Bridget's Open Heart Surgery Fund
July 2, 2008 our CHD Warrior Bridget Annemarie was born. Just 24 hours later Bridget was diagnosed with Truncus Arteriosus and we were told our baby would need open
heart surgery to survive. At just 5 days old Bridget had surgery and came home a few days later. We thank God everyday for the miracle she is. We thank all of the doctors and medical staff she has had through the years. Bridget has attended her annual cardiologist appointments and has been blessed to not need to be on medications or requiring any procedures over the last 12 years.
July 2019 Bridget was Granted a Make a Wish trip to London. There she got to celebrate her 11th birthday. A trip of a life time!
August 2019 we had a checkup with her cardiologist. We emotionally and mentally prepare for every appointment as we anticipate this is the time we will hear she needs surgery. After all tests are done we patiently wait for the results. The Doctor walks in the room and starts to explain...Bridget starts to get up set, “Do I need surgery?”. We have Bridget go to the waiting room and the Doctor tells us that it’s time to start preparing for surgery.
Bridgets' heart is working harder and harder everyday.
Bridget had to have a MRI and stress test done to evaluate how soon surgery needs to be. We were told that we need to decide how we want to go about having her valve replaced. Here are the options we were given:
A: Tissue valve which will deteriorate within 5-8 years and need to be replaces via open heart surgery again.
B: Mechanical valve which could last a lifetime. With a mechanical valve we run the risk of rejection. Bridget would also then have to be on anticoagulant medication for the rest of her life, and have to do blood work on a daily to monthly basis.
After doing some research and reaching out to other heart families with children with similar situations we came across another possible option.
C: Ozaki procedure, this allows the surgeon to use the patients own pericardium heart tissue to create new valves. There is no risk of rejection, short term medication, possibly minimally invasive, and valve doesn’t deteriorate. This procedure is offered at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. All results have been sent to Boston Children’s Hospital for a second opinion and we have been told Bridget would be a great candidate for this procedure.
As parent we want to be sure we choose the best option for her health and her future.
After speaking with Bridget's cardiologist and the surgeon in Boston we have decided to schedule surgery with Dr. Baird in Bostons Children's Hospital.
As we prepared for surgery in early April, the COVID-19 pandemic struck our country and everything was on hold along with Bridget's surgery. Bridget had prepared mentally and emotionally for weeks. She was ready to go, then just one week prior to her surgery date we were told her surgery was going to be
postponed. As the weeks went by Bridget got more upset and thought its never going to happen. She was worried that her summer, Birthday, and the beginning of the new school year would be ruined.
As things are starting to open up surgeries are starting to be rescheduled. We got the call and her new
surgery date is JULY 7th! This is exactly 12 years to the day from her first open heart surgery. This is a sign for sure that ALL is going to be OK.
We were told that Bridget will be in the hospital for 1 week post surgery as long as all goes well. She then will be home for 1 week for recovery. We know she will do amazing just as she did the first time.
We look forward to her feeling better and not feel the daily struggles of her heart working extra hard.
Bridget hopes that her family and friends will come visit her while she is in recovery at
home.
All funds raised will be used for any medical and travel expenses. All funds that exceed expenses will be put in a college fund and donated to the Cardiac Floor at Bostons Children's Hospital.
Thank you all for all your love and amazing support through all these years.
Love,
Bridget, Mom, Brennan, and the rest of Our Family