Kerri, her husband Hutley and baby Bentley
FIXING BENTLEY’S BROKEN HEART
The Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute – the world-class
facility that you helped build – saved baby Bentley’s life.
Bentley was going to be born with
half a heart, and there was very little
hope for his survival. Kerri and her
husband Hutley were given this
devastating news just 20 weeks into
their first pregnancy.
A rare heart defect, Hypoplastic Left
Heart Syndrome, leaves the left side
of the heart severely underdeveloped,
inhibiting the flow of oxygen-rich
blood to the rest of the body.
When he was just four days old,
Bentley underwent his first surgery
to allow his heart to function
normally. He remained in hospital
recovering for 72 days.
“We couldn’t be happier with the
results,” says mom Kerri. “I’m amazed
at what they’re able to do at the Maz.
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The entire team is incredible”.
Dr. David Ross, Bentley’s surgeon,
agrees. “Twenty years ago we were
not able to do what we can today.
Donors have made it possible for
us to save more lives.” Bentley’s
life could not have been saved if it
wasn’t for the best medical minds
having access to the most advanced
equipment and technology.
NO SMALL TASK
The dedicated and skilled
healthcare teams at the
Maz are proud to provide
specialized care to patients
of all ages – from babies who
are just days old to seniors
who are well into their eighties.
Bentley underwent his second
surgery when he was 6 months old,
and will require at least one more
surgery before his fifth birthday.
Surgeons at the
Mazankowski Alberta
Heart Institute operate on
some of the tiniest patients:
a newborn baby’s heart is
about the size of an apricot.
Your ongoing support of the lifesaving work at the Maz means that
Bentley will receive the very best
care possible on his journey to a
happy and healthy life.
Your support means that
pediatric and adult patients
from across western and
northern Canada continue
to have access to world-class
cardiac care.
Connecting Your Generosity