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Table 2 Meaning of being parent of a child with CHD

From: Being parent of a child with congenital heart disease, what does it mean? A qualitative research

Themes

Major Subcategory

Subcategory

Emotional breakdown (n = 28)

Denial (n = 25)

 

Shock (n = 23)

Sadness (n = 21)

Isolation (n = 20)

Feeling guilty (n = 17)

The most difficult moment in parenting life (n = 15)

The catastrophic burden of care

(n = 25)

Suffering from child care (n = 24)

Constant self-sacrifice (n = 23)

Restriction (n = 22)

Painful waiting (n = 20)

Exhausting search (n = 18)

Suffering from the judgment and curiosity of others (n = 15)

Delayed vaccination and circumcision stress (n = 15)

Being responsible for diagnosis, treatment and child care (n = 20)

Parental distress over the child being hospitalized (n = 19)

Anxiety related to invasive procedure (n = 18)

Mental turbulence (n = 17)

Taking care of other disease of the child (n = 17)

The need to strive to provide the best medical care (n = 19)

 

Turn to spirituality (n = 21)

Feeling the orphans and helping the poor (n = 20)

 

Trust in God (n = 17)

To undergo a divine test (n = 16)

The hard road (n = 19)

Emotional separation of parents (n = 18)

Harsh living conditions (n = 17)