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When first-time parents, Ryan and Kristie Merklin, delivered their baby girl, Lauren, at Halifax Medical Center in Dayton Beach, she appeared to be healthy. She passed all the appropriate newborn tests and her excited parents were looking forward to taking her home.
However, thirty six hours later, Lauren wasn’t eating and looked noticeably different. Dr. Mary Lim, a neonatologist from Wolfson, was consulted and she diagnosed Lauren with a rare hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The left side of Lauren’s heart— including the aorta, aortic valve, left ventricle and mitral valve — was underdeveloped and when the ductus closed after birth, she was in grave danger. Her little heart was pounding, she appeared ashen, and was gasping for air. She needed to be transported to Wolfson immediately.
Kids Kare is Wolfson's mobile intensive care unit helping to save lives across northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
As soon as Kids Kare, Wolfson's mobile intensive care unit for critically ill infants and children arrived, Lauren went into cardiac arrest. Cardiac compressions were started immediately. Even though she didn’t have a heartbeat, her eyes were still open and our transport staff desperately continued their efforts. Finally there was a heartbeat and baby Lauren was rushed up I-95 to Wolfson’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
Dr. Marvin, a pediatric cardiologist, explained to her parents that Lauren would require a series of three heart surgeries to enable her heart to function. This series of operations would give her a chance at survival. The first surgery, referred to as the Norwood procedure, allows the right ventricle to pump blood to both the lungs and the body without the need for the ductus to be kept open. It was performed immediately. The second surgery, referred to as the Glenn procedure, was performed when Lauren was only three months. Necessary to reroute her pulmonary arteries in conjunction with the valves of heart, Lauren recovered well from the procedure and was sent home much earlier than expected. Her third heart surgery will take place sometime prior to her third birthday depending on her individual growth and progress. .
Lauren’s parents are confident in the abilities of the Wolfson staff and are hopeful that Lauren has a bright future. The Merklin family expresses their gratitude towards the Wolfson staff for their kindness, their educated knowledge, their encouragement during this difficult time….and for the transport team who did not give up on their infant daughter. |
