Leo Adams

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place on Leo's journey.

 

When Alison was around 20 weeks pregnant, Leo was diagnosed with a heart condition known as "Transposition of the Great Arteries". This is a congenital heart defect that effects approximately 1 in 3,300 babies. There is no definitive cause, but they believe 90% of these cases occur randomly, with the mother having done nothing to cause it.

 

Transposition of the Great Arteries is the switch of the Pulmonary Artery, and the Aorta. These vessels attach to the opposite ventricle. This causes de-oxygenated blood to be moved to the body, as opposed to oxygenated blood that should move to the body.

 

Treatment is open heart surgery within the first 10 days of life. The procedure is called an Arterial Switch operation in which they just switch the two misplaced arteries. This surgery lasts approximately six hours. After surgery, he will spend about a month in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Duke Hospital.

 

Prognosis of these cases is extremely good. We are very fortunate that this condition was caught before birth, therefore we were able to find the best possible surgeon and hospital. These kids live a full happy life, with little to no subsequent treatment required (although he will continue to see a cardiologist for life).




We appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers, and continue to check back regularly for updates on Leo's progress!