Special Needs – Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)

Special Needs Guide

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD): A normal heart has valves, arteries and chambers that carry the blood to the body. When all chambers and valves work correctly, the blood is pumped through the heart, to the lungs for oxygen, back to the heart and out to the body with oxygen. When valves, chambers, arteries and veins are malformed, this circulation pattern can be impaired. Congenital heart defects are structural problems with the heart that are present at birth. They result when a mishap occurs during heart development soon after conception and often before the mother is aware that she is pregnant. Defects range in severity from simple problems, such as “holes” between chambers of the heart, to very severe malformations, such as complete absence of one or more chambers or valves. Below is a list of the most common congenital heart defects seen in children waiting for forever families. We provide the following information for reference purposes only and cannot attest to the accuracy of the information. We highly recommend speaking with an experienced physician for further details on each condition.

Love Without Boundaries[1]

Links for this Special Need:

http://www.adoptspecialneeds.org/special-needs/congenital-heart-defects/#javelin_faq62_12

http://www.rainbowkids.com/special-needs/congenital-heart-defects

http://www.nohandsbutours.com/types/heart

https://www.littlehearts.org/Default.asp

http://kidswithheart.org/

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/clinics-programs/transplant/heart/

http://vimeo.com/76293820

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChildrenwithCHD/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ChinaHeartChildren/info

Stories or Blogs from Families who have Parented a Child with a Heart Condition: