I am a mother to a 10 year old boy who is living with a severe congenital heart defect. He has had 8 surgeries in the last 7 years with more in his future. It is a chronic and life threatning illness with no cure. In January of this year our 2 1/2 month old baby boy died because of a severe heart defect. all 72 days were spent in the hospital. We also have a healthy 11 year old boy and 7 year old girl.