Background:

Congenital heart diseases are the most common chronic childhood illnesses; they affect not only the psychological well-being of the child but also the whole family through complex lots of symptomatic, therapeutic, emotional and social variables that have an important impact on the dynamics and functioning of the family.

Objective:

To explore on the experiences of mothers and fathers facing childhood congenital heart diseases.

Methodology:

A multiple case study with a qualitative approach was conducted with mothers and fathers of 3 children suffering from congenital heart diseases. Observation, semi-structured interviews, a rating scale and information triangulation were used.

Results:

Diagnosis, surgical interventions and frequent hospitalizations triggered the most shocking reactions among parents, characterized by fear, helplessness, insecurity, distress. Changes in family routines occurred. Parents live in fear their children to be unbalanced, children receive privileged treatment, permissive and overprotective education so, limits for their social development.

Conclusions:

Parents accumulate traumatic, devastating, shocking experiences, generating anxiety, fears and worries about the prognosis and the risks involved to their children's live without a healthy adaptation to the situation generated by the disease, which confrontation has not been positive.

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