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Heart disease
Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Full list of topics
Discovery :
Parent's reactions
Telling others
Your ideas about causes
Finding information
Sources of support
Talking to health professionals
After birth:
Signs, symptoms & diagnosis after birth
During pregnancy:
Scans, tests & decisions during pregnancy
Preparing for birth & labour
Adapting to life :
How it affects daily life
Follow-up
Coping
Talking to your child about their heart
Financial concerns
Messages to other parents
Impact on family
How it affects parents
How it affects relationships
How it affects siblings
How it affects grandparents
Feeding & medication :
Feeding
Medication
The death of a child :
Dying in hospital
Funeral, post mortem & inquest
Bereavement, sources support & reactions of others
Surgery & cardiac catheterisation :
Emergency surgery
Waiting for an operation
The operation
Accommodation for parents
Paediatric intensive care
Moving to the ward
Taking your child home
Pacemakers
Child's quality of life & development :
A child's quality of life
A child's development
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Heart disease
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged under 1
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Interview CH31
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Describes feelings of fear, disbelief and anger when his 3 month old son was diagnosed with a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
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
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged 1-3
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Interview CH05
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Explains why she felt it was important to talk to her one year old son before he had his surgery.
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
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged under 1
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Interview CH31
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Advises parents to be well informed and to take an active part in their child's care.
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
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged under 1
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Interview CH28
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CHD was diagnosed soon after birth. Describes having to follow their baby who had been transferred by ambulance for emergency surgery in the early hou
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
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged 4-5
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Interview CH17
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Describe the emotions they had before their son's operation.
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.
Heart disease
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged 1-3
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Interview CH23
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Recall that the calm atmosphere in intensive care before their baby was taken in to theatre for emergency surgery had helped them not to panic. This h
Caitlan was diagnosed with Pulmonary Atresia, VSD and Dextro cardia. Treatment: closed heart surgery at 48 hrs old and open heart surgery at 11 months old. Further surgery planned when their daughter is older. Current medication: none.
Heart disease
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged 1-3
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Interview CH07
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Felt frightened at first of the responsibility of caring for their baby at home but said these feelings soon passed.
Felix was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Ventricle, VSD, Mitral Atresia, Pulmonary Atresia, Right Atrial Isomerism, aorta arising from the right ventricle, TAPVD and Bilateral Superior Vena Cava and no spleen. Treatment: modified BT shunt (6 days old) open heart surgery (3 months and 6 months), 1st stage Fontan (10 months). Further surgery planned. Current medication: warfarin, enanapril, frusemide, penicillin.
Heart disease
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged 1-3
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Interview CH08
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She was excessively protective of her baby when they were first home after surgery but she became more relaxed after a time.
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
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Parents of children with congenital heart disease
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Child aged 1-3
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Interview CH11
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Checking her baby's pulse rate and looking after her baby became all consuming when she first brought him home from hospital.
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.
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