The Parent's Guide to Children's Congenital Heart Defects: What They Are, How to Treat Them, How to Cope with Them [Paperback]

Gerri Freid Kramer (Author), Shari Maurer (Author), Sylvester Stallone (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 2001

If you have a child with a congenital heart defect (CHD), you have a million questions: How did this happen? What kind of surgery is best? What’s life going to be like for my child after surgery? Will problems crop up later? Will the crisis ever end? In The Parent’s Guide to Children’s Congenital Heart Defects, more than thirty leading experts in pediatric cardiology—cardiologists, surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, counselors, and social workers—give detailed answers in plain language to help you learn to live with your child’s CHD.

Written by two parents of children with CHD in an easy-to-follow question-and-answer format, this guide brims with the latest information on diagnosis, treatment options, surgery, aftercare, and growing up with CHD, along with the voices of dozens of other parents who have lived through CHD and know what you’re going through. In these pages, you’ll find the information, empathy, and support you need to care for your child and thrive together.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a wonderfully reassuring book for parents whose child has been recently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD). CHDs vary in complexity, and the authors, both parents of CHD children, note that treatment will be as individualized as each child's defect(s). But with the assistance of more than 30 medical experts, they clearly outline the most common scenarios parents are likely to face. The authors knowledgeably discuss both the medical and the emotional issues to be addressed, from diagnosis through surgery (if needed) to recovery on to adulthood. An illustrated overview of 16 of the most common defects covers name, definition and anatomy, symptoms, prognosis, treatment and surgical options, surgical timing, medications and postoperative medical care, possible restrictions, long-term concerns, and medical advances on the horizon. Other chapters walk parents through daily coping, what to expect during hospital stays, and life after surgery. Salted throughout each chapter are frank comments and helpful suggestions from parents who have "been there, done that." This title nicely updates the best-known book, Catherine Neill's The Heart of a Child: What Families Need To Know About Heart Disorders in Children (LJ 2/1/93). Resources, a glossary, and a reading list are appended. Recommended for children's health collections. (Index not seen.) Anne C. Tomlin, Auburn Memorial Hosp. Lib., NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Kramer and Maurer met in college, went their separate ways, and met again years later when both had children born with congenital heart disease (CHD). The bond they formed and the information they gleaned led to their coauthorship of this accessible and valuable resource for parents caring for children with CHD. The book starts with the diagnosis of the condition--including a broad range of defects--and goes through the process of hospital visits and surgery. The book is arranged in a question-and-answer format, with pediatric cardiologists and related medical experts providing medical information. The hard medical facts are supplemented by commentary from parents on a range of issues, from helping children cope with the fear of having blood drawn and undergoing heart echocardiograms to dealing with developmental problems that may result from CHD. The book also includes suggestions for helping adult children plan their own families given the need for continued vigilance about CHD. Plenty of charts and graphics help parents understand this most common of birth defects. REVWR
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 265 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (November 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609807757
• ISBN-13: 978-0609807750
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Guide For All Parents, October 9, 2002

By 

Jerry (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Parent's Guide to Children's Congenital Heart Defects: What They Are, How to Treat Them, How to Cope with Them (Paperback)

My son Noah was diagnosed in-utero with a VSD and at the age of 9 days received his first sonogram and EKG. The VSD closed - confirmed at his 1-year appointment, but was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis at this same appointment. This book guides one through diagnosis, parental coping, issues/caring for the newly born, answers many of your obvious and not so obvious questions, surgery - what to expect/how to prepare and the likely impact your childs' condition may have on his/her life basis current knowledge. It also is full of annecdotal stories from parents that are going through the same thing you are as well as commentary from pediatric cardiologists. Additionally, there are resources from the internet to camps in the appendicies. No doubt, the book is at times depressing, but it is also enlightening. The undelying message is you need to be prepared for what you and your child are yet to experience and it is a map to guide you in this area

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book with Real Q's & A's that are relevant, July 3, 2003

By 

"mleafe" (Lakes Creek, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Parent's Guide to Children's Congenital Heart Defects: What They Are, How to Treat Them, How to Cope with Them (Paperback)

My new born daughter was recently diagnosed with Complex Congential Heart Defects and naturally I wanted to learn as much as I could about the topic. I purchased several related boks through Amazon.com and founf this one to be very relevant and answered lots of appropriate questions for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about Heart Defects of any type. It is very thorough and covers every defect I am aware of.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Parents of Kids with CHD's, January 23, 2003

By 

Sue C. Rushmore (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Parent's Guide to Children's Congenital Heart Defects: What They Are, How to Treat Them, How to Cope with Them (Paperback)

I loved the question/answer format of this book. It made an overwhelming and complicated topic far more understandable. I wish this book had been available when our son was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Vessels 12 years ago. We had so many questions, and while the doctors and nurses were super, a resource like this would have been invaluable becuase the questions don't stop when you finally leave the hospital! I'm sure the authors will keep the book as up-to-date as possible, but just know that cutting edge research is improving the methods of diagnosing and treating chd's every day. So, if the treatment protocol your doctor recommends isn't listed, don't panic. You might be benefiting from the latest research! When our son had his surgery, the Arterial Switch operation, which is now standard procedure, was only being done at a handful of hospitals around the country. Kids born with chd's today have a much better outlook thanks to the advances made by research. And, with more research, tomorrow will be even better.