Mended Little HeartGuide

A Parent and caregiver resource guide for families living with congenital heart disease

A heartbeat. Hearing that precious beat of your child’s heart in utero often marks the beginning of a sacred connection between you and your child.

But what happens when your child’s heart is broken because of a congenital heart defect? Sadly, congenital heart defects happen in about 40,000 babies (1 in 110) in the U.S. each year. Receiving a CHD diagnosis for their child can leave parents and caregivers feeling scared, uncertain and alone. And while health care providers play an essential role in mending broken hearts in the hospital or doctor’s office, so much of the care happens at home with families.

To help these families, Mended Little Hearts and St. Jude Medical partnered to create a one-of-a-kind, digital resource guide for parents and caregivers of children with congenital heart disease. Medical professionals and parents worked together on this guide to provide accurate and honest information that addresses the tough feelings, questions and concerns parents and caregivers may have. Our hope is that this guide empowers families to feel confident as they care for their child with congenital heart disease. This can be frightening and challenging, but as parents who are going through this can tell you, it is possible to thrive.

Most importantly, this guide lets you know you’re not alone.