This database includes specific information concerning children with heart disease and the diagnostics of each child as well as the treatments the child has undergone. Thus parents who want to speak to parents with a child who has similar defects to their own child are given access to the names of other families. More specific information can be obtained for parents requesting matches for a variety of reasons. Since HFHS covers such a wide territory, meetings are set up in several locations. We currently hold parent meetings in Fresno, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, and Oakland.
Meetings are primarily or an informational character.
Guest speakers, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers or others present topics for discussion among parents or address issues common to all parents with kids with CHDs. Occasionally HFHS will also hold open meetings where parents can address their concerns and be comforted by the presence of other parents. By sharing our stories with each other, we can learn how many different ways families face the challenge of parenting a CHD child, and receive from these stories both wisdom and emotional support. For more information on these programs, please contact Tricia Christensen.