It aims to describe the maternal perspectives and feelings face to the heart transplant in their children. Descriptive study with a qualitative approach developed in the Heart Hospital, in Messejana, Fortaleza-CE, from August through November, 2007. The subjects were seven mothers of children who had a transplant. It was used as technique the semi-structured interview and medical records analysis. The data were submitted to content analysis, in three stages according to Bardin, being organized, analyzed and interpreted according to the pertinent literature, the researchers' and the interviewees' experience. Out of the speeches analyzed, the following themes emerged: necessity of transplant; source of support; feelings expressed by mothers; the donation and perspectives. It concludes that the donation is a moment of happiness experienced by all mothers, being a solution for the lives of their children, and the nurse's authentic presence on this occasion becomes even more essential, as humanizing is part of the Nursing care.
Heart transplant; Emotions; Nursing
