Pediatric Cardiology at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Every Heart has a Story. This is Aharon's story.

I found out I was pregnant on Father's day. I was super excited to be having another child. At my 12 week ultrasound appointment the doctor saw that there was something wrong with my babies heart. He was not sure what it was and was not offering much positive information in the beginning. We were totally lost. We needed answers. I was referred to a leading fetal cardiologist at Childrens Hospital. He was able to diagnosis my son in utero. He offered us so much hope and guidance. I looked forward to seeing him and so did my baby boy.
The pregnancy was mostly uneventful, a heart defect is enough. I was followed closely and was scheduled for induction on Feb 15. Aharon had a mind of his own. On February 13th 2010, the morning of my 34th birthday, I went into labor. I was so blessed to have the best doctors by my side. I delivered Aharon that evening. He was 18 inches long and 6lbs and 6.4 oz. He was perfectly pink and he let out the healthiest cry when he arrived. Sadly he was wisked away from me after a quick glance. He stayed in the NICU for a couple of hours while he was awaiting transfer next door to childrens hospital. My wonderful husband followed him every step of the way. He was doing so well and had absolutely no signs of his complex heart defects except for a heart murmur. His oxygen saturations, respirations, heart rate, and blood pressure were perfect for a healthy boy, but for a child with DILV, small right ventricle, congenitally corrected TGA, PS, dextrocardia, his perfect saturations were a bad thing. He was in the NICU for 9 days when the medical team felt it was best to do a BT shunt and pulmonary artery banding, to preserve his lungs and prevent overcirculation and CHF. It was truly heartbreaking to hand over the son we convinced ourselves was so healthy and accept the truth about his special little heart. Thankfully the surgery went well and Aharon was home 5 days later.
He has had the most amazing 6+ months. He healed beautifully from the surgery. He is developing normally. His growth is on the low end of the charts, but thankfully the little booger is on them. He is truly amazing and when I look at him I feel so much joy in my heart and I am truly thankful for God's blessing. Thank you to God for giving us these gifts and thank you to God for blessing the doctors with the skills they have to save lives. I know that God is holding Aharon in his arms and hugging him every step of the way.
Aharon is scheduled to have his Glenn Surgery September 27th. We are scared, but we know that God is with us. Aharon may not have a perfect heart, but he has the heart of a lion. He is stronger than we ever imagined. I can see him in my future. I can see a normal boy with the same hopes and dreams as everyone else. I am so grateful that God felt I was a good enough mother that he gave me such a precious gift. I can only hope that Aharon grows up knowing how special he really is.

Happy 6 months

Aha is growing so fast. He is 1/2 year old. It's been so great having him. He is a little ray of sunshine. I love to look at his handsome face, so gentle, and kind. He is so calm and peaceful. I never expected things to be so normal. He is on target developmentally. He rolls, grabs everything, pushes up, grabs his cute little toes, coos and laughs. He eats a little cereal and veggies, and loves his paci. He occasionally has a fuss here or there but not too often. I just can't wait to watch him continue to grow and change. Aharon, I love you more than life.

Blessings

I know to be grateful. Aha is doing so well. He is growing so fast. Just yesterday he was so small and fragile and today he is such a big boy. He is so funny. He rolls all over the place. He gets mad when he's on his tummy, but he keeps rolling there. He has a serious kung fu grip. He's so amazing and strong. He just feels so perfect. I see so much light ahead of him. I have so much hope for his future. God please continue to bless him.