking about

* Berne Brown on The Tim Ferriss Show - How to Save Your Marriage

* Radical Candor (the book that changed my life)

* Our Favorites List: A single place for everything we rave about on the show → free access at GetMomReady.com

* Join us on Instagram for extras and to share your story: @GetMomReady

For the moms in the thick of it

If you’re facing CHD or any kind of medical unknown with your child, your feelings are valid. Let people help. Take the walk. Eat the ice cream for breakfast sometimes. And when you can, remember: not everything is that serious—but the love you’re building absolutely is.

Paid community members can grab my Hospital Packing List today at GetMomReady.com. I made it so you don’t have to think when you’re already carrying so much.

What’s next?

Next week, we hear from Meredith Mayo (our Wellness Mom). She gets vulnerable sharing never-before-heard stories about her road to motherhood and the hardship of walking through miscarriage. Meredith opens up about the grief, the grit, and how her Enneagram 7 spirit helped her find light even in the darkest seasons. At the heart of it all? Learning to trust your gut as a mom. Don’t miss it.

Follow along on Instagram: @GetMomReady

—Anna

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