14
&
May 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
Local organization
gives support to
CHD families in need
There is nothing more precious than the heart of a child.
For many families across Kentucky, discovering that your child has been
diagnosed with a heart defect can be devastating. We at Kerrington’s Heart
provide the hopeful message that you are not alone on this journey. In
helping hundreds of families across the bluegrass we share Lauren’s story to
inspire hope and encourage support.
“When I was around 20 weeks pregnant [we] discovered that Story had a
heart defect. We were immediately referred to a pediatric cardiologist at the
UK Congenital Heart Clinic. At the time he knew she would need surgery
when she was around 3 months old. “
Lauren is one of a million mothers a year that have given birth to a child with
a congenital heart defect (CHD). 100,000 of these children will not live to
see their first birthday.
Before birth, Story was diagnosed with a Complete AV Canal defect. After
multiple fetal echo’s during her pregnancy, Lauren’s doctors discovered the
left side of her heart did not develop as it should.
Like us
@healthykentucky
Story age 7 months
Story was born on October 28, 2013. At four days old she had her first heart
surgery. More than 50% of all children born with congenital heart defects
will require at least one invasive surgery in their lifetime.
During Story’s first five months of life she was in and out of the hospital.
On April 1, 2014, Story had her second surgery.
“After being home for a little over a month we took Story to her second
follow up cardiology appointment when we found out she was in heart
failure and needed to be airlifted back to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “
The thought of spending four months in the hospital instead of returning
home after Story’s appointment that morning had never crossed Lauren’s
mind.
Within the first month of monitoring, Story’s doctors suggested the option
of a heart transplant. After only six weeks and three days of being on the list,
Story received her gift of a heart transplant. There are an estimated
2,000,000 CHD survivors in the United States. For the first time, more than
50% of the CHD survivors are adults.
“Story’s new heart has been such a gift to us… I had never heard of CHD
until Story was diagnosed wi ۙK