Maggie Oksuita Family Support

At 31 weeks, Mitchell and Alyssa Oksuita found out their baby girl was going to be born with heart problems and would require surgery shortly after birth. Their care was transferred from Aspirus in Stevens Point to Meriter in Madison. On April 12th Alyssa was induced due to high blood pressure and on April 13th at 36 weeks, Margaret Monroe Oksuita (Maggie) was born at 5 pounds 7.5 ounces.

Within a few days, Maggie was stabilized and transferred to American Family Children's Hospital. On April 19th, at six days old, Maggie underwent a 9+ hour open heart surgery to repair the heart defects. This included; transposition of the great vessels (TGA), a ventricular septal defect (VSD), and her Aortic Arch was smaller than expected. The doctors closed the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and finally an atrial septal defect (ASD) repair. Four days later, Maggie underwent a second surgery to close her chest.

Mitchell and Alyssa regularly traveled back and forth from their home in Polonia, WI to Madison. The Oksuita family spent 45 days in Madison where Maggie recovered in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at American Family Children's Hospital. Maggie’s two older brothers stayed home with family during that time.

Breast milk was given through a tube in Maggie’s nose while in the hospital. To allow Maggie to go home, the doctors recommended a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) inserted through the belly that brings nutrition directly to the stomach. On May 25th, Maggie underwent an additional surgery to place the G-tube. Maggie was released from the hospital on May 29th.

Upon returning home, Maggie is encouraged to eat as much as possible through a bottle, and the remaining milk is administered via the G-tube. This allows Maggie to get stronger. Future surgeries are not expected, but the doctors will monitor her valves and ensure that her Arch grows with her. Maggie is expected to make a full recovery and lead a normal life.

We hope to ease the financial burden these health issues have placed on the Oksuita family.