Hannah Gremmels Hannah Gremmels

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. Hannah Marie Gremmels was born Wednesday January 17th, 2018 at 6:35 am. Shortly after delivery it was clear something was wrong, as she wasn't crying and had a bluish color.  We initially thought she was having issues breathing due to excess fluid from the quick labor and delivery. The nurses took her away from us and put her on a ventilator. After about 30 minutes in isolation they told us they were thinking it was a heart defect. Her official diagnosis is Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). TGA is a heart defect where the Aorta and Pulmonary Artery are reversed. The oxygenated blood was being pumped back into her lungs, while the deoxygenated blood was returned to the rest of  her body. Hannah was transported from Maple Grove hospital to University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital where she had to undergo a procedure known as a Septostomy or "Rashkind" procedure. This is where the small opening in between the two chambers is made wider by threading a "balloon" through the hole, which allows the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix in the heart. For now, she is getting enough oxygen, but will have to undergo an open heart surgery to "flip" the two arteries. Surgery will take place on Friday January 26th. It has been a very emotional few days, but the good news is that this surgery is 99% successful and kids grow up to lead normal lives. 
In the NICU the nurses monitor her 24/7. Hannah has a team of people that keep very close eyes on her including cardiologists, hematologists, respiratory therapists, NP's, MD's, and a cardiac surgeon overseeing all the care leading up to her surgery. 
We ask that you keep Hannah in your prayers. We've got quite the road to recovery, but we are confident she will be just fine and home in our arms in no time.