How do children cope with chronic illness?
How a child copes with a chronic illness like congenital heart disease depends on many factors. Having a simple heart defect that requires only one surgery for correction, for example, will have a different effect on a child than a complex defect that requires many tests, surgeries, and hospitalizations. The latter scenario can make children fearful or withdrawn, and even angry. It also depends on how old the child was when they were diagnosed. For instance, a child diagnosed at birth would have grown up with a different concept of “normal.” In contrast, a child diagnosed later in life may have more struggles, although they are also more capable of understanding the nature of the condition and its treatment. Body image is also key; a child with scars or cyanosis, or who needs medical devices to manage day-to-day living, is likely to be more self-conscious. If something about a child changes, it takes a while for self-image to catch up. It’s an adjustment, like moving to a new school or
