From TIME · Raj Panjabi · · 1m 20s
Normalcy Bias Prevented Me from Recognizing My Daughter’s Heart Failure
A mother’s normalcy bias hid her daughter’s heart failure until it was too late.
In brief
A mother’s normalcy bias hid her daughter’s heart failure until it was too late. A mother’s normalcy bias prevented her from recognizing her daughter’s heart failure until it was too late. Originally reported by TIME.
Normalcy bias definition
A mother assumed her third child would be healthy like her first two.
Karuna’s early health
My children played with her while she giggled and took her first steps.
Early signs of trouble
Karuna refused meals and her weight dropped below 97% of children her age.
Nutritionist intervention
We added PediaSure formula and increased it to multiple bottles per day.
Symptoms worsened
Karuna slept more, was irritable, and lay on the floor while others played.
Critical diagnosis
The X-ray showed Karuna’s heart was more than double the size of normal.
Heart failure confirmed
The doctor confirmed Karuna had heart failure after the X-ray.
ICU treatment
Amisha and I spent sleepless nights in the pediatric ICU with Karuna.
Diagnosis details
Her heart was infected with parvovirus B19 and genetic testing showed a variation.
Future scenarios
Her heart might need a transplant or she might recover with lifelong medication.
Current status
Four years later, Karuna’s heart ultrasound looks normal but the doctor says she’s not fully recovered.
The key point
A mother’s normalcy bias prevented her from recognizing her daughter’s heart failure until it was too late.
