• Website Search
  • Find an ACHD Clinic
Home / Blog / Authors

Posts by Jennifer Casson Tripucka

We have had dozens of bloggers since this blog began who have been so open with their stories. If you are interested in blogging, too, we'd love to hear from you. Please email info@achaheart.org.

« View all authors

An Open Letter to Parents of CHD Babies

by Jennifer Casson Tripucka on Wednesday, Oct 28, 2020

This letter is one I have wanted to write to my parents for years, and hopefully, if you have parents or know parents of CHD babies, you’ll share this with them, too.

Dear Mom and Dad,

This letter has taken a long time for me to write — 33+ years to be exact — but I have a few things I wanted to share with you about being parents of a CHD baby. While I cannot begin to know what it feels like, even being on the other end, as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized how incredible you are (even more than before!) while going through such a tumultuous period of time bringing me safely into the world.

Read more

"So, You're Fixed Now?" ...And Other Things People Have Said to Me About CHD

by Jennifer Casson Tripucka on Tuesday, Apr 14, 2020

“Wow, you have transposition of the great arteries and you survived to adulthood?” — a general practitioner (GP) doctor who then proceeded to pull his colleagues in to show them a diagram of my heart and how it works, on Google no less.

Sounds crazy at a GP’s office that I visited for a lingering cold a few years back, yet if you’re an adult with a congenital heart defect, this is a pretty common theme. Either someone has “heard” of your condition and is shocked you’re alive, has never heard of it but thinks you’re fine because you don’t look sick, or something similar. In my 33 years of having CHD, I’ve heard it all — and then some. Here are a few things people have said about CHD, which, if you have CHD, you’ll probably find eerily familiar.

Read more

How Anxiety Helped Me with CHD

by Jennifer Casson Tripucka on Monday, Jul 22, 2019

When I was in graduate school, I literally thought I was dying—having severe palpitations and waking up sweating and unable to feel my limbs. A few cardiology tests later, it turned out it was anxiety: body-paralyzing, completely overwhelming panic attacks and night terrors. Chalk it up to not sleeping, too much caffeine, demanding work and school schedules, family things—it was undeniable.

Being a naturally anxious, type-A person (please find me someone with a heart condition who isn't, I would love to talk shop!), having CHD can be quite a rough diagnosis. But sometimes, there’s a silver lining in it. Here’s how anxiety really helped me personally get in tune with my body.

Read more

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by ACHA bloggers and those providing comments on the ACHA Blog are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of the Adult Congenital Heart Association or any employee thereof. ACHA is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the ACHA bloggers.

The contents of this blog are presented for informational purposes only, and should not be substituted for professional advice. Always consult your physicians with your questions and concerns.

Be A Monthly Donor

We are retiring our exclusive monthly giving t-shirt. Now is your last chance to add it to your shirt collection by joining our monthly donors like Ken!

Give Monthly Now Close