Help For Melo
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This is Melody Dubois-Fetterly, and she is 3 years old. "Melo" has endured more in her 3 short years than most of us will in a lifetime. When Melo was just 5 months old she was diagnosed with TAPCD (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage). Airlifted late one Thursday night to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, she underwent open heart surgery within 24 hours. After 17 days in Sick Kids she came home to Huntsville, Ontario along with her parents, Haily and Alex. For the next 2 years Melo appeared to thrive, and everyone was grateful for the miracle of life given back to her by the wonderful people at Sick Kids.
But last September Melo developed an Atrial Flutter
as a result of scar tissue from her open heart surgery. With a heart rate of 230 bpm she was again rushed by air ambulance to Sick Kids, where the flutter was diagnosed and treatment began. Using electrical cardioversion to restore her heart rate and rhythm to a normal rate she was prescribed with a powerful drug to keep it under control. After a week in Sick Kids she returned home.
After Eight long months, countless trips to Sick Kids, over 80 days in the hospital, and thousands of dollars of exotic drug therapy, we have ended up where we were all afraid of ... that Melo has had to undergo her second open heart surgery. This Open Heart "Maze" surgery was performed on April 16th, along with the implantation of a permanent pacemaker.
Update - Six Weeks After Surgery Melo is doing really well, and is quickly rebouding from her treatment. Doctors have stopped her twice daily injections, and this is a huge step in returning to a more normal life. Other oral drugs will continue for a few months and she will need regular trips to the pacemaker clinic, however everyone feels much better about her condition. We will post more updates from time to time.
You can also scroll to the bottom of the page and leave a comment using your facebook account. Melo will be excited to hear from you.
But last September Melo developed an Atrial Flutter
as a result of scar tissue from her open heart surgery. With a heart rate of 230 bpm she was again rushed by air ambulance to Sick Kids, where the flutter was diagnosed and treatment began. Using electrical cardioversion to restore her heart rate and rhythm to a normal rate she was prescribed with a powerful drug to keep it under control. After a week in Sick Kids she returned home.
After Eight long months, countless trips to Sick Kids, over 80 days in the hospital, and thousands of dollars of exotic drug therapy, we have ended up where we were all afraid of ... that Melo has had to undergo her second open heart surgery. This Open Heart "Maze" surgery was performed on April 16th, along with the implantation of a permanent pacemaker.
Update - Six Weeks After Surgery Melo is doing really well, and is quickly rebouding from her treatment. Doctors have stopped her twice daily injections, and this is a huge step in returning to a more normal life. Other oral drugs will continue for a few months and she will need regular trips to the pacemaker clinic, however everyone feels much better about her condition. We will post more updates from time to time.
You can also scroll to the bottom of the page and leave a comment using your facebook account. Melo will be excited to hear from you.
Organizer
Susan Sieber
Organizer
Port Carling, ON
