HEALTHY HABITS
SUCCESS STORY the Heart Warrior jordan
Jordan was welcomed into the world following a healthy full-term pregnancy and birth. He was deemed healthy during his newborn exam and at his early pediatric visits. Around 7 weeks of age, he began breathing rapidly, sweating profusely when eating and seemed to be struggling with breathing. A pediatric visit revealed he was not gaining weight despite frequent nursing. “My instincts told me something was wrong and that he needed to be evaluated in the emergency department at Rady Children’s,” recounts mom,
diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. Early discussions with Jordan’s cardiac team revolved around survival rates, heart transplant and lifelong medications,” Lauren says.
“What followed was many tests,
procedures, imaging, prolonged intubation and cocktails of medications to keep Jordan alive.” Several days later, doctors found an exceedingly rare congenital cardiac
Lauren. “We didn’t know just how sick he was or that we wouldn’t be leaving the hospital for the next month.” Within hours, the family got the devastating news that Jordan’s heart was significantly enlarged; he was in severe heart failure. “Initially we were given the
defect called Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA). It occurs in 1 in 300,000 live births, however, the anatomy in Jordan’s coronary arteries was so unusual his defect was even less common. Lack of oxygenated blood pumping to his heart muscle caused multiple heart attacks, resulting in weakening, enlargement and severe damage to his little heart. Jordan was critically ill and even simple movements created stress on his weakened heart. Drug-induced paralysis became necessary to reduce his metabolic demands. He endured a complex open-heart surgery six days after admission to Rady Children’s and underwent a second a few days later after the initial surgery revealed further surgical intervention was needed. “His body was so weak it was unable to sustain itself,” says Lauren. “He suffered cardiac arrest twice, requiring resuscitation, defibrillation and compressions for 30
HE SUFFERED CARDIAC ARREST TWICE, REQUIRING RESUSCITATION, DEFIBRILLATION AND COMPRESSIONS FOR 30 MINUTES. ECMO LIFE SUPPORT KEPT HIM ALIVE UNTIL HE BECAME STRONGER.
8 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE SPRING 2024
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