Category: veds podcast

Katy DeCoursey

Katy DeCoursey

Katy’s husband, Mike, and her son were diagnosed with VEDS in 2020. In this episode, Katy shares her perspective as a spouse and a mom of loved ones with this condition.

These episode show notes will be updated with a link to the kids book, “Wonderfully Made,” once it is available on Kindle.

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups, an emergency preparedness kit with a wallet card, and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, let me know here. I look forward to hearing from you!

You can support this podcast by subscribing to my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Translucentone

Thank you all my patrons for supporting the show, and extra thanks to my top-tier Connected Patrons:
Jon Holtom
Kacey Keegan

The views, information or opinions in the blog, podcast, and vlogs are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent the opinions of The Marfan Foundation. The Marfan Foundation is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in them nor does the information constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

Kelly Gann

Kelly Gann

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk to Kelly Gann, who was diagnosed with VEDS in 2009, when she was in Physician Assistant (PA) school. Kelly shares how she coped with that diagnosis, how her life has changed since then, and how her experience has changed now that her sister, Cristy, has also been diagnosed.

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups, an emergency preparedness kit with a wallet card, and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, let me know here. I look forward to hearing from you!

You can support this podcast by subscribing to my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Translucentone

Thank you all my patrons for supporting the show, and extra thanks to my top-tier Connected Patrons:
Jon Holtom
Kacey Keegan

The views, information or opinions in the blog, podcast, and vlogs are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent the opinions of The Marfan Foundation. The Marfan Foundation is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in them nor does the information constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

Tyler Farley

Tyler Farley

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk to Tyler Farley, who was diagnosed with VEDS following a bowel perforation when he was 17. The VEDS diagnosis explained many things for Tyler, including the early death of his father, but also was a really challenging diagnosis to get when he was about to go into college.

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups, an emergency preparedness kit with a wallet card, and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, let me know here. I look forward to hearing from you!

You can support this podcast by subscribing to my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Translucentone

Thank you all my patrons for supporting the show, and extra thanks to my top-tier Connected Patrons:
Jon Holtom
Kacey Keegan

The views, information or opinions in the blog, podcast, and vlogs are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent the opinions of The Marfan Foundation. The Marfan Foundation is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in them nor does the information constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

Samantha Arche

Samantha Arche

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk to Samantha Arche, who was diagnosed with VEDS following a uterine rupture during the delivery of her second child. Samantha was concerned that she might have VEDS prior to this, but struggled to get genetic testing.

In the episode I mentioned the prior interview with Meg Boeglin, which is available here: https://staying-connected.blubrry.net/2020/01/26/meg-zoe-and-izaak/

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups, an emergency preparedness kit with a wallet card, and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, let me know here. I look forward to hearing from you!

You can support this podcast by subscribing to my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Translucentone

Thank you all my patrons for supporting the show, and extra thanks to my top-tier Connected Patrons:
Jon Holtom
Kacey Keegan

The views, information or opinions in the blog, podcast, and vlogs are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent the opinions of The Marfan Foundation. The Marfan Foundation is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in them nor does the information constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

Cristy Gann

Cristy Gann

Cristy Gann was diagnosed with VEDS after her son Hunter died of an aortic dissection last year, in September of 2021. Hunter was only 14 years old. In this interview, Cristy shares what happened to Hunter, signs of VEDS that were missed in both her and Hunter, and how she is handling her own diagnosis.

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups, an emergency preparedness kit with a wallet card, and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, let me know here. I look forward to hearing from you!

You can support this podcast by subscribing to my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/Translucentone

Thank you all my patrons for supporting the show, and extra thanks to my top-tier Connected Patrons:
Jon Holtom
Kacey Keegan

The views, information or opinions in the blog, podcast, and vlogs are solely those of the individuals involved and do not represent the opinions of The Marfan Foundation. The Marfan Foundation is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in them nor does the information constitute medical or other professional advice or services.

Cathy Bowen (Dave’s Mom)

Cathy Bowen (Dave’s Mom)

Cathy Bowen tells us about her son, David Daniel Bowen III, and the colostomy reversal that ultimately took his life in 1996 at the age of 14, due to medical mismanagement and the hospital’s lack of knowledge about Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS). Dave’s death left Cathy an empty shell, and she dealt with his loss by putting the love she had for her son towards others with VEDS. She had also made Dave a promise, that this would be her lifelong mission. Shortly after his death, she started advocating for people with VEDS with other mothers. She worked with the EDS National Foundation (now known as the EDS Society) and opened a local branch in New Jersey.  A few years later she co-founded EDS Today, which began as a newsletter for people in the EDS community sharing news and publications about all types of EDS. She was also a member of the original VEDS yahoo email support group back in 1996, which is now the VEDS Facebook group.

