Eugene Russell

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Eugene was born June 24th, 2016.  He was diagnosed postnatally with multiple CHDs and was transferred to Advocate Children's Hospital Oak Lawn.  He had his first open heart surgery at 6 days old.  Eugene was born with the following conditions; Taussig-Bing type double outlet right ventricle, Interupted Aortic Arch,  Ventricular Septal defect, and dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries.  His initial surgery was successful and was discharged just 11 days later.  Eugene went home and continued to thrive for the next several months.


In October Eugene went in for a cardiac cath procedure but complications arose afterwards and he had to be admitted.  It was at this point that we discovered he would go on to have these unexplained episodes that made us and his Drs. very nervous.  In January Eugene had a major episode at home where the paramedics came and he was transferred to Advocate again.  He was closely monitored after getting discharged but it was found at a cardiologist appointment that he had diminished left ventricle function.  


Eugene had his 2nd open heart surgery on March 16 and was unable to come off bypass and was moved to ECMO support.  He was transferred to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee 8 days later for transplant evaluation.  He was listed at the highest status on April 5. Eugene is now supported by Berlin VAD device allowing him to rehabilitate while he waits for a new heart.