Your child survived cardiac arrest. You are a co-survivor.

You experienced a sudden traumatic event—whether you witnessed your child’s cardiac arrest or found out about it later. You may be struggling with your emotions, stress, and extreme levels of responsibility as you focus on your child’s health. This can feel disorientating, and you may feel numb or unprepared to deal with your child’s hospitalization and recovery. But you don’t have to do this alone. Heartsight can help with structured resources based on clinical research and the lived experiences of parents and caregivers like you.

Hindsight

What happened to my child? What happens next in the hospital?

A cardiac arrest is a sudden, life-threatening event, and when it happens to your child, everything changes in an instant. In those first critical moments—and throughout their time in the hospital—you become their voice, advocate, cheerleader, and source of comfort and support. You may have many questions about what happened and what comes next. The information below will help you understand the medical events that led to the cardiac arrest, how treatment may unfold, and how you can support your child’s care and recovery during this challenging time.

5 Things To Know

1. Cardiac arrest in children is a life-threatening condition in which the heart stops beating or beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly. The blood flow to the brain and other important organs is compromised, leading to damage.

2. Your child will likely be transferred to a hospital intensive care unit for further care. This care may include many machines, medicines, monitors, tubes, and medical team members.

3. Recovery can be uncertain. Even if the doctors treat your child quickly, it’s not clear when or if they will wake up. The doctors will use tests and pictures to see how much the brain may have been affected.

4. Be patient if your child wakes up and talk to them calmly and gently. Let them know who you are, where they are, and what happened. They may be confused or act differently at first, which is normal.

5. This is a tough time, so reach out to family and friends for help, and look for online groups or support communities where you can connect with other parents who understand what you’re going through.

Insight

How do I prepare for our hospital discharge?

As your child gets ready to leave the hospital, you might be facing a lot of emotions and wondering what comes next. We understand that moving from hospital care to home or another care setting can bring up many questions, and it’s normal to feel both hopeful and overwhelmed. The information here is designed to support and empower you as you step into the next phase of your child’s recovery. While new responsibilities may arise, know that you don’t have to do this alone—there are plenty of resources, services, and a caring community ready to help you every step of the way. This is a big step, but with the right information and help, you can manage it with confidence.

5 Things To Know

1. Not all children survive cardiac arrest. If your child does survive, daily life may be different for them and your family, and changes may be needed to support their new needs.

2. Permanent brain injury may require special care, such as help with breathing, eating, walking, or talking, and may depend on technology to support these functions. It’s important to focus on what matters most for your family.

3. Take care of yourself. Adjusting to these changes is hard, and self-care is important. Give yourself permission to rest and understand that the journey to recovery is a marathon—not a sprint.

4. Prepare and advocate for rehabilitation and follow-up care to help with recovery and improve their quality of life.

5. Supporting and advocating for your child’s recovery are important. Learn about your child’s adjusted needs and how to manage them. Being an active voice in their care will help support their healing process.

Foresight

What happens when my child goes home? How do I heal?

Your child is coming home! It’s a moment of celebration as you witness how far they’ve come. Yet, even as you focus on their recovery, you may feel apprehensive about what life after cardiac arrest will mean for your family. In the beginning, you may be the primary caregiver, helping your child reconnect with friends, activities, and everyday life. As you settle into this new routine, you might begin to realize that, while your focus has been on your child, your own healing journey is just as important. You’ve been through a traumatic experience too. You both need to heal together. The information below will help guide you through your recovery, so you can continue supporting your child while also taking care of yourself.

5 Thing To Know

1. Each child’s recovery is unique after surviving cardiac arrest. They may face different challenges as they adjust to a “new normal.” Their care should be tailored to their age, development, and specific needs.

2. Physical challenges may include chest pain, muscle weakness, discomfort from a defibrillator device, changes in weight, and reduced physical abilities as part of their recovery. 

3. Mental health challenges are common and your child may struggle with sleeping, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and changes in how they think or learn. 

4. Both your child and your family may notice shifts in emotions, relationships, routines, and daily responsibilities as they navigate the recovery process.

5. The journey is difficult but supported. The path forward can be hard and personal. Though life will change, there are resources and people available to help you and your child on the recovery journey.

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