The One Percent : Infants Born with Heart Conditions

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Disclosure : Thank you to Children’s Mercy Wichita for sponsoring this post and for providing quality medical services to our community of moms and their babies.

It is estimated that one percent of infants are born with heart problems. Not all of these infants will require immediate care or surgery, but for those who do, it is lifesaving. Fortunately for families in the Midwest, one of the top pediatric heart programs in the country is the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy.

Reputable Care

Children’s Mercy’s reputation for quality care attracts patients from as far away as the Philippines, with the majority coming from a five-state region in the Midwest. With an emphasis on research, clinical innovation and patient-centered care, the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy is transforming care for pediatric heart patients here and around the globe. This past year the team has expanded to include three full-time cardiologists based at Children’s Mercy Wichita :

Arpan Doshi, MD 
Unnati Doshi, MD
Louay Toni, MD

In addition to the day-to-day care that is provided to children with heart conditions, cardiology specialty clinics are also offered at Children’s Mercy Wichita. These specialty clinics include fetal cardiology, electrophysiology and preventive cardiology. All of these offerings allow families to stay close to home to receive the specialized care they need.

Success Stories 

Leni

Included in that one percent of infants born with heart conditions is local Wichita resident and toddler, Leni. Leni was born with a congenital heart defect that required her to have open heart surgery at six weeks old, followed by the installation of a pacemaker to keep her little heart beating fast enough. With the guidance and monitoring of Children’s Mercy, Leni, who loves to sing and dance, is able to keep up with her toddler peers.

Winston

Another cardiology success story includes Winston, a six month old baby boy from Buehler, Kansas. Winston was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome which means that his heart only has one pumping chamber instead of the usual two. Winston’s story was told through Inside Pediatrics, an Emmy Award-Winning documentary series that follows the medical journeys of families and the life-changing experiences that unfold at Children’s Mercy. In the film, you can see Winston’s second of three surgeries Winston will need in order to affectively rewire his heart.

“Through it all, it has been terribly hard,” Winston’s mom, Emily, said. “But God has been good.”

Nelijah

Nelijah is a 13-year-old athlete from Liberal, Kansas preparing for the fall sports season when his routine physical in Wichita resulted in a quick referral to Children’s Mercy Kansas City. It was there that cardiologists discovered a mass in his heart which required a sudden and urgent heart surgery. Viewers are able to experience it all through the Inside Pediatrics Documentary.

The second season of the series, narrated by Paul Rudd, is scheduled to air in December on KAKEland.

Air dates (at 6:30 p.m.) :

Wednesday, Dec. 16
Thursday, Dec. 17
Wednesday, Dec. 23
Thursday, Dec. 24

For more information, you can click on any of the links below.

Inside Pediatrics Documentary
Children’s Mercy Ward Family Heart Center
Children’s Mercy Wichita Cardiology Outreach Clinic

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2 COMMENTS

  1. My family is so grateful for Childrens Mercy. Leni is the daughter of my cousin and she is a true miracle. We came close to losing her several years ago but she is a fighter. She would not give up. Thank you Childrens Mercy for saving our angel baby girls life

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