J17 — April 2009 — Small Left Heart Syndrome

Intro: Bringing a new baby home from the hospital is supposed to be a time of wonder and joy. But the couple you're about to meet had a very different experience. Their baby girl was born with a severe congenital heart defect that required immediate surgery. Only after life-saving surgery at Mayo Clinic could this young family bring their child home.

LITTLE ETTA ARIAS HAS ENDURED MORE SURGERIES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS THAN MANY PEOPLE WILL GO THROUGH IN AN ENTIRE LIFETIME.

"THEY EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS REALLY SERIOUS."

ETTA'S MOM JUANA AND DAD JESSE SAY HOURS AFTER ETTA WAS BORN SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO MAYO CLINIC.

"SHE HAS HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME."

"THE PUMPING CHAMBER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HER HEART DIDN'T DEVELOP. IT'S VERY SMALL AND UNUSABLE."

DR. HAROLD BURKHART SAYS THAT MEANS BLOOD COULD NOT FLOW PROPERLY TO ETTA'S BRAIN AND BODY. HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME IS THE FOURTH MOST COMMON CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT, AND BABIES LIKE ETTA NEED THREE DIFFERENT SURGERIES. DURING THE FIRST OPERATION, DR. BURKHART AND HIS TEAM RECONSTRUCTED THE AORTIC ARCH SO BLOOD CAN FLOW TO HER BRAIN AND OUT TO HER BODY. HE ALSO PLACED A SHUNT TO ALLOW BLOOD FLOW TO HER LUNGS. FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FIRST SURGERY ETTA'S CHEST WAS STILL OPEN TO WAIT FOR SWELLING TO GO DOWN.

"IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING THE FIRST DAY, TO SEE HER HEART WAY UP AT THE SURFACE THERE PUMPING AWAY."

AT THE TIME IT WAS DIFFICULT, BUT ETTA RECOVERED QUICKLY. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER SHE HAD HER SECOND SURGERY. DR. BURKHART CREATED A CONDUIT TO ALLOW BLOOD FLOW FROM THE TOP OF HER BODY TO THE LUNGS.

"SHE'S FANTASTIC. ENERGETIC, SHE'S WALKING NOW. VERY CURIOUS. SHE HAS TO CHECK EVERYTHING OUT AND EAT EVERYTHING."

ETTA IS HAPPY, HEALTHY AND AS BUSY AS ANY OTHER TODDLER HER AGE. SHE'S FACING ANOTHER SURGERY IN THE COMING YEAR THAT WILL HELP THE BLUE BLOOD FROM HER BODY FLOW TO HER LUNGS FOR OXYGENATION. BUT HER FUTURE SHOULD BE FULL AND BRIGHT.

"FOR ETTA MY DREAM IS THAT SHE CAN DO WHAT EVER IT IS SHE'S CALLED TO DO."

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Etta, like all children who have surgery for congenital heart defects, will need follow up care for the rest of her life to be sure she stays healthy.

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