BC Cardiology Team Answers Questions about Covid

Every child’s situation is unique, but the cardiology team and BC Children’s Hospital wanted to get your most common questions answered.

Patient Handout by Global ARCH – COVID-19 and CHD

COVID-19 is a new illness caused by a coronavirus. We are just starting to learn how COVID-19 will impact people. Your local health experts will have the most up-to-date information on how COVID-19 may affect you.

Saskatchewan Pediatric Cardiologists Spearhead Innovative Treatment in Western Canada

Dr. Charissa Pockett says that she has the best job in the world. And that job is becoming even more rewarding now that fewer Saskatchewan kids with heart conditions need to travel out of province for care.

New 3D printing technology to help surgeons at B.C. Children’s Hospital

WATCH: BC Children’s Hospital has begun using 3D printing to create replicas of children’s organs, to help its surgeons better prepare.

Regina Baby Gets New Heart in Edmonton

As far as Christmas gifts go, this one is hard to beat. Su-Ling Goh (Global News Edmonton) reports.

Vital Bonds - Baby Bergen's Heart Surgery

Watch as Baby Bergen receives her heart transplant and the heart begins to take its first unassisted beats, after being stored in a bucket for five hours.

Revoulutionary Heart Pump Transplant Performed at Stollery

B.C. teenager becomes first pediatric patient to receive HeartWare

Surgery Pioneered by Edmonton Doctor Saves Great-Granddaughter's Life

When grandparents pass away, they often leave behind valuable heirlooms, sentimental treasures, or even just great stories. But one Edmonton family has inherited a gift far more valuable: the gift of life.

Logan's Run

Former Stollery kid recalls his life in and out of the Hospital and the excellent care he received there as a child.

A Change of Heart: BC Children's launches official heart transplant program

BC children requiring a heart transplant can now stay in province for the procedure.

B.C. Children's Hospital gets new heart transplant program

Children in British Columbia will no longer have to travel out of province to get a heart transplant.

The Greatest Gift

Dr. Lori West takes pediatric transplant cardiology to new levels at the Stollery and worldwide.

A Special Heart

A congenital heart defect has meant multiple surgeries and many days in the hospital for little Evanna Irvine, but thanks to the pediatric cardiac specialists at the Stollery, she continues to defy the odds.

From the Heart

Ventricular assist program co-ordinator is a vital liason for cardiac patients and physicians

It's Complicated

The Complex Pediatric Therapies Follow-up Program improves the quality of life for young survivors after life-saving procedures. Learn how it has benefited one of our Family Advisory Committee members family.

New Portable Ultrasound Machine Makes Travel to Northern Alberta Centres Easier

In the past the Stollery Children’s Hospital’s “portable” cardiovascular ultrasound machine needed it’s own seat on the plan when it travelled to northern Alberta. The size of a ‘90s-era laptop, the Vivid q won’t require an extra seat.

3D Imaging of Young Patient's Hearts Revolutionizing Valve Surgery

As a specialist in three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, Dr. Tim Colen provides pediatric heart surgeons with virtual images of their young patients’ hearts, so that they can see what’s going on before they operate.

Heart Felt

Dr. Neil Duncan recalls a lifetime of helping kids get healthy.

Big Help for Little Hearts

Fetal and neonatal cardiology specialist at the Stollery is forging new territory in infant and child cardiac health.

Calgary Baby Makes Medical History with Two-Part Heart Operation in Edmonton

Baby Isaac, cutest dude in the room, finally opens his eyes, fidgets and yaws, blissfully unaware he’s just made medical history.

The Heart of the Matter

Twenty years ago, 12 infants died during cardiac surgery in Winnipeg. Would the province ever consider re-opening the pediatric heart surgery program?

Newborn Baby Travels from Winnipeg to BC for Lifesaving Surgery

One newborn who travelled halfway across the country for lifesaving surgery

Heart Specialists come here to train

A German doctor with Capital Health is among a team of local heart specialists who helped save the life of young Argentinian girl.

Girl, 4, Alberta's heart-lung transplant patient

A four-year-old Calgary girl will be celebrating Christmas Day with family at Ronald McDonald House in Edmonton, two months after becoming the province’s youngest heart and lung transplant patient.

Girl's Heart Recovers While on Cardiac Transplant List

Four-year old longest-standing pediatric patient in North America on Berlin Heart

First Pediatric Patient in Canada Weaned from Berlin Heart after own Heart Recovers

The summer of 2006 started off well enough for 14-year-old Melissa Mills.

Stollery becomes first North American training centre for the Berlin Heart

“I still shake my head thinking what a great honour this is,” says Dr. Terry Klassen, Regional Clinical Program Director at the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Dr. Klassen is referring to the recent announcement that the Stollery was chosen as the first of two planned training and reference centres for the Berlin Heart.

