What does it mean to move from children’s cardiac care into the adult healthcare system, and how can young people feel confident and empowered through the process?
In this episode of From the Heart, host Rachel Knowles sits down with Nurse Dr Mary Tallon, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Cardiology at Perth Children’s Hospital and a contributor to the Australian Standards of Care for Childhood-Onset Heart Disease. Together, they explore the transition to adult care, why it should begin long before a young person turns 18, and how families, healthcare teams and communities can work together to support independence and lifelong heart health.
Mary shares practical advice for young people and parents, discusses the importance of understanding your own heart story, and explains how confidence, connection and self-advocacy can make all the difference during this important life stage.
Whether you’re preparing for transition yourself, supporting a young person, or simply want to better understand the journey, this conversation offers practical guidance, reassurance and a hopeful look at what comes next for young people living with childhood-onset heart disease.
