How a Nurse Practitioner Faced Her Daughter’s Tetralogy of Fallot Diagnosis (258)- Sarah's Story

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In this inspiring episode, we meet Sarah Michelle Boes—nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and mom to Meadow, who was diagnosed in utero with Tetralogy of Fallot and multiple congenital heart defects. Sarah brings a powerful trifecta of perspectives: as a medical provider, mental health advocate, and dedicated heart mom.

We cover: ✅ Meadow’s life-saving heart surgeries and long ICU stays ✅ How Sarah navigated new motherhood with OCD and anxiety ✅ The emotional toll of being both a medical provider and a parent ✅ Creating a connection through medical play to ease doctor visits ✅ How Sarah turned survival into purpose through national advocacy

Whether you're a fellow medical parent, healthcare provider, or mental health professional, this episode will leave you with real insight into the raw challenges and unexpected joys of raising a child with complex medical needs.

Key Topics & Highlights

[00:00] – Meet Sarah Michelle Boes

• Nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and heart mom

• Her daughter Meadow’s surprise diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot at 36 weeks

⏱️ [03:00] – From Business Success to Medical Crisis

• Selling her business weeks before Meadow’s diagnosis

• The shock of learning Meadow had four heart defects

⏱️ [05:00] – Learning to Navigate as a Medical Parent

• How Sarah’s medical background helped (and complicated) her parenting

• Teaching her husband how to advocate medically alongside her

⏱️ [07:00] – Mother’s Intuition & Switching OBs

• Sarah felt something was wrong during pregnancy but was dismissed

• A new ultrasound revealed her daughter's heart looked “weird”

⏱️ [10:00] – NICU Rollercoaster Begins

• Meadow intubated within hours of birth due to medication side effect

• Sarah and her husband find strength in teamwork

⏱️ [14:00] – Advice for New Heart Parents

• The overwhelm of tracking vitals and data post-discharge

• Feeling more like Meadow’s nurse than her mom

⏱️ [17:00] – The Unexpected Second Surgery & Major Setbacks

• Meadow’s patch failed, requiring emergency open-heart surgery

• Her chest remained open for a week due to complications

⏱️ [21:00] – A Brain Bleed Diagnosis