When Joel was 10, his parents took him to the doctor because he was feeling poorly. They thought he just had a cold and an earache. As it turned out, he was suffering from a rare congenital heart condition called subaortic stenosis. Joel was referred to The Harley Street Clinic for treatment. The thought of an operation can be frightening at any age, and Joel was really nervous about going into hospital. At Harley Street, we have a team who specialise in treating adolescents and children like Joel. They showed Joel’s parents around the intensive care unit and made sure they knew exactly what to expect. Our psychologist helped Joel prepare for surgery and supported him while he was recovering. The operation was a success. And as well as curing Joel’s condition, it really boosted his confidence. So much so that he used his experience to encourage a classmate when they needed a major operation too.