Kira, born 2002

Kira was born November 28, 2002. Because she was early (33 weeks), she was only 3 pounds and 4 ounces. Shortly after birth, they heard a heart murmur. Soon after that, they said her heart was on the wrong side. My husband and I had no idea what to think or do. Three days later, the med flight team came and flew her to Boston Children's Hospital.

 

When she was six weeks old, she had her first surgery, BT Shunt. Three weeks later we were home with our new baby and the goal was to have her gain weight for her full heart repair. But shortly afterwards, everything went crazy. Kira's breathing was fast and she was bluish. It was so scary and stressful to see my five pound baby like this. We called 911 and ended up in the ICU of a local hospital for a week. After being home for only a week, we were back in the emergency room as we sensed something was wrong.

 

Kira had to be taken to the OR to have a breathing tube and central line placed. Once again, the med flight team flew her back to Boston. They were able to stabilize her there and treat the staph infection she had received as a result of the central line from her previous confinement. She survived that and finally had her full heart repair when she was 4 1/2 months old. She was only seven pounds after her open heart surgery.

 

She has been doing unbelievable to this day. She will need to have open heart surgery to replace her conduit in the future but for tOday, there is only JOY.

 

Story by Kira's mom, Janine - New York