Sophie Noelle

On December 21, 1999 our third daughter was born. Sophie Noelle seemed to be a wonderful healthy baby. She was congested her first few weeks of life, but I was told by the hospital nurse that it was normal for a C-section baby. Sophie would sleep through the night if I let her, I had to wake her for feedings and I though how blessed I was to have a baby that did this. Little did I know the Signs.

At her two-week old check up, her pediatrician noticed her heart rate was very fast, and he could hear a loud murmur. She was also still very congested. He told us to bring her to North Shore University hospital in Manhasset, and he would have a cardiologist waiting for us. Five hours later, she went through chest x-rays, blood tests, EKG's, and echos, and they told us she was in congestive heart failure and had a large VSD.

I thought my world was falling apart. This wasn't supposed to happen to Sophie, I took prenatal vitamins, I didn't smoke or drink or use drugs while pregnant. I thought she was going to die! She spent seven days in the PICU unit and was released on digoxin and Lasix. She was doing ok with this, but she was still a skinny-looking baby, and was having a hard time putting on weight. Her cardiologist, Dr Robert Boxer suggested we do the open heart surgery now. April 25, 2000 was like the day Sophie was born. She was four months old and had her open heart surgery and flew through it with flying colors! She had no complications, and was released six days after her surgery. I can not express in words how grateful and happy we are that we have a healthy child.

Today, Sophie is almost 3 years old and doing great with her heart. She saw Dr Boxer in July, and he said everything looks great, and her Tricuspid is still mild! He also had to give her medical clearance for her upcoming surgery, and to prescribe the antibiotics to protect her heart. August 13, 2002 she had another operation to repair her vesicoureteral reflux. Her urologist had to re-implant her ureters to her bladder. It was an awful time for her and not to mention us! She was more aware that she was in a hospital and screamed when anyone in scrubs came in to see her. She had an epidural for the first few days to ease with pain, but as soon as they took that out, things got worse. She screamed every time she had to urinate, or had a bladder spasm. It was so hard to watch her go threw this. But today, she is back to her old spunky little self, and happy and so full of life, and most importantly of all...... Healthy!!!