Nova’s Heart Journey

Support for Baby Nova’s Heart Journey 

Follow on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/61565912015227/ 

Nick, Nikki, and big brother Zander found out during a routine 20 week ultrasound that there was something wrong with their baby’s heart. A fetal echo confirmed that the diagnosis was Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV), a heart defect where both the pulmonary artery and aorta connect to the right side of the heart, along with coarctation of the aorta, a small mitral valve, two superior vena cavas, and multiple holes in her heart.

They received a beautiful baby girl named Nova on September 16th at 2:39 AM.

At 5 days old, Nova was scheduled for a two-part surgery. Soon after the surgery, Nova’s heart began to struggle. The medical team quickly performed a cath lab procedure and discovered that her coronary artery had also grown in the wrong place and the pulmonary band they had placed was restricting blood flow to the heart. Surgeons took her back into the OR for a series of emergency procedures to remove the band, reconnect the coronary artery in the correct place, and stabilize her.

After 24 hours of surgeries, Nova’s heart and body had endured a lot of stress so she was placed on ECMO, a machine that pumps blood out of her body, oxygenates it, and then pumps it back in, giving her heart a chance to heal. Thankfully, there appears to be no damage to her brain or other organs at this time but her little heart has some damage. We pray that given the rest it needs, it will heal itself.

As Nova continues to fight and heal, we ask for your support on this long road—whether through thoughts and prayers or a donation to help with medical bills during what will likely be a longer stay than anticipated with additional surgeries before going home to get stronger for the bigger surgery that will address the main defect, DORV.

We are grateful and appreciative of all the love and support we’ve received so far.

Please consider donating if you’re able, and if not, please offer prayers and share this message.

With love and gratitude,

Aunt Juju (Nick's sister), on behalf of Nick, Nikki, Zander, and Baby Nova