Family Resources
TREE House: A PLACE FOR FAMILIES
When your child is in the hospital, the last thing you want to do is leave at night and make a long drive home. But when you don't live near the hospital and don't have a place to stay, sleep, even just take a shower, what are you to do? Read more>>>
Watch KING5 video>>>
SUPPORT GROUP
Join our Support Group for families of children with heart conditions….
We have formed a Mended Little Hearts support group in the Puget Sound area to help families that have a child with a congenital heart defect or heart disease. There is hope and you are not alone. Please join us for our monthly meetings (usually 1st Tuesday of the month).
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Location: Mary Bridge Children’s Health Center, West wing, AV conference room
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Dinner, childcare and parking will be available.
For more information and to receive our newsletter, please contact Darcie Miller at 253-858-3065 darcie94@hotmail.com.
Cardiac Pre-Operative Tours
The Mary Bridge Child Life Department is pleased to offer pre-operative tours for children and families scheduled for cardiothoracic surgery or cardiac catheterization.
Why: Pre-Operative tours led by our Child Life Specialists help familiarize patients and their families with the hospital environment and minimize anxiety prior to a child's scheduled procedure. Child Life Specialists help alleviate children's fears by providing developmentally appropriate information through medical play and games.
Who: Tours are available for children and their family (including siblings and parents of infants) who are scheduled for cardiothoracic surgery or cardiac catheterization.
When: Tours are offered every Wednesday from 12 to 1pm at the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital main lobby (3rd floor) information desk, 317 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma.
For questions please call Child Life at 253-403-7598.
Create a CarePage for Your Loved One
CarePages are free, private, personalized web pages available to patients and families at MultiCare facilities that help you stay in touch before, during and after a hospital stay, or any time care giving is needed. The service allows you control over communication and provides an easy way for friends and loved ones to respond with messages of support.Create or visit a CarePage>>>
Internet Resources for Families
There are many good websites you can visit to get even more information on children's heart care, from diagnostic procedures to treatments to support resources. Here are some of our favorites:
Heart Surgery
Mary Bridge Children's Heart Center
American Heart Association
Children's Heart Institute
Children's Hospital & Health System of Wisconsin
Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Circle of Hearts (Congenital Heart Information Network)
Congenital Heart Defect Online Handbook
Congenital Heart Defects (Texas Heart Institute)
Congenital Heart Defects (Texas Heart Institute) - in Spanish
Congenital Heart Information Network
Feeding Your Infant with Congenital Heart Disease
Heart Center Online
Heart Institute for Children
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome - video (CHOP)
Jamie's Heart Foundation
Mayo Clinic
MedlinePlus Health Topics: Congenital Heart Disease
Mended Little Hearts
Mended Little Hearts of Puget Sound support group
One Step At A Time
PediHeart
Signs & Symptoms of Congenital Heart Defects
Single ventricle - video (CHOP)
Tetralogy of Fallot - video (CHOP)
Transposition of the great arteries - video (CHOP)
University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center
University of Virginia Children's Heart Center/Patient Education For Congenital Heart Disease
Chest Surgery
Mary Bridge Children's Heart & Chest Center
Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters - pectus excavatum
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital - pectus excavatum
Mayo Clinic
One Step At A Time
University of California, San Francisco Children's Hospital - pectus excavatum repair
University of Southern California School of Medicine, Cardiothoracic Surgery - patient's guide to lung surgery
University of Virginia Health System - questions to ask before surgery
For Kids
Atrial septal defect
Going to the Doctor
Going to the Hospital
Heart murmurs
How Stitches Help Kids Heal
Kids Health
Mitral valve prolapse
My Trip to the Hospital Coloring Book
PediHeart
What Happens in the Operating Room?
What Medicines Are and What They Do
For Teens
ACC Adult Congenital Heart Disease Passport
Anesthesia Basics
Anesthesia - What to Expect
Heart & Circulatory System
Lungs & Respiratory System
PediHeart
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Talking to Your Doctor
Teens Health
Types of Anesthesia
Understanding Medications and What They Do
What's It Like to Have Surgery?
What's It Like to Stay in the Hospital?
Suggested Reading
Reading—whether a fictional story about a child going to the hospital, a true account of a family's experience with pediatric heart problems, or a clinical reference guide—can be very helpful. We think you'll find the following book selections to be a great source of information as well as inspiration.
Infant To Preschool
Corduroy Goes to the Doctor by Don Freeman
Going to the Hospital by A. Civardi
Miffy in the Hospital (Miffy Series) by Dick Bruna
Pooh Plays Doctor by K.W. Zoehfeld
Pump the Bear by Gisella Olivo Whittington
School Age 4-8
Big Operation: The Busy World of Richard Scarry by Richard Scarry
Curious George Goes to the Hospital by H. Rey
Franklin Goes to the Hospital by Sharon Jennings
Going to the Hospital by Fred Rogers
The Hospital Book by James Howe
Let's Talk about Going to the Hospital by M. Johnston
Matty's Heart by Cath Jean Clabough, R.N.
My Doctor, My Friend by P.K. Hallinan
One Bear In The Hospital by C. Bucknall
This is a Hospital, Not a Zoo by R. Karim
Why Am I Going To The Hospital? by Claire Ciliotta
School Age 9+
Christiann Barnard and the Story of the First Successful Heart Transplant by John Bankston
The Heart: The Questions and Answers Book for Kids by J. Willis Hurst
Matty's Heart: A Child's and Parent's Guide to Open Heart Surgery by Jean Clabough, R.N.
A Night Without Stars by James Howe
Robert Jarvik and the First Artificial Heart (Unlocking the Secrets of Science) by John Bankston
Young People and Chronic Illness: True Stories, Help and Hope by Kelly Huegel
For Teens
Kara Mia by Maryann Anglim
A Night Without Stars by James Howe (Age 9 to adult)
Overcoming Challenges: Congenital Heart Defects: Life After Heart Surgery by Melissa Curnel
For Siblings
Becky's Story by Donna Baznik
My Brother Needs an Operation by Anna Jaworski (Ages 4-8?
When Molly Was In The Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children by Debbie Duncan (Ages 5-10)
For Parents
Advice to Doctors and Other Big People from Kids by Gerald Jampolsky, M.D.
Brothers, Sisters, and Special Needs: Information and Activities for Helping Young Siblings of Children with Chronic Illnesses and Developmental Disabilities by Debra J. Lobato
Cardiovascular Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook: Basic Information about Cardiovascular Diseases and Disorders by Karen Bellenir
Congenital Disorders Sourcebook: Basic Information about Disorders Acquired During Gestation by Karen Bellenir
Growing Up Strong by Mary Burkett
Heart Defects In Children: What Every Parent Should Know by Cheryl J. Wild
The Heart of a Child: What Families Need to Know About Heart Disorders in Children by Edward B. Clark
The Heart of a Mother by Anna Jaworski
King of Hearts: The True Story of the Maverick Who Pioneered Open Heart Surgery by G. Wayne Miller
Matty's Heart: A Child's and Parent's Guide to Open Heart Surgery by Jean Clabough, R.N.
One Step At A Time by Jennifer Smith
The Parent's Guide to Children's Congenital Heart Defects: What They Are, How to Treat Them, How to Cope With Them by Gerrie Freid Kramer
Practical Suggestions For Raising A Child With A Heart Problem by Lisa Swanson, R.N.
To Mend A Broken Heart by Kathy Sloan
Your Child in the Hospital: A Practical Guide for Parents by Nancy Keene
You Will Dream New Dreams by Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D.