Joined: 21 May 2006 United Kingdom Posts: 13 Gender: Female
Posted: 21 May 2006 at 6:55pm | IP Logged
Hi. I have 4 daughters. Three are heart healthy, but the youngest has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. I was wondering if any other mums on this site has a child with this condition or other heart defects.
Joined: 12 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 8750 Gender: Not Specified
Posted: 21 May 2006 at 6:58pm | IP Logged
ooooh no i'm sorry to hear that. sending hugs. there is another mm on here who posted about her lo possibly having a hole in her heart. i think it may have been tilly (but i apologise to tilly and you if it isn't). is your daughter's condition treatable?
Joined: 21 May 2006 United Kingdom Posts: 13 Gender: Female
Posted: 21 May 2006 at 9:40pm | IP Logged
Hi. Thanx for the replies. Hypoplastic Left Heart syndrome! Where do I start? The condition is where the left side of the heart never grew properly in the womb. A normal heart has 4 chambers. Right Atrium (blood collecting chamber), Right Ventricle ( pumping chamber that supplies blood to the lungs). Left Atrium (blood collecting chamber), Left Ventricle ( pumping chamber that supplies oxygenated blood to the body). Left Atrium grew. Left Ventricle never. It is a treatable condition with 3 stages of open heart surgery. The surgeons divert the right side to do all the work with a series of 3 shunts. The 1st shunt was performed when Krystall was 3 days old in July 2005. The 2nd was performed March 2006 at 8 months old. the 3rd will be performed by school age and she may also need a transplant in her adult years. Krystall was diagnosed antenatally at 20 weeks. There are 3 options the medics give if diagnosed before birth. Option 1: Termination. Option 2: Take the baby home to pass away naturally. Option 3: 3 stage surgery. The surgery only prolongs Krystall's life. Sadly to say, it is not a cure. I hope you manage to understand the way I've told this description, it's in the best way I can describe it really. Krystall is doing well though. She eats ok. She's doing well development wise, not crawling yet though.
Joined: 12 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 8750 Gender: Not Specified
Posted: 21 May 2006 at 9:56pm | IP Logged
gosh-what a traumatic start lo has had. you explained her heart condition very well-it sounds like you are extremely knowledgeable on the subject-maybe when you get time you could write an article on it. poor little thing to have go through all that surgery, she sounds amazingly tough.
sending lots of love and admiration your way. zo x
Joined: 21 May 2006 United Kingdom Posts: 13 Gender: Female
Posted: 22 May 2006 at 9:28am | IP Logged
I would like to do an article on Krystall's condition, but don't know what section to put it under? The surgery was the only option for us. Technically, Krystall is Gordon's ( dp) 1st child. He's step-dad to my other 3. Had to give her a chance at life, no matter how much it hurts to see her go through surgery. With the surgery, we have a chance to get to know her. We wouldn't of seen her smile, heard her cry or even seen her play with her toys if we'd chosen a different option. It has been hard for all of us, but Krystall is worth it. Just to see her go from milestone to milestone is one huge bonus. In 9 weeks time she will be 1. The medics said that Krystall may not see her 1st birthday. Looks like she is going to prove everyone wrong. At times, life can work miracles. Krystall is living proof.
Joined: 09 June 2005 United Kingdom Posts: 2848 Gender: Male
Posted: 22 May 2006 at 9:40am | IP Logged
Hi Lorretta if you want to write an actual members article then write it locally on your PC using something like 'Word' and then simply email it to admin@madmums.com , where we can then publish it for you on the site under the members articles section.
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Topic: Heart defect
