Blog
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Jace Avanzato
Jace Avanzato was born in October of 2021, in the middle of a pandemic. His diagnosis, Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia and Double Outlet Right Ventricle, required surgery at just 10 days old. The Avanzato Family had to endure a lengthy hospital stay without visits from family and friends, but that made their return…
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CHD BEAT: Elevating the Family Voice – Rita Higgins, RN
We often share stories and features from patients and parents of children with CHD, but there is more to the CHD community. In this edition of our CHD Beat highlight series, we introduce you to Rita Higgins, a Registered Nurse and parent of a young adult with CHD, who shares how her daughter’s CHD journey…
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An Open Letter to Our Village
They say it takes a village. It sounds cliché, but it is true. As an adult with CHD, I see that the need for support, for that village, for your people to rally around you – in crisis, in celebration, in life – does not end once you’re “grown up”. Beyond our parents, our extended…
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Back to School Blog Wrap-Up
September is in full swing and school is, once again, back in session. Our Back-to-School Blogs may continue to come in handy as the year continues. The August series is has been collected here if you missed it!
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What We Can Accomplish Together: Conquering CHD Welcomes New Executive Director
Announcing Amy Basken as Next Executive Director
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Becoming a Mom with CHD
Growing up to have a family of their own is the dream of many little girls, but when you have CHD, pregnancy can be a great risk. Still many patients can safely and successfully carry a baby. This week, Conquering CHD spoke to Melissa Lewis, she shares with us her journey to the birth of…
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Congenital Heart Disease vs Congenital Heart Defect
CHD and CHD–both focus on struggles with the heart, but where do these terms differ? The human heart plays an essential role in maintaining the health of our bodies, but not all hearts work the same way. Heart conditions can have a huge impact on the body, but many people are still completely unaware of…
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What is the Most Common Cyanotic Congenital Heart Defect?
Cyanotic congenital heart defects differ from one case to the next–but what is considered to be the most common? A cyanotic congenital heart defect can have a significant impact on a person’s life and overall health. There are many different defects that fall under this category, but they can show up at different rates. In…
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Fitting in with Your Peers When You Have Congenital Heart Disease
Going back to school is about more than liking our classes or keeping up academically. It’s about more than our safety in the classroom. We want to make friends. We want to be liked. We want to fit in. In this week’s blog, Peyton, a high school junior, talks about finding your people when you’re a…
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Lifelong Care: Advocating, Navigating, and Managing Your Path: School, Work, Disability
Thank you to everyone who participated in our live webinar “Advocating, Navigating, and Managing Your Path: School, Work, Disability” on August 15th, 2022, as part of our Heart Connection 2022 webinar series. Read on for the summary and full video presentation. We couldn’t meet in person in Washington D.C. this year, however, we felt our…