Motherhood can be a whirlwind of a journey, travelling through incredible joy, laughter, tears and sometimes heartbreak, as we watch our babies grow and develop into the people they will become. For one Heart Hero, the road to motherhood was an unexpected bump in her journey with CHD.
Jodi Herron had been told that she should not think of getting pregnant- that she would have difficulty conceiving and it would put her life at risk. Jodi was diagnosed at 20 hours with Tricuspid Atresia, a congenital heart defect that occurs when the valve between the right ventricle and right atrium doesn’t develop, meaning the blood returning from the body into the right atrium cannot enter the right ventricle. Jodi’s diagnosis is a bit of a miracle in itself, since her mother noticed she was bluish and pushed for the doctors to take a closer look at the baby. A heart catheterization diagnosed her condition, and Jodi had her first heart surgery a few months later.
Jodi would undergo three surgeries before her third birthday, but was lucky to spend the next twenty-two years without any complications. “I was very blessed to go that long without any interventions,” Jodi states, adding that she has had seven or eight heart catheterizations over the years as part of her annual cardiology checkup. In 2011, Jodi underwent a Fontan reversal, because she had an enlarged right atria. The procedure basically removed the right side of her heart that had been “built” during the Fontan surgery she’d had when she was younger. Jodi has a pacemaker currently, which is in use 99% of the time (to regulate her heartbeat). A heart transplant is a possibility for Jody down the road, but right now she is doing well.
Growing up with CHD, Jodi wanted a chance at the most normal life she could have. She was tired a lot of the time, but tried to be normal. “It was hard sometimes. People still don’t understand- they think you look so healthy, how could something be wrong with you? You’re too young to be tired… Unless you’ve been there, you just don’t get how hard it can be.” It was tough for Jodi to realize that sometimes she couldn’t keep up. Jodi’s strength has kept her going, however- through school, work, and family life. CHD had social and academic impacts for Jodi- she was held back during school and nearly 19 when she graduated. She
In early 2014, an especially painful ear infection sent Jodi to the emergency room. The medical team wanted to do a CT scan and asked about pregnancy. Not considering it a possibility, Jodi almost signed a waiver to do the CT scan, but instead went ahead with the test to be safe.
That was the moment Jodi’s entire world shifted. When the first test came back positive (pregnant), she was in disbelief and demanded a retest. Still positive – still pregnant. Jodi was so confused- she didn’t know whether she should be happy or scared or what to feel. The doctors had told her she’d never have a chance at pregnancy. Jodi was on medications that could damage a growing fetus and looks at the trip to the ER as God’s intervention so she could find out and take measures to prepare for this incredible, life-changing event.
When doctors explained the risks of continuing the pregnancy, including risks to Jodi’s life, they offered terminating the pregnancy as an option. Jodi knew that her pregnancy was a blessing, so that was not an option for her to consider. It was a very emotional decision for Jodi. She was tormented by worries and what-ifs. Was she being selfish? What if the baby has CHD?
“God knows the desires of the heart and I knew what the right decision was.” Jodi’s decision was a risky one. Pregnancy in someone with Tricuspid Atresia is very rare and Jodi had a high risk of dying. Jodi sought out specialists to care for her during her pregnancy and she found a high-risk OB-GYN in Detroit to take her case. The medical team supported Jodi’s decision to continue the pregnancy, which was an important part of Jodi’s shift in medical care. “You want your doctor standing behind you, supporting your decision.”
Jodi’s lifelong cardiologist did the baby’s anatomy scan at 20 weeks. Jodi remembers feeling nauseous during the procedure. “It was a very emotional moment,” Jodi recalls. “Am I selfish for doing this? What am I putting this baby through?” However, Jodi’s faith helped her to remember that no matter what came her way, she needed to take it day by day. When she saw all four chambers of her baby’s heart, she broke down with tears of joy. Jodi only has two chambers in her heart, and to see the whole heart was an unreal moment.
Jodi’s pregnancy went well and actually better than the doctors had anticipated. “It wasn’t until I had her in my arms that I knew it was real.” Ryleigh Grace was born on October 31, 2014, with no complications and no heart issues.
Jodi has wanted to have a little girl of her own ever since she was a little girl. “I told my mom I wanted to have the same relationship with my own daughter that we did.” Jodi and her mom, Tammy, are very close and this Mother’s Day will mean so much to them both. Now that she is a mom, things are different for Jodi. She has someone to live for. She has a totally different perspective on life. Motherhood wasn’t a place that Jodi expected to find herself, but she embraces each and every day of it and thanks God for the opportunity to realize this dream. A mother’s love has a special power and Jodi’s beautiful baby is proof of that love.
“I am a mom. I look in the mirror and say it to myself. It’s something I never dreamt could be a reality in a million years.”