The doctor prescribed sedative pills.

Everything seemed normal. I was growing and developing, but had frequent infections. My parents noticed that I was either quickly exhausted or easily overexcited. Often I would just squat down on the sidewalk and not want to go on. After a few minutes I was fine again and ran – until I was exhausted again. My mother mentioned my behavior to the doctor, but he dismissed it and gave me tranquilizers.

Even today I remember my parents' fear

It wasn't until I changed doctors at the age of fourteen that it came out that I had a congenital heart defect. During a routine checkup, the new pediatrician listened a little longer to my heartbeat and paused. Again and again. And again. A referral to the university hospital followed. There, after many examinations, his suspicions were confirmed: I had an aortic coarctation. The operation followed a short time later. Even today I remember my parents' fear, my younger sister's deep insecurity and my own fear. Even after the operation the fear was still there. Although I had survived everything well.

Following the operation, every breath hurt.

My heart has not caused me any problems since then. Only the scar: it was already over fifty centimeters long at that time. Below the left breast, it runs through to the left shoulder blade and further up the spine. Back then, after the operation, every breath hurt. Even today I can feel the scar all the time. As I grew, it had become even longer and eventually developed into a thick keloid scar.

Probably such an operation is done differently today.

Even after correction, it was eventually as thick and hard as before. Today, because of this, my spine is giving me a hard time. Due to the protective posture and the atrophy of some severed muscles, it has twisted severely. This causes me massive disc problems and frequent pain. Presumably, such an operation is done differently today.

Today I always celebrate my second birthday on the day of my surgery.

But: it was a great feeling to be able to think about tomorrow again and make plans for the future! I'm alive. And not even badly. Without the operation, I would have had a life expectancy of eighteen years at most, the doctors had predicted at the time. Today I always celebrate my second birthday on the day of my operation.

I consider every day as a gift.

My greatest happiness is my son! He is healthy. I was fascinated by the prepartal heart screening for a possible heart defect. Through my experience with my congenital heart defect, I consider every day as a gift. I breed Border Collies and enjoy my horses. But dealing with the animals also demands all my strength. I have to force myself again and again to manage it carefully. I make a strong and confident impression on others. Beneath the surface, however, there is still a little girl who is amazed at the life she has been given and who is sometimes afraid. Perhaps there are others with similar experiences? I am happy if my story can give courage and comfort.