Patient Stories Congenital Heart Center

Casey’s story: Bound by Marfan Syndrome, a Family Encourages Awareness

After a multigenerational diagnosis of a congenital heart defect, one close-knit Michigan family is committed to living life to the fullest. 

Breck’s story: Tiny Heart Repaired While Baby Still in Womb

How a critical heart defect — found in about 6 in 1,000 infants, and treatable in utero at just a handful of hospitals — was detected and treated, all before baby Breck’s birth

Rosie’s Story: Family Travels from L.A. to Ann Arbor for Baby’s Life Saving Heart Surgery

Couple shares their two-year journey, from a congenital heart defect diagnosis during pregnancy to seeking the best care for their now “daredevil” toddler Rosie.

Max’s Story: A Post-Surgical Nightmare Turned ‘Miracle’

Doctors say the results would have been catastrophic had the then 4-year-old receive heart surgery elsewhere.

Chloe’s story: a 5-year-old Buckeye fan with a maize and blue heart

Although Chloe cheers for Ohio State, her parents credit Michigan Medicine doctors for saving her life.

Ireland’s story: 4-year-old’s sudden cardiac arrest reveals life-threatening heart arrythmia

Ireland never showed any symptoms of her rare congenital heart condition until it caused her to collapse after playing outside.

Gus’ story: a seemingly healthy baby with a failing heart

Baby Gus appeared healthy, but further investigation revealed a congenital heart defect.

Breck’s story: Tiny Heart Repaired While Baby Still in Womb

How a critical heart defect — found in about 6 in 1,000 infants, and treatable in utero at just a handful of hospitals — was detected and treated, all before baby Breck’s birth.

Mira’s Story: Fetal Surgery for Hypoplastic Left Heart Surgery (HLHS)

A young mother learns her unborn baby has a serious heart defect and may not survive to birth. By bringing her to the Congenital Heart Center at Mott Children's Hospital, the baby, Mira, not only survived to birth but continues to thrive.

Ryleigh’s Story: Fetal Intervention Saves Ryleigh’s Heart

A fetal diagnosis and treatment gives baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and her family a head start on healing – and bonding.

 

Chino’s story: After Collapse at a Basketball Game, 7th-Grader Saved by Heart Transplant

Pediatric Transplant Week highlights the importance of organ donation for children like 12-year-old Chino, who can look forward to a healthy life, thanks to a new heart. 

Landyn’s story: A New Heart Lets First-Grader ‘Finally Act Like a Kid’

When a congenital heart condition went undetected at birth, one family was shocked to learn their 4-year-old needed a transplant. But today, he’s thriving. 

Madeline’s story: Healthy Tween Celebrates Her Transplant

As the anniversary of receiving her new heart draws near, a brave 9-year-old continues to enjoy her life like a typical kid.

Maddie’s Story: Heart Transplantation for Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (video)

After becoming ill at six months old, Maddie was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Just after her first birthday, she received a life-saving heart transplant. Eight years later, Maddie is still thriving.

Mariana’s story: Family Support Helps Baby and Parents Navigate Heart Failure and Transplant

Mariana Lizcano’s grandmother and health care team – the “unicorns,” as her sister says – were key to the two-year-old’s recovery. 

Matthew's story: Heartbeat Songs Offer Young Transplant Patient Special Gift

Music therapists create unique music based on the beat of a child’s first and second heart after a heart transplant. 

Rose’s story: A Heart Transplant for Christmas

After countless hospital stays and years of medical tests and drug therapies, a sixth-grader receives the best Christmas present of her life.

Landyn’s story: A New Heart Lets First-Grader ‘Finally Act Like a Kid’
When a congenital heart condition went undetected at birth, one family was shocked to learn their 4-year-old needed a transplant. But today, he’s thriving. 

Chino’s story: After Collapse at a Basketball Game, 7th-Grader Saved by Heart Transplant
Pediatric Transplant Week highlights the importance of organ donation for children like 12-year-old Chino, who can look forward to a healthy life, thanks to a new heart. 

Madeline’s story: Healthy Tween Celebrates Her Transplant
As the anniversary of receiving her new heart draws near, a brave 9-year-old continues to enjoy her life like a typical kid.

Maddie’s Story: Heart Transplantation for Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (video)
After becoming ill at six months old, Maddie was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Just after her first birthday, she received a life-saving heart transplant. Eight years later, Maddie is still thriving.

Mariana’s story: Family Support Helps Baby and Parents Navigate Heart Failure and Transplant

Mariana Lizcano’s grandmother and health care team – the “unicorns,” as her sister says – were key to the two-year-old’s recovery.

Matthew's story: Heartbeat Songs Offer Young Transplant Patient Special Gift
Music therapists create unique music based on the beat of a child’s first and second heart after a heart transplant.

Rose’s story: A Heart Transplant for Christmas
After countless hospital stays and years of medical tests and drug therapies, a sixth-grader receives the best Christmas present of her life.
 
 

Maren’s story: 13-year-old celebrates one year with a new heart

Maren Robinson was among a record number of 22 pediatric heart transplants performed at Mott in 2020.

Sullivan’s story: hybrid palliation allows critically ill baby to avoid heart transplant

Once on the heart transplant waiting list, the Michigan toddler’s heart now beats on its own.

Amelia’s story: Going the Distance to Save Amelia’s Life
Long-distance trips to treat their daughter’s congenital heart defect stretched the Lahti family — until Save A Heart stepped in. 

John-Daniel’s story: TAVR Heart Procedure Performed on a Teen, a Rarity 
Sixteen years after preemie twins were born at U-M, the tightknit family returned to Ann Arbor for a unique solution to a pressing heart problem.

