When my mom was six months pregnant with me, her obstetrician discovered an abnormal heart rhythm in utero, with a doppler. She sent my mom to specialists at Christ and Children’s Hospital for the rest of her pregnancy to monitor this arrythmia and perform ultrasounds. It was determined that I had frequent PAC’s (Premature Atrial Contractions) and once I was born my heart rhythm would hopefully return to normal.
A C-section was scheduled a week before my due date so my heart would not be stressed during a natural birth. When I was delivered at Mercy Fairfield an EKG was done right away and was abnormal. My heart rate was in the mid 200’s and I was given medication to help slow my heart rate but that did not work. Within an hour I was transported to Children’s Hospital by their critical care unit, where the cardiac electrophysiologist, Dr. Timothy Knilans, took over my care. He attempted a cardioversion on me twice, but both were unsuccessful. I was diagnosed with SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) and WPW (Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome) and started on the medication Sotalol twice a day to slow my heart rate. I spent a week at Children’s Hospital, half in the Cardiac ICU and half on the heart telemetry floor, being closely monitored and administered medication.
I continued to see Dr. Knilans and took Sotalol twice a day for six years. On September 18, 2014 at the age of six I had an SVT and WPW ablation performed to treat the abnormal electrical pathway. The procedure lasted four hours and was a success! After one year from my ablation, with no medication taken or abnormal heart rhythms Dr. Knilans released me from his care.
Since my release of Dr. Knilans I have been healthy, thriving as a senior in high school, and looking forward to continuing my education in the medical field. I have continued to have a relationship with Dr. Knilans which has helped me in looking into the medical field.
Also, within the last 8 months both of my grandpas have undergone bypass surgery. They are both with me today because of the research that has been done by the American Heart Association. We are “heart warriors” together.
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