The term special needs can sound scary. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Our goal at NHBO is to equip and inform parents – replacing fear with knowledge – as they navigate the beginning stages of special needs adoption. And then encourage and support those home with their special needs kiddos.

We do much of this through our Family Stories. In addition to our regular content, each month (except January) we feature Family Stories focused on a specific group of Special Needs. Here are some links from previous years organized by category:

February: Heart – 2017 || 2016 || 2015
March: Blood Conditions – 2017 || 2016 || 2015
April: Central Nervous System – 2016 || 2015
May: Vascular – 2016 || 2015
June: Orthopedic – 2016 || 2015
July: Craniofacial – 2016 || 2015
August: Infectious – 2016 || 2015
September: Skin Conditions – 2016 || 2015
October: Developmental – 2016 || 2015
November: Urogenital – 2016 || 2015
December: Sensory – 2016 || 2015

February is National Heart Month. So, here at No Hands But Ours, we will be sharing family stories of children with congenital heart defects all month long.

Over the years, many family stories related to these special needs have been shared. And – during this month focusing on the heart – we wanted to take a moment to look back at just a few of our favorites.

Let’s go.

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General Congenital Heart Defects – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From Adopting a Child with Congenital Heart Disease: “Four years ago, I could not describe the structure or mechanism of the human heart. Now, that magical and miraculous pump that provides the essence of life is something I think about every day”. – Andrea (5-25-14)

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Advanced Heart Failure – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From The Ledge: “We have been blessed beyond measure! It’s our privilege to be their parents!” – Andrea (11-27-16)

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Atrial Septal Defect – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From Mya Jian: “Without it she wouldn’t be ours.” – Sara (3-4-09)

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Double Outlet Right Ventricle – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From Normal Ain’t Got Nothin’ On This: “Whether in good news or in bad that we may be a light in the darkness.” – Sonia (2-23-15)

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Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

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Single Atrium – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From We’re Not Special: “Any one of you can be “special” too, but you have to make room for the Holy Spirit to guide you.” – Michele (1-5-16)

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Patent Ductus Arteriosus – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From Little Girl Red: “Lub dub, lub dub. Oh the beauty of that sound. It sounds like life and hope, sadness and struggle.” – Jessica (2-6-15)

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Single Ventricle – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

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End Stage Cardiac Disease – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From Cardiac Transplant: Two Little Girls, Two New Lives “Always choose hope!” – Emily (2-9-15)

From Cardiac Transplant: Two Little Girls, Two New Lives, Part Two: “It has been a privilege to have a front row seat to a miracle…” – Andrea (2-16-15)

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Tetralogy of Fallot – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From The Day-to-Day Life of a Child with Tetralogy of Fallot “ToF hasn’t stopped him from succeeding… This boy’s heart? It’s strong.” – Jenna (6-7-15)

From The Terminal Child: “They are so much more than an age, or a gender or a diagnosis. They are a child.” – Sonia (3-6-12)

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Transposition of the Great Arteries – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From Willow: Adopting a Child with Complex Heart Defects: “All we need to know is that we are going to be doing this one together.” – Amber (12-5-14)

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Transposition of the Great Vessels – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From What We Know: “We know that this is what faith is about, this stepping out into an unknown that is out of our control.” – Joanna (2-28-15)

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Ventricular Septal Defect – read more NHBO posts on this special need here

From Jadyn: “I knew medical words and names of procedures I had never heard of in my life time.” – Sue (3-1-10)

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If you are parenting a child from China with a congenital heart defect and would like to share your story on No Hands But Ours, let us know. Just complete this short form and we’ll be in touch with you soon!