Heart Hero Natalia

August 2021 HEART HERO OF THE MONTH
Story by Dynette C. Palomares

We received Natalia’s heart diagnosis at her anatomy scan at about 18 weeks and we were sent to be seen by a cardiologist for confirmation and to discuss treatment options. She was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a CHD comprised of four heart defects. We spent the next two months processing and researching, exploring our treatment options to give Natalia her best chance. Neither of our families had ever experienced CHD of this type, especially in a child. Open heart surgery was inevitable so we prepared ourselves for the next steps. At a later ultrasound, she was also diagnosed with duodenal atresia, a blockage in her intestines, also requiring surgery shortly after birth.

We made arrangements to relocate to Aurora, Colorado so Natalia could be treated at the Children’s Hospital. We stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, where we were able to meet other families receiving services at the Children’s Hospital. 

Our beautiful girl was born on January 7, 2020. At two days old, Natalia underwent her first surgery to repair the blockage in her intestines. She did great. We were discharged a few weeks later and remained at the Ronald McDonald House so we could be close by and continue with her follow-up care to monitor her heart at the Heart Institute. She required oxygen due to her heart condition but she was thriving, eating well and gaining weight.

As difficult as the first surgery was, heart surgery was still on the horizon so we continued to prepare ourselves. After several weeks of follow-ups and echocardiograms, Natalia’s team of surgeons determined that she needed to get her ToF repair done sooner rather than later. We received the call that she would be scheduled for heart surgery on February 19, 2020, at only one and a half months old. Overwhelmed with emotion, we knew that Natalia was in the best hands possible. We knew that we had done everything in our power to give her the best chance. Our families made arrangements to be with us during her surgery. 

Handing over Natalia the morning of her heart surgery was by far the most difficult experience of our lives. We prayed and we waited. While we had several months to mentally prepare ourselves for this moment, we were not prepared for the long road of recovery that our girl would have to undergo. Given her size and the extent of the surgery needed to complete the full ToF repair, Natalia had many ups and downs in the next few weeks. There were too many machines, connections, and medications to count. We remained hopeful at every step of the way. After surgery, Natalia experienced heart block and almost needed a pacemaker. Natalia had other plans – her heartbeat came back in full swing on Mom’s birthday (February 27, 2020), exceeding all expectations and giving Mom the best birthday gift. Doctors and nurses called her the little miracle of the CICU ward that morning. 

Little by little, the medications, machines, tubes, and wires went away. Natalia was released at the end of March 2020 to go home to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the first time. As her heart recovered, she needed to be oxygen until sometime in May 2020. We came home the same week that stay-at-home orders were put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic and quarantine requirements, we are extremely grateful that we were able to stay home for Natalia’s first year and a half. 

Having experienced pregnancy losses before Natalia, Natalia is our miracle rainbow baby who has shown us strength beyond measure. Natalia is a happy, strong and “sometimes” feisty one and a half-year-old who exceeds our expectations every single day. We hope to meet many more heart families and continue to support this community in any way we are able to.