A Children's Book About Their Heart Scar
Zip-line is heartwarming and educational book designed for children who have a scar on their chest from open heart surgery to repair a congenital heart defect (CHD). Used by families, schools and hospitals, Zip-line whimsically explains the answer to the question "How did that line get there?".
The story centers around a little girl and her and her trusty bunny companion, explaining to the reader how she got the scar on her chest and how she isn't any different than anyone else. The book shows her unrestricted in activities and features age appropriate illustrations - no blood, or anything remotely graphic.
It aims to set a model for kids with a heart scar to be comfortable with themselves, their heart scar, and the life-saving surgery that they were too young to remember.
"Katie is so excited about her new Zip-Line book. I could hardly read it because she, proudly, kept yellingshe has one, just like me. Thank you for making such a wonderful book that will help our children understand and be proud!" - Amy R
Our Family's Story
Zip-Line is written by David Humpherys, the father of Ella who was diagnosed in utero with a congenital heart defect called Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV). After birth Ella's diagnoisis was stated as TOF - Tetralogy of Fallot, ASD - Atrial Septal Defect , VSD - Ventricular Septal Defect, & Pulmonary Stenosis. To the relief of her parents her oxygen saturation levels were fine, so heart surgery was delayed until 6 months of age, giving her time to grow.
Within days of her six month birthday she underwent an 8+ hour surgery to repair her heart defect. After 7 days in the CICU, and three more days on the cardiac floor she came home healthy and with her "personal work of art".
While in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Children's Hospital in Boston, David started scribbling lines of a poem about how his daughter got her heart scar. He wanted to have something to give to her when she got older to explain the larger-than-life scar that he saw before him. He didn't want his daughter to be self-conscious of her scar. He hoped that she would feel strong because of it, but not have it define who she was.
The result is "Zip Line". I hope you and your children enjoy the book.
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Ella a few months after surgery
Feedback from parents
"As a mom to twins, one of which who has a congenital heart defect and her own "zip-line" this is must read! It has helped our daughter to better understand her scar and it has helped our son to understand what his twin has gone through. Thank you so much for offering a toddler/preschool appropriate book for our heart warriors!" - TN
"I had been searching for a heart book for my daughter who had open heart surgery as a baby. This book does a fantastic job at explaining what makes her different, what open heart surgery is, and the main focus is how she's really no different from the other kids. Great book that we will continue to use as a tool to help build her confidence through the challenges that being a heart kiddo can bring. So happy I stumbled across this, highly recommend for other heart kiddos or other kids who know heart kiddos and have questions."Amazon Customer