A Look Back at CHD Wise 2021
A diagnosis of congenital heart disease can be scary and overwhelming, no matter when it happens. With resources like our CHD Wise educational webinar series, patients and families have information from experts from all over the country at their fingertips.
CHD Wise is a virtual educational series designed to answer commonly asked questions from patients and families. Experts in specific CHD-focused areas will provide education for all patients and families, both live and recorded. Live episodes will require registration, which is free to all participants.
2021 saw us feature some incredible experts covering a wide range of topics. Here’s a look back at our CHD Wise series for 2021.
COVID-19 Vaccines & CHD Town Hall – January 20, 2021
Conquering CHD staff were joined by physician experts in Infectious Diseases, Adult Congenital Cardiology, Congenital Cardiac Surgery, and Pediatric Cardiology for a live town hall on COVID-19 vaccines and CHD. Topics covered in the Town Hall included:
- History of vaccines, study, testing, implementation,
- Importance of vaccination in the CHD/ACHD community, COVID vaccine testing, trial, safety processes, and distribution priorities.
Birth Defect Prevention and Awareness – January 27, 2021
The CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) strives to advance the health and well-being of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. Conquering CHD and CDC collaborated to bring patients and families a special episode of CHD Wise.
Participating in Research – April 28, 2021
Wondering what kind of research is happening in the CHD community? Should you participate? On this episode of CHD Wise we cover those questions and more. This CHD Wise episode highlights types of research, discoveries over the last century in CHD research, and ways for patients and families to get involved.
What I Wish I Had Been Told About CHD – June 30, 2021
What I Wish I Had Been Told About CHD enables patients and families to provide peer support, reassurance, and connection. There is a lot of information out there about CHD, and it can be exhausting navigating through all of it or determining which source is trustworthy. In partnership with Betty Irene Moore Children’s Heart Center at Stanford Children’s Health – Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, we’re launching an informational series on CHD to hopefully help you or your child navigate the CHD journey more easily.
Back to School 2021 – August 3, 2021
Back to school is an exciting time of year, but it can also be a very hectic transition from summer. Join us in our annual Back to School Series, featuring Kyle Landry, Academic Achievement Partnership Program Director at Children’s Wisconsin. As K-12 school districts, colleges, and universities around the country announce Fall 2021 education plans, patients and families are left wondering what to do. Is it safe to attend in-person classes? Will I be able to get required services virtually? Will my child’s educational institution continue their IEP/504/Health Plan needs? Conquering CHD realizes there are many factors to consider before returning to school, and there is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Thankfully, there are resources available for families to use when speaking with their medical and school teams about their options. We are joined by Kyle Landry for our annual Back to School Series, providing resources and guidance as families make these important educational decisions.
Pediatric CHD and COVID-19: Vaccines, Variants, and Very Important Decisions – September 14, 2021
CHD patients and families alike are weighing their concerns about pediatric CHD in the COVID-19 world. Questions like “how can I weigh the various risks for my child?,” “how are children with CHD faring when they have gotten COVID-19?,” and “do the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the possible side effects or the potential risks of the vaccine?” Conquering CHD realizes there are many factors to consider for CHD patients and families and there is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Thankfully, there are resources available for families to use when speaking with their care teams about the options and potential risks.
Transparency and Public Reporting: What Is It and Why Does it Matter? – October 4, 2021
Congenital heart disease can be complicated to navigate, especially when it comes to choosing care for yourself or your child. Working together to improve transparency, congenital heart programs, patients and families can improve outcomes and save lives. Congenital heart disease data may be complicated, but sharing information need not be so. We spoke with experts at Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Heart Institute and the mother of one of their patients about the importance of transparency and second opinions.
It’s Never Just the Heart: Promoting Mental Health for Children with CHD and Their Families – November 2, 2021
Congenital heart disease is never just about the heart. CHD has a real impact on all aspects of life and health for patients and families, especially when it comes to mental health. For those impacted by the most common birth defect, it’s never just about the heart. Mental health issues are extremely common within the CHD community. And while these issues are immensely important in the well-being of patients with CHD and their families, too often mental health issues are underrecognized and undertreated. There are many factors to consider for CHD patients and families when it comes to mental health and there is not a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Thankfully, there are resources available for patients and families to use when speaking with their care teams and advocating for their mental health. We spoke to experts from Nemours Children’s Health and Conquering CHD Delaware as they provide information and guidance about promoting the mental health for children with CHD and their families.
Helping Your Child Cope with Their CHD Care: From Clinic Visits, to Procedures, to Hospital Stays – December 7, 2021
Congenital heart disease is a lifelong condition, requiring ongoing specialized care. Children with CHD often have clinic appointments, invasive procedures, and long hospital stays to contend with which can often present challenges for parents helping them cope. Congenital heart disease is a lifelong condition, requiring ongoing specialized care, which can sometimes present a challenge for children with CHD and their families. Thankfully, there are resources available for patients and families to use to support their children throughout their CHD journeys. Experts from Nemours Children’s Health provided information and guidance about preparing your child for the various aspects of their CHD care, and answered your questions about helping your child cope.
“It Takes a Team”: A Discussion About Feeding and Nutrition in CHD – December 15, 2021
Feeding and nutrition can be complicated for parents to navigate for their child with congenital heart disease. Nutrition is important for everyone, but for infants and children with CHD, it is essential, not just for survival, but for helping them thrive. In recent years, much of the focus on nutrition for CHD patients has shifted from aiding CHD patients to survive to how feeding and nutrition can help them thrive. Whether your child feeds all by mouth or requires a feeding tube, eats breastmilk or formula, nutrition and feeding can be challenging to navigate, something that takes the whole care team, including parents. We recently discussed feeding and nutrition considerations for patients with CHD with feeding and nutrition experts.
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest speaker for future CHDWise episodes? Let us know!