Emma's Heart Story
| Told by her mom Melissa.
Diagnosis: Tetralogy of Fallot When my husband and I found out we were having a baby, we were so excited. We went for my 20 week ultrasound and they said that Emma’s stomach looked a little small so they were sending us for a better ultrasound at the hospital. Matt was working that day so I took my mother with me..thank goodness for that. The doctor doing the ultrasound said that her heart didn’t look right and that she was probably going to need surgery. Just like that. I wanted to say “wait..back up. Tell me that again” after another ultrasound, it was confirmed that Emma had tetralogy of fallot. We were terrified. Then I started second guessing every decision I had made up until that point. Did the tuna sub have something to do with this? Was I not eating enough vegetables? but it had nothing to do with what I had or hadn’t done. My care was transferred to The Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania since Emma would be treated at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. I had weekly ultrasounds and twice weekly non stress tests. The nurses and doctors were very comforting and reassuring that this is really common and they can fix her up as good as new. Emma was born on August 9,2007. She underwent heart surgery at 3 weeks old and came home the following week. We had to stay at the hospital for the entire time. Some families go home and come back for the surgery, but that wasn’t the case for us. Emma has had 3 cardiac catheterizations since surgery, but is doing great. I am happy to report that she will be celebrating her 2nd birthday next month. Hang in there moms and dads. I won’t lie and say that it doesn’t suck and that it isn’t the hardest thing we ever went through, but in the end….it’s all worth it. |
~Melissa, July 2009 |