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Congenital Heart Disease

NorthernRedneck

NorthernRedneck

Well-known member
I was contemplating posting this since last week but decided to as an awareness.

Here's the background info. My dad's cousin was born with congenital heart disease. His heart was deformed and flipped over completely on the right side of his chest when he was born. He saw several different specialists all at an early age who all told his parents the same thing. That he would only live till he was 12-13 yrs old. His parents brought him to a different specialist when he was 7. That specialist informed them that at age 12, he would need a pacemaker. They brought him back when he was 12 to have his first pacemaker installed. The doctor told them at that time that he would most likely live to 35-41yrs old. His entire life involved trip after trip to Toronto to a special clinic. In recent years, the tube going from his stomach to his intestines became blocked. His body basically made itself a new tube going to his intestines. He was informed recently that he would never be able to eat solid foods again and would have to remain on IV for the remainder of his life. He had become weak. There was a chance though that he would be able to undergo surgery to correct this but there was no guarantee it would work. He returned home a few weeks ago from yet another trip to specialists to rest up and become stronger. His heart finally gave out on him two weeks ago. He lived to be 43. I was at his funeral last week as I knew him and his family well.

So my message from this is that if you know someone with this disease, there is a chance at a longer life. Don't give up hope.
 
That's sad Brian, but he did live to be 43 years old. :)

There is something to be said for that (and medical science) for someone with this type of heart defect.
 
He's at peace now. I feel bad for his parents(my great aunt and uncle). They had 3 sons. Two of them have suffered from lifelong medical conditions. One of them was born with hydrocephaly. He has lived his life with a stint installed to drain the fluid from his head. No parent should have to go through what they have gone through with their children.
 
Some families seem to get hit with a ton of medical conditions, and that's very sad.

I have a 36 y/o patient right now with a shunt in her head because of ongoing hydrocephalus.
She also has CP,scoliosis, diabetes.
The reason she is with us is because she was dropped at the group home where she lives (slid off a shower chair) and both her hips were fractured.
 
When you are aware of what other folks go through your own pains and problems don't seem that big. Thanks for posting that.
 
muleman said:
When you are aware of what other folks go through your own pains and problems don't seem that big. Thanks for posting that.
Click to expand...

Makes you realize how small your problems are when you see someone go through that their entire life.

I'll always remember how vocal he was against smokers. He'd say "Here I am fighting for my f--king life every day and you're trying to kill yourself by smoking!" No-one ever smoked around him. He used to get real pissed at healthy people who committed suicide. I remember talking to him a while back about how he was scared to go to sleep every night because he might not wake up.
 
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