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• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH11 >> She found that life is better than she thought it would be and that she could cope.

Jack was diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), which was later diagnosed as Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Treatment: none given yet. A radio-frequency catheter ablation is planned at age 5-7 years. Current medication: none, amiodarone until age 1yr.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged over 5 >> Interview CH25 >> They try to make follow-up appointments fun when the whole family go for check-ups for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Andre was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy at 3 months old. Treatment: he takes Verapamil and has to limit his physical activities. He has annual check ups. Her 6 month old daughter has a VSD, diagnosed when she was 3 months old. It is expected that the hole will close on it's own, without the need for treatment.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH30 >> Explains that every now and then she has negative thoughts about the future but she tries not to dwell on them.

Their daughter was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia, VSD, and an overiding aorta. Treatment: closed heart surgery (shunt) at 11 days old closed heart surgery (shunt) at 11 months old. Corrective open heart surgery at 2 and a half yrs old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH12 >> After her daughter's correctives surgery she feels very positive about the future.

Their daughter was diagnosed with ostium primum Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Treatment: Surgery at 18 months old to close the hole with a dacron patch. Stitches in the mitral valve. No further surgery planned. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged over 5 >> Interview CH21 >> Although it was awful at the time, and occasionally she has had worries about her daughters health, the period of her surgery is now a distant memory.

Their daughter was diagnosed with Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Circulation. She had open heart surgery at 5 months old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH10 >> Their son has still to have his first operation and they feel uncertain about the future but cope by enjoying the present.

Their son was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries, ASD, VSD, Atrial Isomerism and Pulmonary Stenosis. He has Dextro cardia and Bronchial Isomerism. Treatment: none given yet, surgery planned for when their son is older. Current medication: ventolin & flixotide for asthma.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 4-5 >> Interview CH18 >> They don't treat their son as disabled and make their home life as normal as possible in between hospital appointments.

Their son was diagnosed with mirror image, transposition of the great arteries, left sided valve atresia and pulmonary stenosis. Treatment: A BT Shunt at six months old, followed by the Stage 1 Glenn procedure at 4.5 yrs. Cardiac catheter operations every 2 yrs. Further surgery is planned. Current medication: aspirin.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH08 >> They focus on the positive things their son can do and don't treat him as a child with a heart condition.

Daniel was diagnosed with Tricuspid Atresia, Hypoplastic Right Ventricle, VSD and Transposition of the Great Arteries. Treatment: cardiac catheter at 24 hrs old, banding operation at 2 weeks old, followed by 1st stage Fontan at 10 months old. Further catheters and surgery planned. Current medication: warfarin.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged over 5 >> Interview CH25 >> Explains that it is difficult to get the right balance in letting her son who has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy lead a normal life but not put himself a

Andre was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy at 3 months old. Treatment: he takes Verapamil and has to limit his physical activities. He has annual check ups. Her 6 month old daughter has a VSD, diagnosed when she was 3 months old. It is expected that the hole will close on it's own, without the need for treatment.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH13 >> Comments that she has become more relaxed about minor illnesses after her baby's surgery because she realises how resilient he is.

Joshua was diagnosed with Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD) and Down's syndrome. Treatment: surgery at 4 months to repair his AVSD. No further treatment planned. Current medication: aspirin.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged under 1 >> Interview CH31 >> His attitude to life has become more philosophical and they now feel confident that they could face any problem as a family and be able to cope with i

Vikram was diagnosed with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) at 3 months old. He had corrective open heart surgery to close the VSD at four and a half months old. He is recovering well and no further treatment is expected. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH05 >> Comments that her son's diagnosis has changed all their lives for the better and she is looking forward to the future.

Joe was diagnosed with Di-George Syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallots. Treatment: one operation at 3 weeks old, 10 months and at 18 months old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged under 1 >> Interview CH31 >> His attitude to life has become more philosophical and they now feel confident that they could face any problem as a family and be able to cope with i

Vikram was diagnosed with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) at 3 months old. He had corrective open heart surgery to close the VSD at four and a half months old. He is recovering well and no further treatment is expected. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH04 >> Explains that her priorities have changed and she appreciated things a lot more.

Their daughter was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus. Treatment: Surgery at 5 weeks old to fit a conduit and repair the hole. Cardiac catheterisation planned for pre-school. Current medication: captopril.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged under 1 >> Interview CH28 >> Explains that her baby's grandparents were always optimistic and positive when speaking to her while her baby was in intensive care for four and a hal

Noah (2000-2001) was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis at 12 hours old. He died aged 4 and a half months old following three operations to try to repair his heart. Noah spent 4 and a half months in intensive care.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH08 >> They focus on the positive things their son can do and don't treat him as a child with a heart condition.

Daniel was diagnosed with Tricuspid Atresia, Hypoplastic Right Ventricle, VSD and Transposition of the Great Arteries. Treatment: cardiac catheter at 24 hrs old, banding operation at 2 weeks old, followed by 1st stage Fontan at 10 months old. Further catheters and surgery planned. Current medication: warfarin.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH12 >> After her daughter's correctives surgery she feels very positive about the future.

Their daughter was diagnosed with ostium primum Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Treatment: Surgery at 18 months old to close the hole with a dacron patch. Stitches in the mitral valve. No further surgery planned. Current medication: none.