How it affects siblings

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 4-5 >> Interview CH17 >> Describes how their daughter was looked after and how she coped when her twin brother was in hospital but how difficult it is to be sure how a child i

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 >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged under 1 >> Interview CH01 >> Describes fear that siblings would feel neglected when their parents were spending time at the hospital and how it helped for an older child to visit

Their son was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Treatment: Japanese Stage 1 Norwood at 4 days old and Stage 2 Norwood at 4 months old. Stage 3 is planned for pre-school. Heart Scan at local hospital every 3 months. Current medication: aspirin, captopril. Monthly injection to prevent bronchial infections.

Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH05 >> Comments that she found it difficult splitting her time between her children when her baby was ill and why it is important to find help from family or

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 1-3 >> Interview CH05 >> Explains how her older son had benefited from the support group his mother had joined.

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 1-3 >> Interview CH05 >> Describes how her son had found it useful reading a booklet produced by HeartLine for siblings.

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 1-3 >> Interview CH07 >> They feel their older children have adapted well and they haven't suffered any long-term adverse affects.

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 >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged over 5 >> Interview CH21 >> Explains that it was hard leaving her toddler at home when her baby was in hospital.

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 CH22 >> Describe making sure their older child's needs were met when their baby was admitted to hospital for emergency surgery.

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 CH23 >> They took their six-year-old daughter to some appointments and check-ups so that she could see what was happening to her younger sister.

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 >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 4-5 >> Interview CH26 >> Explains that the whole family had found it reassuring to watch a video about pacemakers for children.

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 CH07 >> They feel their older children have adapted well and they haven't suffered any long-term adverse affects.

Heart disease >> Parents of children with congenital heart disease >> Child aged 1-3 >> Interview CH12 >> Describes the effect on her son of his younger sister's heart condition.

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