As a new mother, knowing your daugther was born with several medical issues; right ear hearing loss, fatty liver, hydronophrosis of kidney, and a congenital heart defect (atrial septal defect (ASD) - a hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers of your heart (atria) and a ventricular septal defect (VSD) - a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart) and had to undergo open heart surgery at 7 weeks old makes you really sit back and analyze life a bit more. Knowing my daughter was dependent on me making the right decisions for her but also knowing that the amazing doctors at Rush University Medical Center knew what needed to be done to allow for the best outcome helped set our mind at ease. I remember the doctor saying, "well, we will just stop her heart, put her on bypass, perform the surgery, take her off bypass, and she will be good as new very shortly" made my heart sink knowing what was in store for her. The confidence of the physicians and the support of the RUSH staff made for a more calming experience and I needed to trust in the doctors at this point.
As of today, 7/5/23, it has been exactly 4600 days since her open heart surgery. Today, she is thriving and living life like a normal 12 year old getting ready to go into 7th grade. She does continue to have her permanent hearing loss, Bradycardia (a slower than normal heart rate) a Heart Murmur (sounds — such as whooshing or swishing — made by turbulent blood in or near your heart) but is being followed closely by her Cardiologist.
Thanks to the amazing doctors at RUSH, my daughter can continue to lead a normal, active life.
I walk because I know that with every step, I’m making a difference in someone’s life, in my daughters life. When combined with a million other Heart Walk heroes across the nation, we have an even greater impact toward curing heart disease and stroke.
Your donation will fund groundbreaking research that literally keeps hearts beating and helps people have longer, healthier lives.
Have a heart and help me reach my goal today!
Cindy (& Gabriella) Quiles
