Sports Physicals: Q&A with a Pediatric Cardiologist

Sports Physicals: Q&A with a Pediatric Cardiologist

Understanding Sports Physicals What is a sports physical, and why is it important for children and teens? A sports physical is a targeted history and medical exam designed to find children and teens more at risk for injury and medical…

Emmanuel Brings a Fighting Spirit to a Tough Battle

Emmanuel Brings a Fighting Spirit to a Tough Battle

Fierce persistence and a nagging mother’s intuition that something wasn’t right led newborn Emmanuel to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center on Christmas morning two years ago. His mom, Brielle—a veterinarian—noticed that he looked and sounded different from her…

Mom at check out desk

Preparing for the Financial Aspects of CHD

When a family learns that their child has a congenital heart defect, the financial considerations of that serious diagnosis is often the last thing on their minds. However, along with providing your child with the best heart care and treatment…

Ellie Reminds Her Family of the Magic of a Good Snuggle

Ellie Reminds Her Family of the Magic of a Good Snuggle

Eight years and five open heart surgeries later, heart warrior Ellie is still teaching her family valuable lessons about slowing down and living in the moment. Ellie was born with Atrioventricular canal defect (AV canal defect), a rare congenital heart…

Baby's heart being check using a stethoscope

Symptoms of CHD in babies, toddlers, preteens, and teens

Congenital heart disease, or CHD, involves heart defects and conditions that babies are born with. Sometimes CHD can be detected prenatally, but it is often diagnosed after birth and can present at any age.  There are some common symptoms of…

Every Little Milestone Counts … Big!

Every Little Milestone Counts … Big!

Ollie spent his first Halloween at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center in the CICU, just 7 days post-op from his second open heart surgery. Mom Stephanie remembers that they had to get special permission to allow Ollie’s big brother,…

Heart Warrior Mom Turns Fear into Connection and Advocacy

Heart Warrior Mom Turns Fear into Connection and Advocacy

Although she had a few months and the support of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology to prepare, Karlee said handing her newborn over to strangers with the hope that they could save his life presented a whole new level of…

The Heart of a Fisherman Never Gives Up

The Heart of a Fisherman Never Gives Up

When Children’s Cardiology said that 10-year-old Grayson would need a pacemaker, one of his parents’ most pressing concerns was whether he’d still be able to go fishing. Grayson loves playing baseball and football, showing livestock, camping and playing with his…

Kids at Heart Connects Families Who “Get It”

Kids at Heart Connects Families Who “Get It”

In the mid-1990s, a small group of heart parents seeking community with one another started a potluck dinner in the Egleston Hospital conference room. What began as a simple desire to get to know other families traveling on the same…