As much as you don’t want to do it now, if there was a bad side and a good side, it will only get better.  

 – Austin, age 10, TOF

 

Think positive thoughts and then make the best of it.

 – Sierra, age 13, Anomalous Aortic Valve

 

This hospital is a good thing. What they’re doing, it’s working. I’m glad that they were able to fix my heart.

 – James, age 20, Anomalous Coronary Artery

 

Don’t be afraid to talk to your kids about what’s going on. And not being too overprotective, even though that can be hard sometimes. I think it’s hard for parents sometimes because they feel like they can’t show that they’re nervous about things too, because then their kids will be more nervous. But I think that’s why it’s sometimes hard for parents to talk to their kids about things, regardless of what the specific condition is. Maybe if parents had someone else they could talk to about their fears about whatever the surgery is, then they would be more able to talk to their kids about it.

 – Emily, age 19, Pacemaker

 

My number one thing is just don’t not do anything because you have a heart defect. Like don’t let it hold you back that much. Just live your life how you want. Obviously you have to be a little careful with everything you decide to do, but don’t let it restrict you or anything, just take care of and try to stay positive through it.

Being younger, that’s the hardest time to be a patient. That’s just the hardest time trying to act as if you’re a regular kid and not some—I don’t know—sick person. That’s probably the most difficult point I’d say in a kid with heart defects life, like I don’t know about everyone else, but I know that once you get to high school and then a little older, you’re a lot more healthy.

 – Jake, age 21, HLHS