Never Going it Alone
Elsa Gabriela Mitre López looked forward to becoming a first-time mother. At age 36, she knew pregnancy could come with additional considerations, and she was excited about the future.
Because of her age and a history of uterine fibroids, Elsa's pregnancy was considered high risk, and she was referred for specialized maternal-fetal care.
About six months into her pregnancy, Elsa learned her baby had a congenital heart defect known as transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with an intact ventricular septum. This condition is especially serious because the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed, limiting the body's ability to circulate oxygen-rich blood effectively.
“Everything was a whirlwind; the news about baby Isaac was difficult to take, and I had to mentally prepare myself for whatever may happen,” she said.
Her maternal-fetal medicine specialist told Elsa that her baby would need highly specialized cardiac care after birth. She was referred to CHRISTUS Children’s where a multidisciplinary team helped coordinate the care Isaac would need immediately after delivery.
Elsa and her care team carefully planned for her C-section when she contracted COVID-19 in January 2022.
“Coming down with COVID-19 was not in the plan, but it did give my baby more time to grow,” said Elsa.
After recovering from the virus, Elsa’s delivery was rescheduled. Because her son was born during a significant COVID-19 surge, she faced the experience largely on her own inside the hospital. Despite the challenges, she remembers the support she received from loved ones over the phone and from the team at CHRISTUS Children’s.
“I was looking forward to Isaac being born, but at the same time, I had this feeling in my head that I needed to prepare myself for getting the baby healthy. So, I kept telling myself I had to be here – to be present and patient to get him to a good place,” said Elsa.
Before she knew it, Isaac had arrived. Although she had prepared herself for the possibility that she might not hear him cry because of his heart condition, she watched as the care team immediately stepped in to help stabilize him and support his breathing.
When she first saw Isaac, he was in an incubator with a breathing tube and receiving medication to keep him comfortable. For any parent, especially a first-time mother, it was an overwhelming moment.
Elsa knew Isaac would need medical intervention almost immediately after birth. Throughout her pregnancy, the care team had prepared her for the procedures and treatments he would need. His repair would be completed in stages. The first stage involved a catheter-based procedure to help improve blood flow and allow time until he was strong enough for surgery.
“I had watched videos and done all the research about the procedure before Isaac was born. Finally, I was beginning to feel some peace about the situation and had faith that he would be OK,” she said.
As Isaac grew stronger, he became ready for heart surgery. Specifically, he would need a conduit, or tube, implanted to help manage blood flow. The surgery lasted nearly 12 hours.
“It was touch-and-go, but I had confidence in the doctor and the rest of Isaac’s care team at CHRISTUS Children's,” said Elsa.
Slowly, Isaac made progress, and plans were eventually made for him to go home. In total, he spent 73 days in the hospital.
Since returning home, Isaac has continued to surprise his family. He is off his medications, requires fewer follow-up appointments and is reaching developmental milestones appropriate for his age.
As for his long-term outlook, Elsa knows additional procedures may be part of Isaac’s future care. She remains confident in the specialized team that continues to support him at CHRISTUS Children’s.
In addition to caring for Isaac, the team also provided support and encouragement to Elsa throughout her journey.
“Being alone was hard, but I always felt like I had someone around. The team at CHRISTUS Children's was so supportive of me and embraced me almost like family,” said Elsa.
Elsa is particularly grateful to Dr. Sowmya Mohan, who provided words of comfort during some of her most difficult moments.
“She just knew what to say and when, and it would lift my spirits, and I was able to carry on and be a good mom to Isaac,” said Elsa.
She is also thankful for the team of nurses who offered a shoulder to cry on when she needed it most. They consistently reassured her that she was never alone. Elsa was especially grateful for the chaplain completing her internship at CHRISTUS Children’s who regularly visited and prayed with her.
“The team at CHRISTUS Children's was so good to us, and I will always be grateful for everything they did for us – especially as a first-time mom,” said Elsa.
To learn more about care available at CHRISTUS Children’s and our pediatric heart care services, visit our website.