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Lauren Lauren was born healthy. But, the day we were ready to take her home, doctors detected a murmur. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome was mentioned as the remotest of possibilities. When we were told that this far-out possibility was in fact the problem, we were devastated. We were initially told of three choices: heart transplantation, the Norwood procedure, or 'compassionate death.' We decided to go for the option that offered the most permanent solution. The Norwood procedure is not easy to face - it means three heart operations in the first year of life. But when it's done, it's done. We knew a heart transplant would mean a lifelong fight against rejection, infection, and possibly cancer. The first surgery was done when Lauren was 7 days old. Throughout the operation, a nurse liaison kept us updated, which was incredibly reassuring. We took Lauren home about a week later. She looked healthy and we were able to care for her routinely, but with two surgeries to go, we still treated her as if she were made of glass. The second surgery went smoothly. After the third procedure, we hit a rough patch when she developed a post-operative arrhythmia. She had excellent care though and responded well. Six weeks later, she was home for good. In opting for reconstructive surgery, we knew full well what could happen. We wanted the best possible outcome for her and that was a chance at a full life. I am still amazed that someone had the capability to rebuild her heart to the point where she can run and play like any other child. It sounded like science fiction, but it worked. Lauren is in the second grade now. She is a beautiful and happy typical 7-year-old. When friends ask her about the scar on her chest, she tells them that she had a broken heart when she was a baby, but doctors fixed her up. In just a few years, she'll be the one breaking hearts. - Lauren's parents 
Kayla We found out when Kayla was just a week old that she had a septal defect - a hole in the heart. We began seeing a cardiologist who advised us to wait and see if the hole would close on its own. He said that most holes actually do close spontaneously. But by the time Kayla was 3, the hole hadn't shown any signs of change. Our cardiologist felt it was time to have it repaired and recommended open-heart surgery. We had more or less decided to go ahead with surgery when we were told of the Nemours Cardiac Center and Dr. Moore. He explained interventional catheterization as an alternative to surgery and showed us the device that could be used to fill the hole in Kayla's heart. After examining her, he felt she was an ideal candidate for the new procedure. At first, we were a little skeptical about the catheterization because it was so new and there wasn't much of a track record. But after meeting with Dr. Moore, we had complete confidence that this was the way to go. He gave us an account to read of another patient he had done. We also researched the procedure on the Internet and felt more reassured. It turned out to have been absolutely the right decision. The procedure took just a few hours. That evening, Kayla was ready to jump out of bed - she was feeling just great. We were in the hospital for less than 2 days. Kayla went home with no stitches, no pain - just a band-aid on her groin where the catheter was inserted. Her follow-up shows that everything has healed perfectly. And naturally, we were especially relieved that we didn't have to put her through open-heart surgery. We are a family that feels very happy and grateful to have both the Nemours Cardiac Center and Dr. Moore to turn to. - Kayla's parents 
Tyler My grandson was born in September of 1993 - a beautiful little boy. But 2 days later, he turned blue. The pediatrician sat down with all of us to essentially decide Tyler's fate. We were told that 50% of babies who have what he had - hypoplastic left heart syndrome - go home to die. We were not willing to accept that, so he went on the waiting list for a heart transplant. As the only alternative to a transplant, the three-stage Norwood procedure was mentioned, but the doctors made it sound too hazardous and didn't seem to be recommending it. Our best bet was to wait for a heart - or so we thought. Two months later, no heart. Tyler crashed twice in the NICU and was put on a respirator. It became imperative that we look further into the Norwood procedure. For the first time, someone gave us hope. My grandson was flown by helicopter to Dr. Norwood who did the surgery the next day. It went like clockwork. The results were so spectacular - he went home in a week. I considered it a miracle. My son and daughter-in-law went about their daily routine with him at home. He was not restricted in any way! The next two surgeries went just as smoothly. And everyone on Dr. Norwood's staff bent over backwards to help us, with transportation, insurance, everything. Now the most delightful little guy is 5. He is loving and sweet and a mischievous tease all at the same time. He swims and runs and jumps and plays. He does everything that any normal child would do and we sometimes have a hard time keeping up with him. Every once in a while, he'll go off and talk to himself. I asked my daughter-in-law what that was all about and she said to let him alone - he's talking to his angel. Maybe he is - I know someone is watching over him, someone sent us to Dr. Norwood just in the nick of time. - Tyler's grandfather 
Cara Nine years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Hours after Cara was born, the neonatologist detected a heart murmur. Five days later, Dr. Norwood worked miracles performing a complicated surgery that other surgeons were only contemplating at the time. In fact, the procedure had only been done a dozen times before. Two weeks to the day she was born, Cara was home! Less than a year later, we moved to Chicago. Cara was seeing a cardiologist once a year. We always held our breath in anticipation of her doctor's evaluation. We had been so fortunate. The doctors were astounded that with such a complicated repair she was still functioning so well. But, after nearly ten years Cara's pulmonary artery began to narrow and she needed an angioplasty. While performing the angioplasty, the Chicago doctor informed us that she would need to have the artery replaced. My husband and I wanted Dr. Norwood to do the procedure. He had saved her life the first time, and it was only natural for us to want the very best. With the help of Dr. Norwood's staff and my own inability to take no for an answer, Dr. Norwood performed the surgery a few months later. Within two days of surgery, Cara was up and walking and six days later, we were home - our second miracle. Now, Cara's back to her young self, and that's the sweetest sight there is." - Cara's mother
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