Living with Aortic Stenosis

My son was diagnosed at birth with aortic stenosis/bi-cuspid valve. We were told he needed to be monitored carefully because at some point intervention would be needed. For the first seven years of his life we went to the cardiologists every six months at which time they would do an ekg and an echo. At age seven we started going yearly, never knowing what we were going to be told. We were given athletic restrictions immediately, and told he could never play sports at a competitive/varsity level. Becaue of this we would not let our son play any contact/cardio sports.

He is a sports NUT. With drs. advice we let him play baseball, and a little basketball, but nothing hardcore or contact. My sons disease was on our mind every game, every second. But, more, it was on his mind more. He was saddened by the prospect that he could not play high school sports. Today, at his appointment, we were told his gradiant had increase and because of this he may need “the balloon” intervention, but if this procedure was successful he could play high school sports. He is in 8th grade and finished his last basketball game Saturday (we thought it would be his last, so it was sad) but today gave us new hope. I realize sports should be a minor concern in our lives, and his health should be the major concern (which it is) but he LIVES for sports. Like you, he excels in baseball and is quicker and faster than most 14 year old boys. He doesnt understand why he got this disease but we tell him everyday it could be a lot worse. Good Luck to you.