Families came in early this morning and waited all day for their turn to get screened by CNMC cardiologists.  In conjunction with the patient’s record and past screening results, today’s echocardiogram was the final test that would determine if and how a child would be treated this week by WCI or the CNMC team.   This day for parents was defining — by the end of the day they would  know if their child would be 1 of 25 children who will receive some form of corrective heart procedure this week,  or if their child would be put on a monitoring list to receive a possible procedure at some future date or no treatment at all.

Parents sat patiently for many hours as the cardiologists saw each patient, one by one.  The parents were personable, but there was no doubt their minds were concentrating on this important visit with the doctors.  All the while, the kids slowly got comfortable and started just relaxing and playing in the waiting room.  Most of the kids were in good spirits, friendly, and just wanted us to take their picture and show it to them, over and over again.