GROWING UP WITH HEART DISEASE

Except for the first 2 years of Gwen’s nursing career at the R.W. Large Memorial Hospital, Waglisla, BC, Gwen’s clinical and research career has been in pediatric cardiology, with a focus on parenting.

A common theme was the parents’ description of their antenatel decisions as their first parenting decisions

Rempel, G., Cender, L. M., Lynam, M. J., Sandor, G. G., & Farquharson, D. (2004). Parents’ perspectives on decision making after antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 33(1), 64-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0884217503261092

Gwen’s dissertation research was with parents of young children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Parenting for these parents was about safeguarding the precious survival of their child, themselves and their couple relationship.

Rempel, G., & Harrison, M. J. (2007). Safeguarding precarious survival: Parenting children who have life-threatening heart disease. Qualitative Health Research, 17(6), 824-837. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732307303164