Chelsea Isbister and Family

My name is Cody and my girlfriend's name is Chelsea Isbister. We have a 2 year-old daughter named Olive.

My wife was born with Tetralogy of Fallot. She had surgery at 18 months old to correct it (here at RUH). After surgery, she was monitored yearly by a cardiologist in the pediatrics unit of RUH until age 18 (2009). When she became a patient of her current cardiologist, Dr PausJenssen, he ordered new tests, including an MRI, which she had never had before. At that time, there were no heart MRI machines in Saskatchewan, so we had to travel to Alberta. The MRI showed the expected pulmonary regurgitation but also showed a leaking mitral valve, which was not expected and is not a characteristic of Tetralogy of Fallot. 

Dr PausJenssen had always reminded us that another surgery would be needed in the future, but we were never quite there yet. Chelsea continued to be monitored yearly, and slowly the leaking valves got a bit worse each year. 

In late 2020, We found out we were expecting, and she was referred to a maternal fetal medicine specialist due to her pre-existing condition. The pregnancy was rough on mom, but went rather smoothly. Olive was born July 23rd 2021. She is our cutest little Egg!

In her third trimester, the cardiologist reminded her again that another surgery would be needed, and that we may be close to that point now. Pregnancy is hard on the heart. We soaked up the time with Olive and went about our lives as new parents and a family of 3. In August 2022 she received a transesophageal echocardiogram, where they put a camera down your throat to see your heart from the back. In November, Dr PausJenssen called and said that plans were in motion for the surgery for the next few months. 

Chelsea is now scheduled for double valve surgery for May 24th, 2023 at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. I am not yet 100% sure if the valves are to be repaired or replaced. Either way, she is looking at a recovery of at least 3 months just based on her job (serving/bartending). I, Cody, will have to take off, almost the same amount of time, as Chelsea will not be able to lift our daughter. The sternum needs time to heal. We have to travel to Alberta to have this surgery, as they do not do these types of surgery for congenital cases here in Saskatchewan anymore. Also, she will be in the hospital for 7 days after surgery and then in recovery for 4 months .