Stollery Children's Hospital performs first pediatric mechanical heart procedure in Western Canada

In May 2005, eight-year-old Brandon Shapland became the first child in Western Canada to receive an artificial heart, thanks to doctors at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

World gathers in Edmonton

Mazankowski invites specialists to share expertise on rare cardiac procedure.

Heart Mender

The Stollery’s well-established VAD program attracts a top cardiologist for the littlest patients.

Full Hearts Over Amazing Recovery of Tiny Medical Marvel Isaac Tymchuk

To see Isaac Tymchuk run, climb and grin mischieviously at his parents, you’d never guess the blond toddler has spent much of his young life in operating rooms and hospital beds.

CHAMPS Camp Gives Patients Confidence to Have Fun

Children’s Healthy Heart Camp in Saskatchewan – providing confidence to cardiac patients.

The Measure of Muskaan

That Muskaan Grewal needed a new heart was certain. Whether she’d be alive long enough to receive it was less so.

Affair of the Heart

Even as a six-year-old boy in South Africa, Dr. Paul Kantor knew his career would be in cardiology. Today he heads the Stollery’s heart program.

A Holiday for the Heart

The Berlin Heart gives small children time when waiting for a transplant.

Heart Pumps Work as 'Bridge to Transplant'

Ventricular Assist Devices, essentially mechanical heart pumps, are used in patients with advanced heart failure, whether from a congenital defect in children or from an infection, heart disease or artery blockages.

Edmonton Study Educates Teen Heart Patients

The Stollery Children’s Hospital clinical research study aimed at educating teens.

Edmonton Doctors at the Stollery Children's Hospital Pioneer New Transplant Protocol

Stollery Children’s Hospital is the first and only academic health centre in Canada to use anti-rejection therapy in pediatric patients.

Tiny Miracles

Elizabeth Van de Polder will never forget the first time she was able to hold her baby boy without any wires or tubes attached to his tiny body. Like one in every 100 babies born in BC, baby Kelso was born with a heart condition. He received the specialized care he needed at BC Children’s Hospital to move forward with life.

The New Normal

A family reaches out – and learns to live with heart disease.

Close to the Heart

Melissa Mills was the first to have the Berlin Heart removed without immediate heart transplantation. Today she is in college and hopes to one day work at the Stollery.

From the Heart

How family members of a young boy with a fatal congenital defect were inspired to found a charity in his honour.

Jayden's Journey

When there is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope, and a terrible loss becomes a gift.

See Jayden’s journey.

Home Away From Home

A lifetime of Stollery Children’s Hospital visits has brought the Siewert family closer.

A Heart for Cody

Seventeen months is a long time to wait, especially for something as important as a new heart.

Read about Cody’s journey

Davita Friedland's Story (as told by mother, Hadley)

It all started with a routine 6-month ultrasound.

Aidan Meilleur-Wilson's Story

My name is Aidan Meilleur-Wilson, and I am 3 years old. Some people have referred to me as “the Miracle Baby”, but Mommy and Daddy always seem to introduce me as “our little devil”. Apparently it all began the day I was born.

A Glimpse Into My Past

From the start of 2006, all the way up until the middle of 2009, I have been faced with situations unbearable. I’ve come to realize that too many times in life; people are faced with hardships and tough decisions to make. The road to success is never smooth, especially with all the obstacles we must encounter to succeed.

Newborn has heart attack, thrives after heart transplant

Today, 10-week old Kaleb Busch looks like any other bouncing baby boy. But at birth he suffered a massive heart attack that caused the left side of his heart to fail.

Dylan Seabrook's Story

I went to Tisdale to be there in time to go to Dr. Shewchuk with Dylan to get his o.k. for the trip to Edmonton – his chest sounded clear, so Dr. Shewchuk told Dylan to cross his fingers, arms, and legs so the operation would go well.
Dylan did all three – crossed his fingers, arms, and legs…

Marcus Trickett's Story

Five weeks before our son was born we were told the devastating news that our baby had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Robyn Ward's Story

Baby Robyn Arielle Ward was born on April 6th, 2004. Her big sister Rebecca Ann (4 yrs old) was so excited to have her wish for a baby sister come true.

Ryan Smethurst's Story (as told by his mother, Heidi)

Six years ago today, I was juggling life with a newborn, a two and a half year old, and an almost five year old.

Anna's Story

She only has half a heart but half is all she needs…

Natalia Malnar's Story

When a child is born with a congenital heart disease it not only affects the child, but is also a life altering journey for the parents as well.

On the Healing Wings of the Thunderbird

A congenital heart defect prevented Vaughn Fiddler from enjoying the normal activities of a youngster. Today, he runs and cycles with his cousins, Evan Mawakeesick and Cyruss Fiddler.

What Christmas Means to Me

Early December 2004: time to get some serious Christmas shopping done.
December 9th: suddenly buying the best Christmas presents shrinks into insignificance.