Alyssa Dunkle
Before she was even born, physicians detected a problem with Alyssa’s heart at just five months’ gestation. Delivered at Baptist Medical Center, Alyssa was taken directly to the NICU at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
After 21 days in the NICU, Alyssa was able to go home. At her three-month check-up, Alyssa’s mom was told she would need open heart surgery. Weighing only 8 lbs., Alyssa was very sick.
After surgery, Alyssa progressed every day and was able to go home after just 3 weeks. She did fine until she was 3 years old, and it was time for more repair. Again, Alyssa progressed well and was released after 3 weeks.
At the age of 7, Alyssa had her 3rd and (hopefully) final heart surgery. This was the hardest for her, when she spent 7 weeks in the hospital.
She always had blue fingers and toes, but after this last surgery, they were a pretty shade of pink!
