HLHS A child s perspective - Mayo Clinic

COVID-19 Advice updates and vaccine options

Find out about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, and Mayo Clinic patient and visitor updates. Skip to site navigation Skip to Content This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Appointments at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Request Appointment

HLHS A child s perspective

Products and services Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome - Cause to Cure HLHS. HLHS. Hypo. Plastic. Left heart. Syndrome. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Whoa, that's a lot of words! What is HLHS? HLHS is when you're missing the bottom left of your heart. The left side of the heart, it doesn't pump blood as well as the right side. Kids who have HLHS, they all have like a big scar, because they had to have open heart surgery. I got the surgery when I was a baby. Three open heart surgeries – two when she was just born, and one when she was two. I just found out I was going to have a sister, and she was just born, but then she had to be rushed to get surgery, so it was kind of hard. My brother Henry had three surgeries. I have a scar on my heart. He has scars on his heart. I have stitches on my heart. I needed help. Children with HLHS may require a heart transplant later in life. The power of teamwork What makes a strong team is that people will help you feel better. I have a team. I have doctors. I have nurses. And they try and help me feel better. Everybody's working together to help Sophie stay healthy and feel like a normal girl. There's a lot of teams helping a child with HLHS. What we all really want, I guess, is just a cure for HLHS. What is hope? Hope is when you want something to happen. Hope is when you have confidence in something. HLHS research is like a lightsaber is to a Jedi Knight. The more research that we put into HLHS, the more lives will be saved, and the more ... closer we can get to developing a cure. I hope they all - all the kids with HLHS - be really strong and live a long life. I hope that the doctors find the cure for HLHS. We're all part of the team. Join us. hlhsblog.mayoclinic.org ShareTweet May 16, 2018

Advertisement

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices

Mayo Clinic Press

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on IncontinenceNEW – The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – The Essential Diabetes BookNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and BalanceFREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic PressFREE Mayo Clinic Diet AssessmentMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book

Other Topics in Patient Care & Health Info

Diseases & Conditions A-Z Symptoms A-Z Tests & Procedures A-Z Drugs & Supplements A-Z Health Books Healthy Living Program Mayo Clinic Health Letter Mayo Clinic Voice Apps . VID-20313630 Home Brightcove-HLHS A childs perspective

Mayo Clinic Footer

Legal Conditions and Terms

Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Notice of Privacy Practices Notice of Nondiscrimination Manage Cookies

Advertising

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.Advertising and sponsorship policyAdvertising and sponsorship opportunities

Reprint Permissions

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 1998-2022 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.