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• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH22 >> They coped in different ways which surprised them.

Millie was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta and a VSD at 3 weeks old. Treatment: she had closed heart surgery to repair the coarctation and a band was put around the pulmonary artery at 3 weeks old. At 7 months old she had open heart surgery to repair her VSD. Current medication: captopril.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH13 >> Their relationship had become stronger through mutual respect and realising how reliant they were on each other.

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 1-3 >> Interview CH08 >> Talks about how important it is to spending time together as a couple and not to forget to support each other.

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 CH20 >> There was no-one they could ask to baby-sit and were planning to go away together for the first time in five years after their child's successful oper

Toby was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallots and mild branch pulmonary stenosis at six weeks old. Treatment: he had a catheter at 6 months old and corrective open heart surgery at 8 months old. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH08 >> Emphasised the importance of spending time together as a couple, which can be forgotten when parents energies are focused on their ill child.

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 4-5 >> Interview CH26 >> They weren't able to share their feelings and talk to each other about their daughter's illness which she feels contributed to her marriage breakdown.

Her daughter was diagnosed with Partial Ventricular Septal Defect after GP noticed a heart murmur when she was two. Treatment: open heart surgery to repair hole and mend the valve at 2½ yrs old. Pacemaker fitted 5 days after surgery. Possibility of further surgery in the future. Current medication: none.

• Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH30 >> She had made a conscious effort to make time for her husband and to talk to each other rather than just relating in the context of their ill child.

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 CH11 >> They coped by not talking to each other about their son's illness for the first six months after he was diagnosed.

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 1-3 >> Interview CH11 >> Explains the stress they experienced when their son was in hospital and that they argued more than normal.

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 had different ways of coping which she explains can be difficult.

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 4-5 >> Interview CH17 >> The roles within their relationship changed and she found she needed to support her husband.

Their son was diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Treatment: surgery to close hole and repair leaky valve at 3½ years old. No further treatment planned. Current medication: none.