When I was 11 weeks pregnant, I was having a threatened miscarriage. I was devastated until ultrasounds showed a heartbeat and a perfect heart rate. At 17 weeks, I went into my doctor’s appointment excited to find out the gender of my baby. Although we found out he was a boy, the ultrasound tech was very, very quiet during the process and I later walked out knowing something I wish didn’t happen. My ultrasound tech, doctor, and cardiologist confirmed he had a severe Coarctation of the aorta and I thought, “That’s not true, my entire family has healthy kids. Doctors are just misdiagnosing me. They always do!” But it was true.

November 3rd, 2020, I carried him full term (39-week induction, 7lbs 6 ounces) to which I saw his little blue body being taken away seconds after the cord was cut. He met doctors and nurses before he and I had even properly met. The day after, he was wheeled off to the OR just 3 hours after my boyfriend and I welcomed him. The empty, vulnerable feeling is the worst pain I’ve ever felt but I’m very happy to say he’s now thriving! He weighs 17 pounds at 3 months and his cardiologist is very pleased with the way his heart looks. Not every CHD family gets to take their sweet baby home but I hope that one day, our tiny babies never have to experience such pain. My heart goes out to those who have lost their beautiful babies to this horrible disease.

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