What is HeartLine?
We are a voluntary organisation set up to offer help and support to families of children with heart disorders regardless of how slight or severe the condition may be.
How can we help?
Having a baby or child with a heart disorder is very stressful, particularly at the time of diagnosis, before surgery and postoperatively. No matter how helpful and supportive hospital staff are, as parents you will always have worries and unanswered questions. It may be helpful to talk to another parent who has experienced a similar situation and understands how you feel.
We aim to provide:
- Information on congenital heart defects, in the form of fact sheets about different disorders, education, exercise, feeding problems, preparation for surgery etc. These can be obtained from the office.
- We have also written a book Heart Children - a practical handbook for parents covering all aspects of having a heart child including heart conditions, living with a heart child, hospitalisation, benefits etc.
- Contact between families through our online forum, Parent Core Support Group, activity weekends, social events and a regular newsletter.
- Membership is free and open to all families of children with a heart defect. We also welcome any person interested in supporting such a family.
Many of our HeartLine children are now reaching adolescence and facing issues specific to their situation. We hope to create a support network for this age group and encourage activities which will provide a basis for this.
Joining HeartLine
Heartline is free to join for any family with a child with a congenital heart condition. We also welcome professionals who wish to learn more about the subject to join. You can join by completing the membership form, or contacting the office.
Disclaimer
In no way should this web site be a substitute for personal contact between the family and the teams involved in your child's care. Nor should it be inferred as such.
Always check with your child's doctor if you have any questions or concerns about a condition. There are many grey zones in medicine in which the decisions made concerning your child and the actions taken may not follow those outlined in this web site.