Leading Through Stories: Storytelling in Congenital Heart Disease Care

In a world where healthcare often seems impersonal and daunting, the art of storytelling emerges as a powerful means to bridge the gap between patients and providers, offering a sense of humanity amidst clinical settings. The latest episode of our podcast presents an enlightening conversation with Vittorio Borrelli, a man whose life is a testament to resilience and courage in the face of congenital heart disease (CHD) and cancer.

Vittorio’s story is not just about the medical battles he has fought but about the personal identity he has forged through his experiences. His narrative encapsulates the struggles and triumphs of living with CHD, the complex journey from pediatric to adult care, and the unexpected turns that life can take when you are a “heart kid” turned adult. The episode poignantly illustrates how digital storytelling can be an educational and empathy-building tool that transcends the traditional patient-healthcare provider dynamic.

The podcast delves into the creation of digital stories as resources that capture and convey the essence of patients’ experiences, often with lasting effects. It explores how Vittorio and others have used storytelling workshops to connect with their peers, leading to transformative realizations and deepened community bonds. This particular retreat in collaboration with Heart Beats Children’s Society of Calgary and Western Canadian Children’s Heart Network offered a unique opportunity for adults with CHD to share their life experiences, shedding light on the often overlooked adult perspective in CHD care.

During the episode, listeners are taken on a journey through the landscapes of healthcare and personal identity, uncovering the remarkable ways in which stories can influence perspectives and incite action. The conversation reveals how narrative medicine is not only a therapeutic tool for those telling their stories but also a means for listeners, including clinicians and families, to gain insight into the lived experiences of individuals with CHD.

Digital storytelling is also praised for its practicality, as it provides easily shareable content for events and awareness campaigns, engaging audiences without the need for extensive preparation. The podcast highlights Sickboy podcast host, Jeremie Saunders’ memorable recollection of Vittorio’s story that left a significant impact on him, showcasing the effectiveness of digital storytelling in healthcare.

As we listen to Vittorio recount meaningful moments from his life, we are reminded of the lifelines that storytelling can provide in the context of health and wellness. Whether it is Jacqui’s memorable visit to the Libin Heart Institute or Maddie’s evolving narrative during the storytelling retreat, the episode underscores the unexpected and powerful ways stories can resonate with us.

The episode concludes with an invitation to the audience to consider their own stories and the moments they would like to share. It encourages listeners to think about the power of storytelling in their own lives and in the healthcare landscape, highlighting the potential of digital narratives to craft connections, foster understanding, and promote healing.

The blog post above captures the essence of the podcast episode, “The Lifelines of Storytelling in Congenital Heart Disease Care,” inviting readers to listen and engage with the transformative power of storytelling in the context of congenital heart disease. With a focus on digital narratives, the episode offers a heartfelt exploration of the role stories play in connecting individuals, educating healthcare professionals, and strengthening communities affected by CHD.

Learn more about how Heart Beats used digital storytelling to increase impact here.

About Leading Through Stories

Everyone has a story to tell—and what we do with that story can create lasting impact. Every episode, Leading Through Stories, helps unravel the how and why of digital storytelling with host Kristy Wolfe.

Life is made up of meaningful moments—which ones do you want to share?

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Digital Stories Belong in Curriculum & Communities with Dr. Mike Lang – Co-Created

A few years ago, we were still explaining to healthcare providers why stories mattered. Now we’re watching digital storytelling get built into a nursing curriculum, shape research plans, and gather real communities around hard conversations. I’m joined by Dr. Mike Lang, founder of Common Language Digital Storytelling and assistant professor in the University of Calgary Faculty of Nursing, for a candid update on what has shifted and what’s coming next.Episode Key MessagesMike’s new role in the University of Calgary Faculty of Nursing and what it unlocks for digital storytelling in health and wellnessEmbedding digital stories into curriculum for specific learning outcomes and student conversationsStrategic partnerships and why a facilitator collective helps the work spread with qualityUganda milestones and how community-led stories drive maternal, child, and adolescent health changeCalgary Story Slam highlights and how stories open space for hard topics like grief and lossFormat changes for the Story Slam and why live attendance feels differentWhat the Common Language retreat builds through story share, deep craft talk, and momentumGrowth in facilitator training and the increasing involvement of researchersNew initiatives at U of C including Nurse Story, the Healing Lens Research Lab, and research on SIDS grief supportMike’s next meaningful moment idea and why noticing it mattersOther Links MentionedRead this episode's blog postWatch the 2026 Common Language Story SlamLearn more about the work in Uganda & East AfricaAbout Our GuestDr. Michael Lang is an Assistant Professor (Teaching and Research) in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary and Director of the Healing Lens Research Lab, a transdisciplinary research and creative practice lab dedicated to advancing documentary film and digital storytelling as rigorous, ethical, and impactful methodologies in health and wellness contexts. Situated within the Faculty of Nursing, the Lab brings together health researchers, clinicians, filmmakers, digital storytelling facilitators, educators, and community partners to explore how stories, when created and mobilized with care, can shape education, influence practice, and support individual and collective wellbeing. Dr. Lang’s work sits at the intersection of health research, documentary filmmaking, and knowledge translation, with a particular focus on how narrative and visual practices can deepen understanding of illness, caregiving, patient experience, and human flourishing. Over the past fifteen years, he has facilitated the creation of more than 1,000 digital stories with patients, family caregivers, healthcare providers, students, and community members, and has trained over 100 facilitators through Common Language Digital Storytelling, an international organization he founded to support ethical storytelling practice in healthcare, education, and community settings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1. Digital Stories Belong in Curriculum & Communities with Dr. Mike Lang 29:05
2. What Changes When We Treat Stories Like Data with Dr. Katharine Smart 26:36
3. Through Her Lens: Cameras For Girls with Amina Mohamed 24:36
4. Double the Magic: Storytelling for Healing and Impact with Melody Williamson 31:57
5. When Science Meets Story: Lessons from a PhD Defense with Becky McCall 35:57

Common Language DST facilitator trainings are open for registration.
Learn more here.