Aubrey Dirks Heart Journey
AUBREY DIRKS — BLESSING HER HEART ONE HEARTBEAT AT A TIME
Bless your Heart holds many meanings. For Aubrey Dirks every Breath she takes is a Blessing.
At 20 weeks pregnant during an ultrasound appointment, Matt and Rachel learned that the left side of Aubrey’s heart was smaller than the right. They were referred to a Cardiologist at Children’s Minnesota Heart Clinic. After another fetal heart echo/ultrasound, Aubrey was diagnosed with a rare heart defect known as Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR) in which the blood vessels that drain the lungs (pulmonary veins) are not connected normally to the heart. Children with TAPVR require surgery within two weeks of life to repair the problem to survive.
Matt and Rachel, with the help of Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis, made the preparations to deliver in Minneapolis so Aubrey could be assessed and monitored by the amazing medical staff at Children’s until surgery was scheduled. Aubrey Ann Dirks was born 1.18.21 at 3:32am and was able to spend a wonderful 10 mins cuddling with Mom and Dad before taken to Children’s Cardiovascular ICU for further assessment. Within the next couple hours, it was discovered that some of the draining blood vessels/ pulmonary veins were obstructed. This causes high blood pressure in the lungs (Pulmonary Hypertension) and quickly became a surgical emergency.
Aubrey had her 1st TAPVR repair surgery on 1.18.21 at 8:00 am. Surgery went well, and she returned from the OR on ECMO support (heart and lung bypass). The weeks that followed were quite the roller coaster ride. She was able to successfully wean off ECMO support, many blood pressure meds and even her ventilator support. Then, on 2.21.21 Aubrey experienced respiratory distress and had to be intubated for ventilator support once again. This seemed to be the start of her decline. On 3.8.21 at 4:50am Aubrey’s blood pressures dropped exceptionally low, they lost her pulse, and CPR had to be performed on two occasions. She was quickly rushed to emergency surgery to be placed on ECMO support until she would make the trip to the heart Cath lab on 3.10.21 to figure out more information. It was discovered that 3 out of 4 of Aubrey’s pulmonary veins had re-obstructed and the 4th had completely closed off. She would need a second heart surgery to repair the obstruction of the 3 remaining veins.
On 3.12.21 Aubrey had her second heart surgery. Surgery went well and she was checking the boxes on the recovery to do list rather quickly this time around until her pulmonary hypertension flared up on 3.22.21. Aubrey’s blood pressure fell dangerously low, and she required a high level of support to regain stability once again. She is currently continuing her fight, stable but in critical condition with still a very long road to recovery ahead of her.
Matt and Rachel, with all their Heart and with all their Faith, want to Thank everyone for the continued Prayers and outpouring Love and support they have received. For Aubrey’s medical team, Matt and Rachel could not be more grateful for all they have done and continue to do and for the loving care they give to Aubrey every day.
The Family of Matt and Rachel have set up this Go Fund Me account to help with the ongoing medical, lodging and gas expenses for Aubrey. Your loving contribution will be forever grateful. God bless you all.
