CAH PULSE

In this final episode of Season 2 - Stephanie and Dina are joined by leading CAH experts, Drs. Witchel and Auchus. This episode was made to provide a deeper understanding of the differences between salt-wasting CAH (classical) and non-classical CAH which is often misunderstood, frequently under-diagnosed, and highly individualized. 

The experts share their thoughts on if and when treatment makes sense, how this condition is often d...

In this episode of CAH Pulse, host Stephanie Erb and CARES Foundation director Dina Matos sit down with distinguished scholar Dr. Dimitri Grigoriadis of Neurocrine Biosciences for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how medications are discovered, tested, and brought to life. From the origins of CRF research to the challenges of treating a rare disease like CAH, Dimitri explains the drug-development journey in an accessible, fascinati...

In this uplifting episode, Stephanie and Dina speak to Brittany, an outspoken 29-year-old living with CAH. A self described "open book", Brittany shares her life's journey from her diagnosis as a toddler, thanks to her mother's intuition and advocacy, to her drive to find a cure for CAH.  Along the way Brittany reveals she has suffered from weight gain, severe acne and even a femoral stress fracture. Her path also includes a life c...

In this touching episode, Stephanie and Dina speak to Kristina, a young mom to 2 little girls who's younger daughter lives with salt wasting CAH. Kristina recalls her journey from giving birth to Franny through her now fifteen months of life, including feeding routines, hospital visits, medication and explaining her condition to family, day care and friends. Unsurprisingly, the day Franny was born, Kristina was told "something is w...

In the mid 1960's, Tim was diagnosed with CAH just weeks after he was born.  His CAH simply didn’t set off many alarms with his medical team, nor his parents. As a result, he seemed to breeze through time with little challenges and even went 50 years without a single adrenal crisis! However, Tim had learned some difficult news at the age of 30, thanks to the long term effects of prescribed prednisone, when a bone scan...

In this masterfully eye-opening episode, Stephanie and Dina pick the brilliant mind of CARES Foundation's Medical Director, and Professor & Pediatric Endocrinologist at the NY Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dr Karen Su. Dr. Su helps to clear up the confusion over "stress dosing" an adult or a child living with CAH.

Of great importance to Stephanie & Dina has been to address the idea that a stress dose needs to ...

Is ten-year-old Raelie unphased by her CAH? Find out in this important episode of CAH Pulse where Stephanie and Dina speak with Amanda and her strong, brave and laid back 5th grade daughter, Raelie. This insightful mother daughter duo gives us an up-close view through the window of their daily lives navigating and troubleshooting life with this rare condition.  Amanda explains their family hardships as well as their successes in ma...

In this memorable episode, Ryan, who has seemed to manage his classic salt wasting CAH head-on with an organized, matter of fact approach, has been faced with new challenges to consider now that he is in his 30's.  Ryan's mom, Heidi, knew in his first 2 weeks of life that something was just not right with her baby and thanks to her intuition and diligence she did not stop until the hospital found a diagnosis. Once she was told her ...

In this episode of CAH Pulse, Stephanie and Dina speak with Lydia who was diagnosed with classic CAH at birth and although she received relatively good medical care from the start, she had little understanding about her condition.  As a young adult, Lydia reveals that she foolishly decided to test the importance of taking her medication by eliminating it altogether.  

She also explains how her world took a positive turn after colle...

Marc wasn't formally diagnosed with salt wasting CAH until he was the age of 3. Up to that point, Marc's mother had spent his infant and pre-school years simply trying to prevent him from vomiting all the time. The only remedy that seemed to work was constant high doses of salt. Lots and lots of salt. Although she was percieved as a neurotic helicopter first time mother, and doctors simply didn't value her hunches and her convictio...

Welcome to another astonishing CAH story.  In this 6th episode of CAH Pulse, Stephanie and Dina learn the startling details of David and Brianne's CAH journey with their little girl who was born into an uncertain world. Not only was her birthday during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but their newborn was diagnosed with salt-wasting CAH in a hospital with medical professionals who knew little to nothing about the condition.

Da...

"We can assume kids are gonna have questions; so create a relationship outside of CAH and the rest will follow". One of the poignant thoughts belonging to Lindsey, a warm hearted, outspoken young woman who shares her compelling story of growing up in the midwest as a typical girl with friends, playing sports, going to college and now at 30, working as a geographic information systems technician. However, atypically, she shares how ...

There are varying degrees of fear that parents experience while raising a child with CAH. These fears are often from the challenges of medicating their child properly to ensure their safety from a looming adrenal crisis.  Understandably, anxiety and worry can be off the charts. But Cares Foundation wants you to feel rest assured, with the proper attention to detail and care management those with CAH can live a typical life!  And Jo...

Connecting with someone who knows your fears and challenges is a crusade Dina Matos, Executive Director of Cares Foundation and Stephanie Erb, long time career actress, advocate and mom of a grown child with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia have been on together. They bring us this compelling first episode of CAH Pulse, a podcast born and bred to educate, connect and give hope to those living with this challenging rare condition. Her...