Angelina at 19 months

Angelina had an in utero procedure in Boston at 23 weeks gestation to balloon her aortic valve in hopes of preventing HLHS. While the procedure did open her valve (she had severe critical aortic stenosis), her left ventricle did not respond and grow as desired. She developed sepsis in the NICU, so her Norwood was delayed until her 18th day of life.

Angelina had some complications that led her to remain hospitalized for the first two months of her life. Angelina's sats were too high at one point and she developed a mysterious stridor and chest retractions, causing her to re-enter the cardiac intensive care unit. At 2 months old, Angelina was stable and discharged. She had her hemi-Fontan at 5 1/2 months and is doing well. She is now 11 months old and cruising furniture and standing for limited amounts of time. We are very grateful for each day God gives us with our daughter and we now treasure life more than we ever did before.

March 2006 Update

Angelina is now 20 months old and doing the same things her peers are doing. She is starting to use 3-word sentences, loves having stories read to her, and asks to go outside for walks often. We are approaching her Fontan. Her pre- operative catheterization is May 22, 2006 and her Fontan is scheduled for June 26, 2006.