Well, let me introduce myself. I am Katie Lynn Cataldo and
18 years ago I was born with a congenital heart disease called Hypoplastic
Right Heart Syndrome. I had my
first heart surgery when I was 3 days old, which was the BT shunt. I had my Open Heart Surgery when I was
4 years old, a Glenn. My last
heart procedure was 8 years ago. I
have been so blessed to be a healthy HRHS patient.
I went 15 years not knowing any other CHD patients. I did go through a moment in my life
were I felt different and like no one knew how I felt as a kid. I was always so unique because no one
else had a big scar on their chest.
I would constantly get asked what happened to me and I have to say some
of their conclusions were pretty funny.
Finally, at the age of 15, I decided to learn more about my heart
condition. In finding out all
about my heart, I began to come in contact with other families and patients
with congenital heart disease. It’s crazy how a little social media network
like Twitter can get you connected to many other CHD patients. I went from knowing only myself born
with a heart defect, to finding out 1 out of 100 babies are born with a heart
defect, and it’s the number one birth defect in America.
Now I am excited to be doing so much in the CHD community
and working with Anna Jaworski for Baby Hearts Press. Three years ago if you would have told me I would be talking
to CHD families all over the world and helping organizations with awareness, I
would have laughed and said that was not the kind of thing I could do. But, here I am and looking forward to
do more.
1 comment:
Katie, I am so glad you have found your place in the CHD world. You must have been terribly lonely and alone as a child. I look forward to reading more from you.
Lisa Schaffer
Mom to 6!
2 with complex CHD
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