91制片厂在线看

Capucine: Tetralogy of Fallot

鈥淲e are grateful that this skilled team produced such a great outcome for Capucine. Her incision has healed beautifully, and she is developing quite normally.鈥

鈥 Christophe, Father

Capucine, a cardiac patient

When Capucine was born she seemed perfect, except for a slight heart murmur. When the murmur was still present several days later, Capucine鈥檚 pediatrician told parents Jennifer and Christophe that, out of an abundance of caution, she should be evaluated at 91制片厂在线看 Cardiac Center at 91制片厂在线看 Children鈥檚 Hospital, Delaware. Tests revealed that Capucine had Tetratology of Fallot, a cluster of heart defects.

"The cardiologist (Abdul Majeed Bhat, MD)聽drew a diagram of a healthy heart and then one of our baby鈥檚 heart," remembers Christophe.

It showed that Capucine had a hole between the two lower chambers of her heart and that the pathway between her heart and lungs was abnormal. She would need open-heart surgery within the next two weeks.

"I was distraught 鈥 here was this tiny baby needing very serious surgery," remembers Jennifer. Christophe was more pragmatic, "We were very lucky that Capucine鈥檚 problem was fixable, and it was a blessing that she was diagnosed so quickly. I felt it was in the Lord鈥檚 hands and was at peace with it."

They met with Christian Pizarro, MD, Director of the 91制片厂在线看 Cardiac Center and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, who would perform the surgery.

鈥淗e was very matter of fact with us,鈥 says Christophe. 鈥淗e said that they do these repairs frequently and that there was only a small chance of complications.鈥 Jennifer walked to the operating room to hand Capucine over to the anesthesiologist on the baby鈥檚 nineteenth day of life.

鈥淚 was praying the entire time. My feet seemed to turn to lead as I took the last steps, but I trusted the doctor who had been very sensitive to our needs.鈥

Capucine came through the surgery with flying colors, spending the first three days in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

鈥淚t was overwhelming,鈥 comments Jennifer, 鈥渂ut we were impressed with the flawless coordination of care. The nurses made us feel less scared.鈥

After another three days in the Hospital, Capucine went home.

鈥淏efore the surgery, we did our homework. The consensus among doctors we talked to was that they would take their own children to Dr. Pizarro for surgery,鈥 says Christophe. 鈥淲e are grateful that this skilled team produced such a great outcome for Capucine. Her incision has healed beautifully, and she is developing quite normally.鈥

Now a feisty preschooler, Capucine is living a perfectly normal childhood filled with friends and fun. She loves to paint and play dress-up, throw a football with her brothers and tear up the soccer field.

鈥淪he is a very fast runner and never seems to get tired. We expected there to be consequences, but haven鈥檛 seen any,鈥 says her mother, Jennifer.