About Me (In My Own Words)
When I was 10 days old my mom noticed that I was very sick, so she took me to the ER. She explained to the doctors my symptoms and they ordered a Chest X-Ray. I was then diagnosed with Phneumonia and the doctors told my parents that I had something wrong with my heart, so they were transfering me to another hospital. The Cardiologist at that hospital diagnosed me with Tetralogy of Fallot and explained to my parents that the reason I would turn a "bluish" color is because I had multiple holes in my heart so my De-Oxygenated blood would mix with my Oxygenated blood and that I needed to have Open Heart Surgery to repair those holes and also my Pulmonary Valve; but that I was too sick and I needed to get stronger so they couldn't do it then. Over the next few months I got worse and at 3 months old they did my first surgery. In that surgery they fixed my holes and rerouted my blood so there was no need to put in a fake valve where my Pulmonary one should have been.
At the age of 14 I was in a severe car accident that required multiple surgeries and plates to be put in my right arm. After that my doctor noticed that my heart was having problems pumping blood and I would need to have a second Open Heart Surgery and have a fake valve put in. At 15 my parents chose to have a Gortex Valve, which was still experimental, placed where my Pulmonary Valve never grew. 6 months after my valve replacement my Echocardiogram showed that the Gortex Valve was narrowing, because they never had this problem with previous patients my Cardiologist asked me if I would be willing to have a Ballooning of my valve, my parents and I agreed. They were able to expand the valve, so every few months I was going in for Balloonings for almost 3 years. The last Ballooning I had I bled out so the surgeon said he woudn't do it again and that my Valve needed replaced, again. My symptoms weren't too bad so my Cardiologist decided to let my body run it's course. 2 years later I was having Arhythmia problems and at 17 had a Pacemaker-Defibrillator (ICD) put in place.
I am now 20, turning 21 in June, and my Cardiologist told my husband, family and I that I have gotten as much use out of my Gortex valve as possible and that within the next year I will be having a third Open Heart Surgery to put in a Pig Valve.
Along with my Arhythmia and Tetralogy of Fallot I also have Atrial Fibrillation. At this moment, I do not take any medication, and hopefully I will be able to stay off medication as long as I can.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Shelton, Washington
