Fierce persistence and a nagging mother’s intuition that something wasn’t right led newborn Emmanuel to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center on Christmas morning two years ago. His mom, Brielle—a veterinarian—noticed that he looked and sounded different from her…
Eight years and five open heart surgeries later, heart warrior Ellie is still teaching her family valuable lessons about slowing down and living in the moment. Ellie was born with Atrioventricular canal defect (AV canal defect), a rare congenital heart…
Ollie spent his first Halloween at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Heart Center in the CICU, just 7 days post-op from his second open heart surgery. Mom Stephanie remembers that they had to get special permission to allow Ollie’s big brother,…
Although she had a few months and the support of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiology to prepare, Karlee said handing her newborn over to strangers with the hope that they could save his life presented a whole new level of…
When Children’s Cardiology said that 10-year-old Grayson would need a pacemaker, one of his parents’ most pressing concerns was whether he’d still be able to go fishing. Grayson loves playing baseball and football, showing livestock, camping and playing with his…
Being diagnosed at two days old with Tetralogy of Fallot right as the COVID-19 pandemic begun caused Jameson’s parents a great deal of fear and anxiety. Since those early days, Jameson’s mom, Jamie, has managed the fear by educating herself…
When a family is confronted with a serious health diagnosis for their child like a congenital heart defect (CHD), it can feel like the whole world has suddenly shifted beneath their feet. They are often thrust into a new way…
Taylor and Kris started their family young, and they didn’t know much about congenital heart defects in children. But when their first child, Kholson, was diagnosed with serious Congenital Heart Diseases before he was born, they threw themselves into learning…
When Elena had life-saving heart surgery at just two days old, her mom Amanda says they must have poured a little extra love and kindness in before they closed her up. Going from a devastating diagnosis of Dextro-Transposition of the…
Sending a child to kindergarten with a CHD diagnosis can be nerve-wracking. But when Katie looks back on that day now, she can only be amazed by all her daughter has accomplished. Born 21 years ago at just four pounds…
