a kid on my sons cross country team was born with a hole in the heart? doctor said today because

[seabeyond]

it didnt close up as he grew older he would probably die young from it? that it could bleed out?

have you heard anything like that?

repair the damn thing, is my answer. i guess there isnt a repair for it.

this kid is a grade higher than my son. when my son walked into that high school as a freshman this kid stood up for him, stood beside him, befriended him. my son is a tad obtuse. this kid took the role of insuring my son was walking in the right direction. i immediately bonded with this kid.

i found out his mother died when he was in 4th grade.

later i found out his father was in prison.

just recently i found out the father is in prison for murdering his mother when he was in the fourth grade.

i mean.....

wow

anyone hear about anything like this heart thing.

he is such a good kid, that keeps pushing on, being the best he can be, regardless of what is handed to him.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Check this out.

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch265/ch265b.html

[seabeyond]

8. Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects

interesting. thank you for googling that for me. i am really really bad at googling and can never find stuff.

it sounds like this. son told me he could bleed into the lungs and i didnt get that so i didnt include it. but looks like that is exactly what happens.

so sad

thanks

[Ozymanithrax]

10. Your welcome. I am sorry that your friends must suffer with this. n/t

[Barack_America]

14. Where did you read that?

ASDs and VSDs are highly reparable.

And I don't think they cause bleeding into the lungs, though if the shunting is bad enough they could lead to right-sided heart failure, which could lead to pulmonary congestion. Even this is not necessarily a death sentence though.

It really sounds like this kid needs to see a real cardiologist.

Here's the link to Texas Children's:

http://www.texaschildrens.org/carecenters/heart/default.aspx

[nickinSTL]

19. try to get this kid to a good medical center

he needs to get some straight answers about whether this is reparable.

And on your trouble finding stuff googling - I recommend contacting your local library - the reference desk should be staffed by reference librarians who are trained in searching and doing research.

If your local library is too small, generally most reference desks will answer reference questions by phone, chat or email regardless of where the person asking is from.

Not saying you should rely on a library for the answers for this kid, he needs a medical professional specializing in pediatric cardiology, but when it comes to general research, libraries are a great resource.

[Warpy]

2. The hole should have been repaired when he was younger

but there is no reason it can't be addressed later. Most of these things are repaired while the kid is infancy.

My only guess is that either religious or insurance issues are preventing it.

I've seen all sorts of damaged hearts repaired with Gore-Tex patches if the hole is too large to close with the patient's own tissue.

[seabeyond]

9. i would think today, there would be something. i am going to try to get more info on this kid. nt

[Barack_America]

3. Yeah, I can't imagine that is correct.

I'm going to guess that doctor is not a cardiothoracic surgeon.

[Oregone]

4. Murmur or teretogy of the fallot (sp)?

[Barack_America]

5. Somebody with unrepaired TOF would not be on a cross-country team.

I can only suspect that this "doctor" was talking about either an ASD or VSD, neither of which are irreparable as an adult.

[seabeyond]

11. Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects

a poster found a sight i read with a list of stuff. this sound like it.

Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects

Atrial and ventricular septal defects are holes in the walls (septa) that separate the heart into the left and right sides.


Holes in the walls of the heart that do not close before an infant is born are considered septal defects.
Many defects are small, cause no symptoms, and close without treatment.
The diagnosis is based on detectable symptoms and echocardiography.
Some large septal defects must be closed surgically.

Atrial septal defects are located between the heart's upper chambers (atria), which receive blood. Ventricular septal defects are located between the lower chambers (ventricles), which pump blood. These holes typically cause left-to-right shunting of blood. Many atrial septal defects close by themselves, especially in the first year of life; many ventricular septal defects close within the first 2 years.

Infants and most older children with atrial septal defects have no symptoms. However, children who have no symptoms but who do have a small shunt require annual echocardiography. In more severe cases, children may develop heart murmurs and fatigue and may have difficulty breathing. Rarely, the first sign of an atrial septal defect is a stroke. The symptoms caused by atrial septal defects increase as the child ages. For example, heart failure may develop during middle age.

