Katherine

I was born in 1978 with transposition of the great arteries. I went through open heart surgery at 11 months old at Children's hospital in Oakland CA. The surgery consisted of repairs to make my heart work with the transposition.

My left ventricle does the work of my right and my right does the work of my left. I really have mixed feelings— sometimes I get very scared that I won't see my children reach a certain age. I don't know what my outcome will be; like many of us who were born CHD, I'm thankful to be alive.

I was always brought up knowing that the little boy who went into surgery before me did not make it—this is something my mom still talks about. I feel so much sorrow for the families who had children with CHD. I feel lucky I made it. It is just hard to never meet any people with my same condition around my age or older.

I once asked my cardiologist how the older people were doing with my condition and he replied "you are the older people." That did not ease my soul, or fears. I know that I value every moment with my children, no one else in my family has CHD. I thank the lord that my children are healthy. I would love to meet people like me.