At 5, she had near total heart block. Now, a 'generator' powers her heart.
Apr 1, 2022
Sophia Schilpp of Redmond, Oregon, needed a pacemaker for a heart rhythm disorder. Now, she's thriving in ballet and has the energy of any other first grader.
Children's Health News
5-year-old with rare heart defect loves taekwondo and Captain America
Mar 28, 2022
Three operations have helped Henry Johnson of Woodbury, Minnesota, lead as normal a life as possible after being born with a severely compromised heart.
What parents can do when kids with congenital heart defects grow up
Mar 17, 2022
As more survivors of congenital heart defects reach adulthood, a new report offers advice to parents and health care professionals on making sure they can manage their own care.
Bystander CPR on kids differs by race and ethnicity
Mar 14, 2022
Black and Hispanic children are less likely to receive CPR for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than white children, according to a new study.
Historic Black church and its nonprofit focus on faith, body and mind
Mar 8, 2022
With sermons, home visits and health initiatives, the 600-family congregation at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey, works through its nonprofit development corporation to address its community's spiritual, physical and mental health.
Born in China with a heart defect, she's now 14 and calls her new heart 'Thor'
Feb 21, 2022
Adopted from China, Grace Jennings had open-heart surgery before her second birthday. As a teenager, she got a new heart.
Marijuana's effects on the brain need more research
Feb 10, 2022
As marijuana use increases across the nation, questions about its impact on brain health remain unanswered. A new American Heart Association scientific statement summarizes what is known – and unknown.
For 11-year-old hockey player, breathlessness signaled a struggling heart
Feb 9, 2022
After fainting during gym class twice, Jake Burnam of St. Joseph, Missouri, got an explanation for the strange breathlessness he'd been experiencing: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Survivor's motto: 'Triumph through your trials and look good while doing it'
Feb 3, 2022
Rachel Owens of Jacksonville, Florida, is raising a son with the same congenital heart defect she has. AHA CEO Nancy Brown shares her story.
Amid a national mental health crisis for kids, here's how parents can help
Feb 2, 2022
Pandemic stresses have been tough on teens, experts say, but parents and pediatricians can make a difference.