[Barack_America]

16. You'd be surprised how many people are running around with ASDs and VSDs...

...and are not affected by them at all.

They usually asymptomatic and when they become symptomatic they can be repaired.

Honestly, I'd worry more if he had some sort of aortic aneurysm or something. Those can be real problems.

[Warpy]

22. No kidding

That defect has got to be pretty damned small if they expected it to repair as he got older and it's not impairing his ability to be an athlete.

Still, if he does become symptomatic, Gore-Tex is king.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Is He Being Seen At A Good Pediatric Hospital?

He needs to be seen by someone at a damned good pediatric hospital. I'd strongly recommend Boston Children's Hospital - the http://www.childrenshospital.org/cfapps/research/data_admin/Site198/mainpageS198P0.html">Chief of Cardiology invented this device: http://www.nmtmedical.com/technology.aspx?id=90

I live near Children's, I can put him up if he visits.

[Barack_America]

7. Looks like they're in Texas.

And Texas Children's is nothing to sneeze at.

http://www.texaschildrens.org/carecenters/heart/default.aspx

[seabeyond]

13. we do have a pretty good medical complex in amarillo. it is becoming a real draw

for medical fields. and baylor isnt far. i dont even know his living situation. he doesnt talk about himself a lot.

[seabeyond]

12. thanks.... i am going ot see if i can get to know this kid better.

it has been a year, and most all sons friends i know well, but this kid, though he does for edmund, he doesnt let us do for him.

i hate sticking nose into others business. thanks. i will see if i can get some info

[MannyGoldstein]

15. I Can't Emphasize Enough The Importance Of Going To A Good Hospital For This

For this type of thing, top hospitals are far, far better than average ones. Night and day.

Good luck!

[Barack_America]

17. It's really important, especially if you are considering surgery.

You want to be seeing docs who do these surgeries often.

[seabeyond]

18. ya. after listening to you all, i told son i want more info. lol. i cant imagine telling a kid

you may die young.... and letting it go at that.

thanks.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

20. I know people at Boston Childrens who may be able to help.

And by help, I mean may do the surgery. PM me if you want to know more. Regardless, best of luck to this unlucky child. It is time for good things to happen for him.

[seabeyond]

21. i am going to bookmark this thread

and get a hold of this kid and see if i can find what is up with all this.

he is really private. thanks

[FedUpWithIt All]

23. My young cousin was born with a large section of her heart missing.

She is still considered terminal but they were able to rebuild over 40% of her heart. She is a lively and active kid.

With this in mind, perhaps you could look into that further for him.

[Roon]

24. I had a step-father that had a hole in his heart

was told he would die very young. He is still ticking the last I heard,probably 60 something by now.

[seabeyond]

25. thanks roon. i am glad i started this thread, listening to so many

i think i have a better handle how to address this kid. in the unknown, can sounds so dire....

information is always good

appreciate

[Roon]

29. You're wlecome,sea.

[madmom]

26. I have an uncle born with a hole in his heart. Let a very normal life. He is

2 years from retiring. He is married with 2 sons and works in a foundry, so the work is not easy by any means. To the best of my knowledge, he never had surgery.

[seabeyond]

27. good to hear. thanks madmom. the more i hear this,

the more i can let the kid know. let my son know. to help this kid along.

i have never heard this before, so was totally clueless on this subject.

[renate]

28. he sounds like such a sweet kid

Especially considering his rough childhood. I love him just from hearing about him. :loveya:

It's unfortunate that the school year is either ending or has already ended because I wonder whether the school counselor could help you figure out what health services are available to him if cost is an issue. Most schools have office hours at least one day a week even during the summer; maybe the principal or somebody else could help you figure out who to contact. They must have to deal with kids being in difficult circumstances all the time so they would probably know where to direct you to go.

Please keep us posted on how he's doing--he sounds like such a special guy.