Harper Lynn's Journey
Spende geschützt
Meet my first grandchild, Harper – daughter to my son, Brandon, and his wife, Chyna.
At 20 weeks in mama’s belly, Harper was diagnosed with rare heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot. Tetralogy is a combination of four different defects, which would need open-heart surgery to repair. Thankfully, due to prenatal diagnosis Harper was closely followed in utero. As the months passed; inching closer to Harper’s due date, she was diagnosed with two more congenital heart defects (CHD): MAPCAS/collaterals and pulmonary atresia, requiring pulmonary reconstruction (full repair).
Harper’s first surgery was expected to take place around 6 months old; however, knowing the potential complications around Harper’s condition her parents traveled to the experts so she may be evaluated at delivery – and we are so thankful they did. Dr. Frank Hanley and his Pulmonary Reconstruction Team at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford saved my granddaughter’s life.
Harper was born April 29, 2020 and quickly became marginal – she had emergency aortopulmonary (AP) window surgery at 3 days old. The surgery went well; however, Harper did not recover as expected. She was losing weight, and unable to come off of cardiac support medicine.
According to Dr. Hanley, approximately 10% of all children who undergo AP window surgery will need full pulmonary reconstruction prior to 6 months of age. Unfortunately, this 10% now included Harper. The surgery she wasn’t supposed to have until 6 months old was scheduled for May 22, 2020. The evening of May 21, Harper went septic. This prevented the surgeon’s ability to complete the full repair. Harper was too sick and needed medical intervention, despite no longer being a candidate for full repair. After much deliberation, the surgical team decided to tighten her AP window (her original surgery).
The surgery to tighten the AP window was successful. It took just under a week for Harper’s levels to regulate and fight sepsis. Best of all, she conquered her full repair surgery at just 4 weeks old, on May 28, 2020!! Dr. Hanley and his surgical team mended Harper to have a nearly perfect heart.
“Though she be but little, she is fierce.” We call her our Warrior Princess because she has overcome and accomplished SO much in her life so far. It is expected that Harper will need 4-5 more surgeries in her lifetime. We anticipate she will face those surgeries with the same resilience.
This obviously has caused (and will continue to cause) quite an emotional and financial strain on this new family – especially with this all occurring during the COVID Pandemic. We are seeking any support to help with her current and future medical expenses, along with other travel and living expenses.
Thank you
At 20 weeks in mama’s belly, Harper was diagnosed with rare heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot. Tetralogy is a combination of four different defects, which would need open-heart surgery to repair. Thankfully, due to prenatal diagnosis Harper was closely followed in utero. As the months passed; inching closer to Harper’s due date, she was diagnosed with two more congenital heart defects (CHD): MAPCAS/collaterals and pulmonary atresia, requiring pulmonary reconstruction (full repair).
Harper’s first surgery was expected to take place around 6 months old; however, knowing the potential complications around Harper’s condition her parents traveled to the experts so she may be evaluated at delivery – and we are so thankful they did. Dr. Frank Hanley and his Pulmonary Reconstruction Team at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford saved my granddaughter’s life.
Harper was born April 29, 2020 and quickly became marginal – she had emergency aortopulmonary (AP) window surgery at 3 days old. The surgery went well; however, Harper did not recover as expected. She was losing weight, and unable to come off of cardiac support medicine.
According to Dr. Hanley, approximately 10% of all children who undergo AP window surgery will need full pulmonary reconstruction prior to 6 months of age. Unfortunately, this 10% now included Harper. The surgery she wasn’t supposed to have until 6 months old was scheduled for May 22, 2020. The evening of May 21, Harper went septic. This prevented the surgeon’s ability to complete the full repair. Harper was too sick and needed medical intervention, despite no longer being a candidate for full repair. After much deliberation, the surgical team decided to tighten her AP window (her original surgery).
The surgery to tighten the AP window was successful. It took just under a week for Harper’s levels to regulate and fight sepsis. Best of all, she conquered her full repair surgery at just 4 weeks old, on May 28, 2020!! Dr. Hanley and his surgical team mended Harper to have a nearly perfect heart.
“Though she be but little, she is fierce.” We call her our Warrior Princess because she has overcome and accomplished SO much in her life so far. It is expected that Harper will need 4-5 more surgeries in her lifetime. We anticipate she will face those surgeries with the same resilience.
This obviously has caused (and will continue to cause) quite an emotional and financial strain on this new family – especially with this all occurring during the COVID Pandemic. We are seeking any support to help with her current and future medical expenses, along with other travel and living expenses.
Thank you
Mitorganisatoren (3)
Becky James
Organisator
Mesa, AZ
Brandon Fields
Spendenbegünstigte
Chyna Fields
Mitorganisator