Mitchell’s Story
Please meet, Jo-Ann and Mitchell, my children. Jo-Ann is a heart healthy, typically hormonal 13 year-old and her brother Mitchell has just turned 10. They are noisy, playful, and funny; like most brothers and sisters, sometimes they fight a lot. They look like healthy mischievous growing children and for the most part, they are.
Mitchell however, has a congenital heart defect (C.H.D.), Pulmonary Atresia with Ventricular Septal Defect (V.S.D.). Because of his defect, Mitchell has already had one closed and two open-heart surgeries in order to live. This is Mitchell’s story.
In the picture that follows, Mitchell is 16 to 20 hours old. The photo was taken by a nurse at the maternity hospital just after he had been diagnosed with the congenital heart defect. He was being prepared for transport to Westmead Children’s Hospital by Newborn Emergency Transport Service (N.E.T.S.). What incredible people and dedicated health professionals, these people are. Less than 24 hours after this picture was taken, Mitchell had his first surgery. It was a closed heart procedure, which involved placing a shunt from Mitchell’s heart to his lungs, so that oxygen could circulate through his body. I have tended to explain it to people as a slight detour until road works were finished.
When Mitchell had his repair, the shunt was closed down, as its job was done.
This picture is Mitchell taken in 1998 he is 18 months old. It was taken 1 week after open-heart surgery, the repair for his Pulmonary Atresia and V.S.D.
What is Pulmonary atresia and V.S.D.?
Pulmonary Atresia is defined as a blockage of the pulmonary valve. This can mean a pulmonary valve that has not developed at all, or only partially developed. The pulmonary valve is the normal pathway for blood to travel from the heart to the lungs. This pathway or an artificial one is necessary for life.
In Mitchell’s condition, his pulmonary valve did not form at all. Each child’s condition is DIFFERENT even if their C.H.D. is the same. You must always check with your cardiologist for the full details of your child’s condition.
A Ventricular Septal Defect, V.S.D., is a hole between the two ventricles of the heart. There is also an A.S.D., which is a hole between the two atriums of the heart. What happens with the V.S.D. is that some of the blood mixes between the two chambers instead of going where it should. This in turn causes the heart muscles to work harder, which ultimately thickens the walls of the heart making it harder for the heart to work as effectively as it should. In some children, an A.S.D. and/or V.S.D. will correct itself without surgery. Again, let me repeat, each child is different before I go on to say that Mitchell’s V.S.D. was very large and required surgery for its closure. Mitchell’s cardiothoracic surgeon has been our angel on many occasions.
When Mitchell started Kindergarten, I scared. Mitchell had become particularly wary of people he did not know or see often; I thought school would be a nightmare for him. I could go into a whole world of completely unexplored emotion right here. The confusion, the dread, the hope, but I will not. I survived, kindergarten, first, second and third grade and now Mitchell is in fourth grade, a Gifted and Talented class, going strong; surviving and thriving.
Mitchell does have to have further surgery, and we like many other parents see Mitchell’s wonderful paediatric cardiologist every year, waiting to find out if this year, is the year. We have learned to ‘live’ with this, what choice do we have, yet at times, I almost feel that we have also triumphed over it. Each day is precious and for so many people they do not understand that, until sometimes it almost seems too late.
Words could never completely describe or help you to imagine what this situation is like for so many families facing these types of realities each day of their child’s lives, sometimes a life that is too short. This is just a fraction of our story, there is so much more.
So many families with stories of their own, Heartkids members and others are not. The stories on this website change, the children grow and more can be added, sorrow comes, joy and triumph. Heartkids will continue to add stories, providing the opportunity for all parents to tell of their wonder in their children. If you would like to be one of these families that tell their story please do not hesitate to get in touch through any of the means listed on the home page.
I thank you for reading my son’s story and if this has helped you in some way, I am glad. If my son’s story has touched your heart and you would like to know more about Heartkids, contact us. If you have some way you would like to help or if you would like to know more about our world of congenital heart defects and the way it affects the lives of many, I hope you will call.