Emma Valentine

Emma Valentine was born on March 12th to Cara and Darren Coleman. We knew for the majority of Cara's pregnancy that Emma was quite the unique baby. Emma has been treated since birth at Duke University Hospital. Her doctors determined early that she had four heart defects – it has no name but has been labeled as a “complex fetal cardiac anomaly”: a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hypoplastic aortic arch with coarctation, small left sided heart structures and a narrowed area under the aortic valve.

Dr. Turek (the chief of pediatric heart surgery at Duke University) and Dr Andersen operated on Emma''s heart when she was one week old. They ended up doing a procedure that doesn’t have a name... because this was the first time they had ever done it. Both Doctors did an incredible job and both caught things that the other surgeon didn’t. If they were both not in the room, Emma likely wouldn’t have made it through the surgery. We could not have asked for a better surgical team to take care of our girl. Emma's surgery lasted for a little over 9 hours. When Dr. Turek and Dr. Andersen sat down with Cara and Darren post surgery to discuss everything that happened, they asked them for permission to write a paper on Emma and this operation. They think that so many pediatric heart surgeons can learn from Emma's unique case!

Emma has been in the PCICU of Duke Hospital for the last couple of months. There were two quick trips home that ended quickly with Emma back at Duke. Due to the restrictions in place currently Cara and Darren are not allowed to be with Emma together. They are currently staying in a hotel near the hospital and splitting time with her. Right now one of the main concerns is for Emma's lungs and respiratory rate. Her time on the bypass machine post open heart surgery really has taken a toll on her body. She is currently stable and has been intubated again. The doctors are working on possible solutions and what steps should be taken next.

We are setting up this GoFundMe page to help with the financial burden all of this has put on Darren and Cara. They have not wanted help financially up until now but as the financial burden has gotten heavier they have agreed. The money that you generously give will go towards helping with medical bills,  likely in home care for Emma once she is home, hotel stays, food, gas, etc. Thank you all for your willingness to help the Coleman family through this difficult time. 

If you would like more details on Emma's journey (believe me there are a lot of them) you can visit the CaringBridge link below. Many parts of Emma's journey have been kept private. However, Darren and Cara have also stepped out of their comfort zone to share information with all of your because they covet your prayers and support during this hard time.

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emmavalentine