Part 2 - The Other Side of the Bed: A Journey of Resilience and Advocacy with Sarah Boes
The latest episode of Nursing Uncharted takes listeners on an emotional and enlightening journey, showcasing the raw and resilient account of "nursepreneur," Sarah Boes. From launching a successful business to becoming a tireless advocate for congenital heart disease awareness, Sarah shares how professional successes and personal challenges have transformed her life.
From Nursepreneur to a Heart Mom
Sarah Boes begins her story describing how her career took an entrepreneurial turn during the COVID-19 pandemic. She left traditional nursing to create a test prep business to prepare nurse practitioners for their board exams and also focused on mitigating exam anxiety and building confidence. Sarah built the business with a foundation in mental health and turned it into a massive success before selling it to a larger company. Read part one of Sarah Boes interview to learn more about her nursepreneur success.
But just three weeks after that business milestone, her life took an unexpected turn. At 36 weeks pregnant, Sarah learned that her daughter, Meadow, would be born with a congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot. This diagnosis included several complex heart issues, including the absence of a pulmonary valve. Sarah's perspective shifted overnight, taking her from a thriving entrepreneur to a mom navigating the heart-wrenching realities of her baby’s medical battle.
Mental Health and High-Stakes Nursing
The central theme of the episode is mental health and its ties to nursing. Sarah reflects on her early struggles with anxiety during nursing school, particularly her encounters with test failure and high-pressure environments. One of the most poignant moments in her story is the day she suffered a panic attack in the middle of a clinical rotation. Feeling misunderstood and unsupported, her instructors encouraged Sarah to take control of her mental health and live more fully.
Meadow’s Journey
Meadow's health challenges began almost immediately after birth. At just six days old, she underwent her first heart surgery, a procedure designed to sustain her until she could grow stronger for her second surgery. Sarah described their time at home between surgeries, a period called the "interstage," as operating a mini hospital in their living room. With regimented medical monitoring, daily weight submissions, and constant vigilance, Sarah said it was a blessing and overwhelming responsibility.
The second surgery was intended to be a "full repair," but complications altered the plan. Meadow spent two months in the ICU following surgery, and her recovery was fraught with
uncertainty and trauma for the entire family. Sarah candidly shared moments of survival-mode, and how the emotional toll brought to light her own mental health challenges, leading to her diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Being on the Other Side of the Bedside
Perhaps one of the most poignant aspects of Sarah's story is her reflection as a healthcare provider experiencing the healthcare system through the eyes of a patient’s family. "Hospital time is not our time," she explained to her husband, using her insider knowledge to help manage expectations. Even still, being on the receiving end of care brought frustrations and new understanding.
She recounted challenging moments where critical news was delivered to her while she was alone, unprepared, or emotionally drained. These incidents reshaped her perspective as a nurse, teaching her the importance of timing, context, and support when communicating with patients and families. Sarah’s advice for healthcare professionals is clear and heartfelt: always consider the emotional readiness of those receiving potentially life-altering news, and provide resources to accompany difficult conversations.
Advocacy and a Life Mission
Emerging from her family’s experience, Sarah has channeled her energy into advocacy for congenital heart disease (CHD) awareness and research. She passionately described the need for better detection rates during pregnancy, sharing the startling statistic that only half of heart defects are identified in prenatal screenings. Sarah believes raising awareness can lead to advancements in research, earlier diagnoses, and improved outcomes for children born with CHD.
Her life mission is bold and unwavering. She dreams of contributing to a future where congenital heart defects can be cured. “Awareness changes lives, but action saves them,” she said, summarizing her dedication to advocating for change and pushing the boundaries of medicine. Meadow's story, Sarah stressed, is proof of why these efforts are vital. Just 50 years ago, the surgeries that saved Meadow wouldn’t have existed. Knowing this, Sarah sees hope in the rapid progress of medicine and envisions a world where children like Meadow can thrive without multiple surgeries.
Sarah’s story is one of strength, vulnerability, and hope. You can support her mission by raising awareness for congenital heart disease (CHD), joining campaigns like the American Heart Association’s Women of Impact, or simply spreading the word about CHD’s impact on families. To learn more or connect with Sarah, visit sarahmichellebose.com.