Keaton’s story: 16-Year-Old Born With Half a Heart Gets Wish to Attend Masters PGA Tournament
A high school golfer with a severe congenital heart condition got his own Masters moment, thanks to Make-A-Wish Michigan. 
 

Mira’s Story: Fetal Surgery for Hypoplastic Left Heart Surgery (HLHS)
A young mother learns her unborn baby has a serious heart defect and may not survive to birth. By bringing her to the Congenital Heart Center at Mott Children's Hospital, the baby, Mira, not only survived to birth but continues to thrive.

Ryleigh’s Story: Fetal Intervention Saves Ryleigh’s Heart
A fetal diagnosis and treatment gives baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and her family a head start on healing – and bonding. 

Sofia’s Story: A Tiny Patient and Her Family Prepare to Heal
Cherub-faced Sofia was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. 

Tommy’s Story: All Heart Congenital Heart Center
Tommy Schomaker was born with "half a heart," but after five surgeries and with the care and support of a diverse team of professionals, it's blue skies and yellow suns ahead.
 
 

Valentina’s story: 2-year-old who spent 694 days at the hospital celebrates first Christmas at home

After a long, difficult journey with complex congenital heart disease, Valentina is making new memories with her family.

Maren’s story: 13-year-old celebrates one year with a new heart

Maren Robinson was among a record number of 22 pediatric heart transplants performed at Mott in 2020.

Ryleigh’s Story: Fetal Intervention Saves Ryleigh’s Heart
A fetal diagnosis and treatment gives baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and her family a head start on healing – and bonding.

Max’s Story: A Post-Surgical Nightmare Turned ‘Miracle’

Doctors say the results would have been catastrophic had the then 4-year-old receive heart surgery elsewhere. 

Casey’s story: Bound by Marfan Syndrome, a Family Encourages Awareness
After a multigenerational diagnosis of a congenital heart defect, one close-knit Michigan family is committed to living life to the fullest. 

Ruby’s story: Normalizing Congenital Heart Defects for Michigan Families
As their 16-month-old fourth child undergoes treatment for a complex heart condition, two parents find ways to help others on similar journeys. 

Brody, Kaine, Madeline & Thomas’ story: Four Miraculous ‘Little Victors,’ One First-Grade Classroom
Four youngsters in a tiny Michigan town each battled severe illness at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Now, they’re all in the same first-grade class. 

Landyn’s story: A New Heart Lets First-Grader ‘Finally Act Like a Kid’
When a congenital heart condition went undetected at birth, one family was shocked to learn their 4-year-old needed a transplant. But today, he’s thriving. 

Madeline’s story: Healthy Tween Celebrates Her Transplant
As the anniversary of receiving her new heart draws near, a brave 9-year-old continues to enjoy her life like a typical kid. 

Maddie’s Story: Heart Transplantation for Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (video)
After becoming ill at six months old, Maddie was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Just after her first birthday, she received a life-saving heart transplant. Eight years later, Maddie is still thriving. 

Chloe’s story: a 5-year-old Buckeye fan with a maize and blue heart

Although Chloe cheers for Ohio State, her parents credit Michigan Medicine doctors for saving her life.

Ireland’s story: 4-year-old’s sudden cardiac arrest reveals life-threatening heart arrythmia

Ireland never showed any symptoms of her rare congenital heart condition until it caused her to collapse after playing outside.

Brody, Kaine, Madeline & Thomas’ story: Four Miraculous ‘Little Victors,’ One First-Grade Classroom
Four youngsters in a tiny Michigan town each battled severe illness at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Now, they’re all in the same first-grade class. 

Nina’s story: Open-Heart Surgery at 4 Months Old
While 22 weeks pregnant, Fiona Linn learned her unborn daughter had a heart defect, requiring surgery. Here, she tells her family’s story. 

Rose’s story: A Heart Transplant for Christmas
After countless hospital stays and years of medical tests and drug therapies, a sixth-grader receives the best Christmas present of her life. 

Ruby’s story: Normalizing Congenital Heart Defects for Michigan Families
As their 16-month-old fourth child undergoes treatment for a complex heart condition, two parents find ways to help others on similar journeys. 

Mila’s story: Newborn Screening Catches Critical Heart Condition
Mila’s story highlights the importance of the 4-year-old mandatory statewide newborn heart defect screening program.

John-Daniel’s story: TAVR Heart Procedure Performed on a Teen, a Rarity 
Sixteen years after preemie twins were born at U-M, the tightknit family returned to Ann Arbor for a unique solution to a pressing heart problem.

Chino’s story: After Collapse at a Basketball Game, 7th-Grader Saved by Heart Transplant
Pediatric Transplant Week highlights the importance of organ donation for children like 12-year-old Chino, who can look forward to a healthy life, thanks to a new heart. 

Charlotte’s story: Little Victor from Ohio Celebrates ‘Dual Loyalties’ Before the Big Game
After their baby’s successful open-heart surgery at the University of Michigan, a family of longtime Buckeyes are glad to champion the Wolverines, too. 

Rosie’s Story: Family Travels from L.A. to Ann Arbor for Baby’s Life Saving Heart Surgery
Couple shares their two-year journey, from a congenital heart defect diagnosis during pregnancy to seeking the best care for their now “daredevil” toddler Rosie.

Charlotte’s story: Little Victor from Ohio Celebrates ‘Dual Loyalties’ Before the Big Game
After their baby’s successful open-heart surgery at the University of Michigan, a family of longtime Buckeyes are glad to champion the Wolverines, too.