Our very own Marina Lohri shared her inspiring story as a congenital heart defect (CHD) patient on the US podcast Heart to Heart with Anna. Marina is a true trailblazer. She was one of the first, and now one of the oldest, patients treated with a Fontan procedure for her tricuspid atresia and ventricular and atrial septal defects (VSD and ASD) in Switzerland.
Having always been open about her condition, Marina spoke with host and CHD advocate Anna Marie Jaworski about how she went from very young CHD survivor to CHD community advocate and atHeart Medical’s Executive Assistant and now Office Manager, when in search of a job with a deeper sense of purpose.
Living with CHD
Navigating the complexities of heart conditions connected to CHDs is not always easy. Nor it is being told that these come with age at 20. Marina shared how CHDs bring along their very own profound dilemmas. How they make you debate over heart treatments or pregnancy, and over different perspectives of healthcare professionals.
“Living with CHD helped me look at the positive side of life to keep going and also accept things that I cannot change,” Marina explained. “I have always been open about my struggles. Indulging in a little self-pity is normal but then you’ve got to trust yourself and get going.”
Marina’s story is testament to the pioneering clinicians that had the expertise to perform her still fairly novel surgery procedure at that time in Zurich. Her career journey brought her to align work with personal values and health needs.
“We are glad to be a supportive environment that truly understands the challenges of living with CHD,” said CEO Laurent Grandidier. We also very much appreciate Marina’s personal perspective.”
Marina’s passion and positive energy are daily boosters for the whole atHeart team, for which we are all very grateful.
Listen to the full podcast here