Ten boys and 15 girls below the age of 16, were referred to the National Hospital in Norway for evaluation for heart or lung transplantation 1990-97. 24 of the children and their families went through a thorough psychosocial assessment in order to assess the supportive measures the children and their families might need for coping with stress during the evaluation and the follow-up period. The patients were divided into three diagnostic groups: Two had cystic fibrosis and one an obstructive lung disease, heart-lung group, eight had congenital heart disease and 13 cardiomyopathy. 15 children were accepted for transplantation and placed on the waiting list. The others were rejected for medical reasons. Seven children (29%) filled the criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis (six anxiety disorders and one depression). Five others had considerable anxiety symptoms. The cardiomyopathy group had fewer problems than the heart-lung and congenital heart disease groups. The study shows that families with children suffering from life-threatening disease live with a great deal of stress and are in need of help and support. Many families are either not aware of their rights or too exhausted to seek help.