Shortly before his birth, my son Jakob was coincidentally diagnosed with "HLHS - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome". Full of uncertainty, with many questions and fears, I was immediately referred to the Pediatric Heart Center Linz, where the subsequent vital steps after the birth were discussed together with Prim.Univ.Prof.Dr. Gerald Tulzer.

I knew that a difficult and emotional time lay ahead of me!

Jakob underwent his first successful operation four days after his birth (Norwood). After only three months the second operation was performed (Glenn), and then finally the third operation was performed in 2003 (Fontan). Jakob came out of all three planned operations very, very well - both physically and mentally.

Jakob is now firmly established in professional life after having successfully completed primary school, secondary school and a higher technical school and is a cheerful young man who looks positively into the future, despite his heart condition.

Back then, after the diagnosis "Your child has a very serious heart defect..." I immediately tried to contact other parents who were or had been in a similar situation. Just to know how the children were doing after these operations, what quality of life the children could expect, how their everyday life would be, etc...

However, since many questions really only arise in day-to-day life, it was sometimes not so easy to find answers immediately or to share experiences with other parents. There was no contact point where I could have turned to.

I was so grateful and felt compelled to do something in return and established an Austria-wide contact point: Herzkinder Österreich.

Through this website, and together with a great team, I would like to share both my and our experience and offer support for all non-medical concerns and needs. We would like to be a contact point for your grief and worries. We are happy to listen and to try, if possible, to find a solution together in the most different situations.

“What comes from the heart goes to the heart.”

Shortly before his birth, my son Jakob was coincidentally diagnosed with "HLHS - Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome". Full of uncertainty, with many questions and fears, I was immediately referred to the Pediatric Heart Center Linz, where the subsequent vital steps after the birth were discussed together with Prim.Univ.Prof.Dr. Gerald Tulzer.

I knew that a difficult and emotional time lay ahead of me!

Jakob underwent his first successful operation four days after his birth (Norwood). After only three months the second operation was performed (Glenn), and then finally the third operation was performed in 2003 (Fontan). Jakob came out of all three planned operations very, very well - both physically and mentally.

Jakob is now firmly established in professional life after having successfully completed primary school, secondary school and a higher technical school and is a cheerful young man who looks positively into the future, despite his heart condition.

Back then, after the diagnosis "Your child has a very serious heart defect..." I immediately tried to contact other parents who were or had been in a similar situation. Just to know how the children were doing after these operations, what quality of life the children could expect, how their everyday life would be, etc...

However, since many questions really only arise in day-to-day life, it was sometimes not so easy to find answers immediately or to share experiences with other parents. There was no contact point where I could have turned to.

I was so grateful and felt compelled to do something in return and established an Austria-wide contact point: Herzkinder Österreich.

Through this website, and together with a great team, I would like to share both my and our experience and offer support for all non-medical concerns and needs. We would like to be a contact point for your grief and worries. We are happy to listen and to try, if possible, to find a solution together in the most different situations.

“What comes from the heart goes to the heart.”