Read more about Dave and Cathy’s story, and the Bowen story, here: http://edstoday.org/david-daniel-bowen-iii/

You can also read Dave’s poem, which was read on this podcast, here: https://fibromusculardysplasia.blogspot.com/2013/12/today-i-want-to-share-with-you.html

Find more information about the VEDS Collaborative Natural History Study and enroll at https://redcap.iths.org/surveys/?s=LTWWDAC3XJ

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, reach out to me here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Meg, Zoe, and Izaak

Meg, Zoe, and Izaak

Meg shares her diagnosis story with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS), and talks about how it has impacted her perspective on life and parenting, and career as a nurse. She was diagnosed with VEDS 9 years after a life-threatening maxillary artery aneurysm. Following her diagnosis, her daughter Zoe was diagnosed and she became pregnant with her second child, Isaak, who also has VEDS.

Meg has become an amazing advocate for others with VEDS through volunteering her time and through her career.

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, reach out to me here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Joy (Katie’s mom)

Joy (Katie’s mom)

This is a special episode where I talk to my mom about the medical mysteries when I was growing up, and how it felt when we finally got the diagnosis of Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) at the age of 28 years old.

The beginning of this episode really focuses on the medical aspects of me growing up, while the second half focuses on how we coped with the diagnosis as a mother and daughter.

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, reach out to me here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Jeremias, Miles and Henry

Jeremias, Miles and Henry

Jeremias was diagnosed with vEDS after they got the diagnosis for Miles, one of his three children who is now 9 years old. One of his other kids, Henry, was also diagnosed at that time. If his wife, Rachel, had not pushed for a diagnosis, they likely would not have the answers they have today.

Jeremias is 33 now and has been fortunate to have few life-threatening complications so far. He has had a lot of lung issues, and a partial collapsed lung during a bout of bronchitis earlier this year. They’ve gotten a plan set up at school for the teachers to follow in case of emergencies for Henry and Miles and have good docs in Texas that follow them!

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, reach out to me here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Also, if you have genetically confirmed vEDS and are 18+, please consider enrolling in the vEDS Collaborative Natural History Study. vedscollaborative.org/get-involved

Dr. Sherene Shalhub

Dr. Sherene Shalhub

Sherene Shalhub is a vascular surgeon who has been working with patients with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) alongside Dr. Peter Byers, who was also featured in a special episode of Staying Connected last month.

Sherene took some time during our weekend at the Marfan Foundation Annual Conference to talk to me about her story and experience with vEDS, including her work to further research and human connection through the vEDS Collaborative. She has been an amazing advocate for those with vEDS, and has become family to me.

If you want to enroll in the vEDS Collaborative Natural History Study, visit vedscollaborative.org/get-involved

If you have vEDS and want to be on this podcast, or just want talk to someone else with vEDS, reach out to me at thetranslucentone@gmail.com

Jennifer and Cade

Jennifer and Cade

Jennifer’s son Cade was diagnosed with vEDS (Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) at 14 years old as an incidental finding following exome sequencing for autism. Jennifer had not heard of vEDS prior to the call from the genetic counselor, but had previously had Cade evaluated for Marfan Syndrome (for which he tested negative).

Cade is now 16 years old and recently got to meet others his age at the Marfan Annual Conference earlier this month.

Learn more about the vEDS Natural History study here: https://www.vedscollaborative.org/news

Dr. Peter Byers

Dr. Peter Byers

Dr. Peter Byers has been an integral part of the Vascular EDS (VEDS) community since the 1970s, and has become part of the family to many of those affected by vEDS.

In this special episode, Peter shares his history with vEDS and excitement for progress for the community that is happening now.

This episode was recorded live on 7/13/19 in Houston at the Marfan Foundation Annual Conference. You can even hear the air conditioning at the hotel wake up part way through the episode! 😉

If you want to learn more about the vEDS Collaborative and enroll in the research study, visit vEDSCollaborative.org.

If you want to be a part of this podcast, or have genetically confirmed vEDS and have not been integrated into our group, reach out at thetranslucentone@gmail.com.

Sarah and Andrew

Sarah and Andrew

Sarah shares her 5 year old son Andrew’s diagnosis story, and challenges along the way.

In this episode we also briefly talked about variances in outcomes with vEDS (Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) depending on mutation type. The video by Dr. Byers explaining the mutation types is here on youtube: https://youtu.be/ZVnWiNR6bdY

Find more information about VEDS, including support groups and medical webinars, at TheVEDSMovement.org. This podcast is not associated with The VEDS Movement or The Marfan Foundation.

If you would like to share your story with VEDS on this podcast, reach out to me here. I look forward to hearing from you!