Category: Mended Little Hearts Blog
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Financial Considerations During the Hospital Stay
You may be wondering, “Why would I want to think about financial considerations now? I am focused on my child in the hospital. I’ll worry about that later. Financial information will just give me more stress than I already have.” That is a valid point, and you do need to focus on your son…
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The Financial Impact of CHD on Families
The financial impact on your family is probably the second-most stressful part of having a child with CHD. We make health care decisions based on what is best for our children, not what is best for our wallets, so we are often faced with intimidating medical bills after a hospital stay. This can cause…
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Teens Dealing with Congenital Heart Defects
By Lindsay Davis Your high school classmates are picking out prom gowns, and you’re donning another hospital gown. They’re choosing colleges, and you’re meeting with your medical team to discuss your treatment plan. Getting a heart disease diagnosis at any age is hard, but it’s especially difficult on teens. At 17 I was diagnosed…
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A Young Athlete Fights for CHD Awareness
By Lindsay Davis When you were 17, what did you consider your greatest threat? For me, it was receiving a failing grade, not getting into the school I aspired to or falling behind on learning new choreography in ballet class. At the time, I deemed these the worst things that could possibly happen to…
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Learning to Be Thankful
By Melissa O’Donnell, new mom and new CHD advocate and student “I am going to send you to cardiology. It’s probably nothing, but I need you to go now.” My husband and I had just arrived at our two-week pediatric check up. I whispered, “It’s probably nothing” and rolled my eyes at Ryan. I…
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A Heart Mom Takes Things Day by Day
By Sara Toner I stepped into the role of being a heart mom not knowing where it would take me. I didn’t entirely understand the meaning of CHD, and why there were so many subcategories that fit under it. My son Tyler was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) when I was six…
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A Doctor Turned Heart Patient Gives Back
By Alin Gragossian There is so much in life that we cannot control. Unfortunate things happen to us. But I have always believed that we have to embrace these experiences and adversities in order to fully grow and give meaning to our lives. I am currently a doctor-in-training, specializing in Emergency Medicine. At work,…
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A Heart Mom Reflects on a Year of Surgery
By Katelyn Stocker A close group of friends recently asked me to reflect on 2018 and remember the highs and lows as we anticipated the new year. I promptly replied, “Pass!” As soon as they suggested we do this I knew I couldn’t. I wanted to leave the room. I didn’t want to stay for…
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Holly’s Story
By Jen Gill Holly’s story began in utero. We tried for a couple of years to get pregnant, and ultimately needed IVF to achieve our dream of being parents. We transferred one embryo under the advice that twin pregnancies are much more challenging, and I was likely to get pregnant without any problems. After…
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Communicating a Difficult Diagnosis
By Jodi Smith Lemacks, Esq., National Program Director of Mended Little Hearts “There is something wrong with your baby’s heart,” the doctor said, and in an instant, your world changed. Pregnancy excitement and anticipation turns to fear, sadness, worry and anger. Well-made plans are altered to make room for hospital stays, heart surgery, medications, special care and a…