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pediatric cardiology

Nico’s cardiac journey began before he was born. Going into her pregnancy with Nico, Sierra shared her concern about a family history of heart defects with her midwife. This led to a referral to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. At 17 weeks, Dr. Claudia Taboada, a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, suspected a complex congenital heart defect during an ultrasound. Later, at 22 weeks, a fetal echo confirmed that Nico had the same defect as his father: Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries (D-TGA). A congenital heart defect where the aorta and pulmonary artery are switched, resulting in abnormal blood flow and oxygenation. “Once we found out that Nico had D-TGA, we were told that he would have to have open heart surgery and it would have to be done in Orlando, which is about 6 hours away from home,” shares Sierra. “Preparing for the relocation and his birth/surgery was stressful, but we […]

“Giving back and helping others is one of the best feelings. To know you helped someone when they were feeling scared and alone.” – Allison, Former Patient, Current Nemours Associate I’m Allison and I’m 26 years old and I work in the Nemours Cardiac Center at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware in Wilmington. I was diagnosed at birth with Tetralogy of Fallot with anomalous origin of the anterior descending coronary artery from the right coronary artery. I had my first open heart surgery at 4 days old for the transannular patch to repair the ventricular septal defect (VSD). In all, I had three open heart surgeries (two in 1998 and one 2013), six cardiac catheterizations and two loop recorders (in 2020 and 2023, respectively). I was also diagnosed at birth with hip dysplasia in my left hip, and I wore a Pavlik harness [a shoulder harness that attaches to foot stirrups] […]

Quote from mom: “Dr. Mehta, of course, is AMAZING! She is always happy and bubbly and she has the best laugh! We love it. She is so down to earth, but can be matter-of-fact when she needs to be, such as during this last visit with Aryana when she was discussing Aryana working – ha!” At around 24 weeks pregnant, my OB found fluid on Aryana’s kidneys and referred me to a specialist in Pensacola. I was told that this was normal, so I went alone. At the appointment, after many ultrasound images, the doctor abruptly shifted the conversation to Aryana’s heart. He gently explained that there was a hole in her heart, often seen in babies with Down syndrome, and suggested an amniocentesis for confirmation. A week later, I learned she had Trisomy 21 and was referred to Dr. Mary Mehta, whose caring team put me at ease. We […]

“I can finally live my life, and I feel like I have a second chance.” – Kaitlyn, patient My name is Kaitlyn, I’m 17 years old and I’m a junior in high school. I found out on January 17, 2024, that I had a left aortic arch with a right aberrant subclavian artery. Before I was diagnosed, I knew from a very early age that something just wasn’t right. I would constantly have issues eating and taking medicine. I noticed that I couldn’t eat meat or any large pieces of food without feeling like it was caught in my throat. Looking back on my childhood, I always avoided the foods that made me feel that way. This caused me to develop iron-deficiency anemia. I wasn’t getting the right protein I needed, and I was constantly tired and felt worn out. I would also have palpitations to the point where it […]

It’s no surprise that children diagnosed with cardiac disease often experience anxiety or depression. Their caregivers may also struggle with mental health as they navigate treatment. Dr. Erica Sood and Dr. Joselyn Kenowitz, both pediatric psychologists at the Nemours Cardiac Center at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware emphasize the importance of providing mental health support in cardiac settings to address challenges early and prevent worsening issues. Their work highlights the need for comprehensive mental health programs  from diagnosis through young adulthood, with initiatives like HEARTPrep for prenatal support and the Milestones Program to address developmental and mental health needs. The goal is to ensure families are prepared for the mental health impacts of congenital heart disease (CHD) and have access to necessary resources. 1. How is mental health connected to cardiac care? Dr. Sood: The stress of cardiac care in the hospital and at home can affect the mental health of […]

“When your child is in the hospital it affects everyone. I am thankful that Nemours recognizes this and has resources to support families through times of hospitalization and ongoing care.” – Easton’s mom, Brandi Easton was diagnosed at 20 weeks’ gestation with tetralogy of Fallot. I was being seen as a high-risk pregnancy due to advanced maternal age and previous miscarriage. When we discovered the heart condition, we began seeing Nemours Children’s cardiology [Nemours Cardiac Center] and I was connected with the OB team at Nemours [Advanced Delivery Program] with the plan being to deliver at Nemours with a scheduled C-section at 38 weeks. But Easton had other plans. At 36 weeks, my water broke, and I checked in at our local hospital 1.5 hours away from Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Due to his prematurity and availability at the time to deliver at Nemours, I was transferred by ambulance to […]