JOVI's 1st Birthday Donation

For Jovi's first birthday, in lieu of traditional gifts, we are asking for donations to support the Children's Heart Foundation. Jovi is fortunate enough to have a surplus of clothes and toys so we feel it would be extra special to donate to a charity that is close to our hearts.

Jovi was born with pulmonary valvular stenosis, which means the valve that pushes oxygenated blood to the lungs was too narrow. As a result, she was not receiving an adequate supply of oxygen. She was transported to the NICU at Sunrise Children's Hospital where she waited to have surgery to widen the valve. The surgery she had is called a valvuloplasty. During this surgery, a catheter is inserted into the valve of the heart and a small balloon on the end of the catheter is inflated to break up the thick wall of the valve. This expands the width of the valve to allow more blood flow.

While she was in the NICU waiting for surgery, she received PGE (Prostaglandin), which is a medication used to keep the PDA (ductus arteriosus) open. The PDA is an opening that is only present in babies. It closes within 3-10 days after a baby is born. While the PDA is open, it acts as a back door passageway to carry oxygenated blood away from the heart. Since her pulmonary valve was so narrow, her body was relying on the PDA to help her breathe. Without the PGE medication she received, the PDA would close, making it impossible for her to get enough oxygen.

We had an excellent team of doctors and nurses and could not be more grateful for the level of care they provided. Everything went incredibly well and Jovi is happy and healthy. We wish to support the Children's Heart Foundation in hopes that other children experiencing varying forms of heart disease are as fortunate as we have been.