On Mother’s Day 2017, Kaitlin and Michael welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Claire. The family went home from the hospital, excited to start their new lives together. At home, Kaitlin and Michael noticed that Claire was breathing heavily and acting abnormally fussy. They took her to her one-week check-up, where Claire was treated for colic, a common condition in newborns that is characterized by long bouts of crying. However, Claire’s condition continued to worsen. She was constantly crying and would not eat.
“As Claire’s breathing became shorter, her body temperature was cold, and her skin was turning gray. I knew there was something much more serious going on,” Kaitlin said, “Michael and I rushed her to the local clinic, where the doctor took one look at her and immediately called an ambulance.”
Claire was in respiratory distress. When Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived, they decided it was crucial for her to be airlifted from Uvalde to The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.
When Claire arrived at The Children’s Hospital, she had lost a pulse in her hands and feet. Dr. San Juanita Garza-Cox, neonatologist at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, worked quickly to stabilize Claire in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Dr. Nitin Madan, cardiologist at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, evaluated Claire’s heart.
She was diagnosed with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD), a congenital defect that causes a hole in the septum and an atrial septal defect (ASD), a congenital defect that causes a hole in the atria. Claire was also diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta, a narrowing of the aorta. As a result, the function in her kidneys and liver began to decline.
At just a little over two weeks old, Claire underwent surgery to repair her aorta and to patch her VSD and ASD. Claire’s surgery was successful, but recovery was a long and difficult road.
She spent several weeks recovering in the NICU, where she relied on a feeding tube and a breathing tube.
After about one month in the Hospital, Claire was finally released to go home.
On May 31 of this year, Claire and her parents celebrated the 2nd anniversary of her heart surgery. She starts swim lessons this week and loves to play outside. Her cardiologists do not expect little Claire to have any further issues with her heart.
The family welcomed a new addition this January, and Claire absolutely adores being a big sister. Because of donors like you, Claire was able to receive life-saving care. She can now focus on being the best big sister. We rely on your generosity, and we are so thankful for your support.
To learn more about how you can contribute to a child like Claire’s healing, visit ChildrensHospitalSAFoundation.org.
CHRISTUS Children's Foundation 
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