Healing After the Diagnosis: Anxiety, Advocacy & Sacred Motherhood w/ Sarah Michelle Boes

Episode #136 - In this heartfelt episode of The Awakened Heart Podcast, I sits down with Sarah Michelle Boes, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC — nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and advocate for congenital heart disease awareness.Sarah shares her personal journey as a mother to her daughter Meadow, who was born with multiple critical heart defects. The episode explores the emotional and mental toll of parenting a medically fragile child, including Sarah’s diagnosis of OCD and anxiety — and how she found her way to healing and strength.Together, we talk about:The emotional weight of navigating a child’s chronic illnessSarah’s mental health journey and tips for managing anxiety & OCDThe story behind her and her husband’s $15 million legacy donation to Norton Children’s HospitalWhy advocacy, empathy, and human connection matter more than ever in healthcareBalancing personal healing with professional purpose and leadershipSarah is the founder of Sarah Michelle NP Reviews, the Chief Nursing Officer at Blueprint Test Prep, and a new board member for Conquering CHD. Her story is a powerful example of turning pain into purpose — and leading with heart.TakeawaysSarah experienced two major life changes: becoming an entrepreneur and learning about her daughter's heart condition.Meadow's heart condition led to multiple surgeries in her first six months of life.Sarah's background in nursing provided her with foundational knowledge to navigate her daughter's medical journey.OCD manifests as an intolerance of uncertainty, affecting Sarah's pregnancy and mental health.Exposure therapy was crucial in Sarah's recovery from OCD, allowing her to confront her fears.The mindset shift from survival to empowerment was essential for Sarah and her family.Sarah and her husband made a $15 million legacy gift to support families at Norton Children's Hospital.Meadow's story is a powerful testament to resilience and hope in the face of congenital heart disease.Advocacy work is driven by personal experience and the desire to help others.Motherhood has deepened Sarah's understanding of love, grief, and joy.Sound bites"I turned my grief into purpose somehow.""I have so much more empathy in my teaching.""You're not a victim of your circumstances."Connect with Sarah:PodcastWebsiteInstagram Linkedin Let’s Connect!⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠Rumble⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠Linktree⁠PodcastFREE Meditaion Guide