First of all thank you for your time in reading what I have to say. I know you have many tasks, but I would appreciate your time and consideration in this matter. Sam and Amanda Deason is living anything but a dream. This current situation has opened my eyes to a need that can and could be prevented with your help. Please allow me to explain.
Indy was only eight days when she went into heart failure. Her pediatrician immediately intibated her and she was life flighted to Shreveport. There, under the hands of wonderful physicians, she was diagnosed with a coarctation of the aorta. She was life flighted again to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Four days later, baby Indy underwent heart surgery to repair her defect. She has a loving family. Her mother is a nurse and knew something was not “right”. I call it mother’s instinct. Whatever you want to call it, it helped to save her life. I have to question myself though. How many would not be so lucky? I will give you the statistics.
According to the children’s heart foundation, nearly 40,000 babies or 1 in 100 is born every year with a congenitial heart defect (CHD). This is an alarming number. What is even more alarming, is the number that is undiagnosed that is sent home. How can we know that we are sending “healthy” babies home? Baby Indy showed no signs of distress prior to leaving the hospital. With a heart defect like the coarctation of the aorta, it will not show signs of concern until the patent ductus arteriosus closes around five days of life. By then it could be too late. How can we correct this?
We cannot take the defect away, but we can help identify the concern. How? Indy’s Law. With Indy’s Law every newborn would have an echocardiogram prior to leaving the hospital. Potentially saving their life.
We need your help. I understand this is only a start, but without it another baby is born and may go home unknowingly with a CHD.
Baby Indy is currently recovering from surgery in Dallas. Expected hospital stay is one month.
Thank you,
Carriston Hendricks, RN, BSN and family of Baby Indy.
February 27, 2016
