My oldest son (Nathan’s big bro’), Adam, has almost completed his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  His team has completed a project that has recently been published in Biofabrication, a journal of state-of-the-art research and development.  Much of what those guys do is waaay over my head, but [...]

Continue reading about Stem Cell Research: Possibilities for Congenital Heart Defects

Karen on May 28th, 2009

Heart defects are the most common and deadly of all birth defects.
Approximately 36,000 babies are born each year with a congenital heart defect.
In 1950, a child born with a congenital heart defect had only a 20% chance of survival.  Today, survival rates have increased to 90%.
Survivors of successful childhood intervention face life-long risks, including heart [...]

Continue reading about Congenital Heart Defects – Quick Facts

Karen on May 26th, 2009

This is one of the best illustrations I have found for explaining PAPVR.
Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital heart defect in which blood flow from one or more of the pulmonary veins return to the right atrium instead of to the left atrium.  This is a problem because the right atrium [...]

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Karen on April 27th, 2009

When faced with a complicated congenital heart defect, confidence in the skill and expertise of your child’s surgeon is of paramount importance.  When our son, Nathan, was diagnosed with Scimitar Syndrome, a rare condition characterized by dextrocardia, pulmonary hypoplasia, and Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, we soon learned that our local surgeons had no personal [...]

Continue reading about Dr. Edward Bove

Karen on April 26th, 2009

One challenge for children with Scimitar Syndrome is their vulnerability to lung infection and pneumonia due to pulmonary hypoplasia. The Himalayan Salt Inhaler may be a beneficial addition to your allergy arsenal.

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