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Meet Joe
During an ultrasound at 20 weeks pregnant, Kari’s obstetrician noticed that the heart chamber of the baby appeared thicker than normal. The physician ordered additional diagnostic testing and concluded that the baby’s heart condition did not appear to require immediate intervention. The obstetrician requested that Kari deliver at The Birthplace at the University of Minnesota Medical Center (Riverside campus), which has a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric cardiologists on staff.
At 39 weeks, Kari delivered Joe. Because of the heart abnormality detected on Kari’s ultrasounds, Joe was referred to John Bass, M.D., a cardiologist at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. After extensive diagnostic tests, Dr. Bass determined that Joe had Scimitar syndrome. This rare, congenital defect caused Joe’s pulmonary vein to send oxygenated blood back into his heart, instead of to his right lung. If not treated, Scimitar syndrome can lead to high blood pressure in the lungs and heart failure. “Dr. Bass is just this amazing man,” says Kari. “He explained things thoroughly and created diagrams to help us understand what was going on. He made us feel so comfortable with what lied ahead with Joe, which involved surgery.”
In October 2008, Kari and her husband, Mike, brought 9-month-old Joe to University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital to have his heart repaired. James St. Louis, M.D., pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, performed the six-hour surgery. During the surgery, Dr. St. Louis cooled Joe’s body to 18 degrees, put him on a heart and lung bypass machine, and repaired his heart.
Joe recovered quickly and is now an active toddler who loves riding in his red wagon and spending time with his two older sisters. Kari says that the doctors expect Joe to have diminished capacity in his right lung, but a great long-term prognosis. “Dr. Bass told me that Joe won’t be an Olympic track star but he can still be on the track team,” says Kari.
“The benefit of receiving care at an academic teaching hospital is that you get so much information,” states Kari. “Honestly, everybody at the hospital was amazing. I wish I could’ve taken them all home with me!”
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