When Isaac was born, we’d never heard of any of this. If you’ve just landed here because your own child was diagnosed with ccTGA or Ebstein’s anomaly, or you simply want to understand what Isaac lives with, this page is a starting point. We’re parents, not doctors, so rather than explain the medicine ourselves.

Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries (ccTGA)

In a typical heart, the two pumping chambers and the two great arteries are matched up so blood flows in the right order. In ccTGA, two of those connections are swapped in a way that, at first, still sends blood to roughly the right places, which is why it’s called “corrected.” The catch is that the chamber doing the hardest work, pumping blood out to the body, is the one that wasn’t built for that job over a lifetime. That, plus the other heart differences that often come along with it, is what drives the care these kids need.

The Adult Congenital Heart Association has one of the clearest explanations we’ve found:

Ebstein’s Anomaly

Ebstein’s anomaly affects the tricuspid valve, one of the valves that’s supposed to keep blood moving in one direction through the heart. When the valve is malformed, it doesn’t close properly and lets blood leak backward, which makes the heart work harder over time and causes flutter eppisodes. For Isaac, this is the valve his team has watched closely for years, and it’s a big part of why surgery has been on the table.

Cleveland Clinic has a thorough, readable overview:

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These links go to outside organizations and will open in a new tab. They’re here for education and don’t replace your own child’s care team, who know your child’s specific anatomy. If you’re a heart family just starting down this road, please reach out.