CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT : My story
By Chico
Hello! My name is Chico. I’m a bear with a mended heart. My parents say that mended hearts are precious and I know it’s true because I see you are very precious too!
I was born with a congenital heart disease and needed surgery just a few days after I was born. I had another surgery when I was still little, so I missed a lot of school and at first I couldn’t make a lot of friends. I now have to take medication to help my heart and oxygen levels stay close to normal. There is very little that I can’t do now, like strenuous activities, but I live a full and happy life with all the things that I am able to do! I can play with my friends, and go for walks, and run, and dance, and draw, and climb trees, and jump and laugh and hug, and give tons of love!
I don’t remember my surgeries from when I was a baby, but I know it was a very difficult time for my mommy and my daddy. I have seen photos of me, with plastic tubes and machines that helped my heart. It looked scary but it made me feel much better! I have a scar on my chest. Do you have a scar too? I think it makes us special because we are alive and we can talk to others and help them understand heart conditions.
One day I was outside my house, sitting on the stairs all by myself. Then, all of a sudden, I saw a dog (his name is Kipi) crossing the street to invite me to play with him and his friends. They bought me a popsicle and we had the greatest of times at the park. We are inseparable now! They helped me catch up with my school homework and I don’t feel different anymore.
When I have to go back to the hospital for my checkups, they put these funny plastics on my chest, and I can hear my heart go, boom-boom… boom-boom…. It is so nice to hear your heart working! My mommy and my daddy are so happy and they tell me I’m their strong boy. And I am!
Congenital Heart Disease affects 40,000 babies each year just in the USA. That is a whole lot of strong and brave boys and girls, like you and me!
Happy hearts! Happy Boom-Boom!
With love,
Chico
Ps: Wanna meet Ana Sage? A super awesome girl
For parents:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMX9zv64O04">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMX9zv64O04
NOTE: None of us at Wittle Buddies is an expert in these fields, and our blogs are simply written from the bottom of our hearts. We want to be sensitive to each person who reads us, so if in any way we are failing in doing that, please feel free to contact us so you can help us understand your concerns, thoughts, comments or personal story.
