From London to New York: A Community Comes Together to Save a Baby

In London, England, a family faced a heart-wrenching situation. Their son had been diagnosed with a rare congenital condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome. This threatened the proper development of both his heart and his lungs, putting his life at risk.

"This is a rare and complex condition," explained Michael Gewitz, MD, WMCHealth Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations and Physician-in-Chief of WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. "It affects a key valve in the heart that regulates blood flow to the lungs. Without a functioning valve, the blood vessels coursing through the lungs can become enlarged, squeezing the airways and making it harder for the baby to breathe and for their lungs to develop normally in addition to causing the heart itself to improperly develop and function."

Grappling with a dire prognosis, which would likely involve prolonged and, perhaps, lifelong respiratory support, the parents refused to give up hope. Centers in London did not offer the baby an option for care as surgery to correct the issue was complex with low chances of success, but the parents were determined to find a hospital willing to give their baby a fighting chance at life, no matter the odds.

"We were contacted by Refuah Helpline, a referral service that, among other things, connects families with children facing major medical problems to advanced care centers," recalled Dr. Gewitz. "They recognized our hospital's experience with partnering with families and healthcare providers from around the world to ensure every child receives the best possible treatment."

The dedicated doctors, surgeons and nurses at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital readily accepted the case.

The boy and his family flew across the Atlantic Ocean to Westchester County, New York, where he underwent successful heart surgery at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. The procedure was performed by Sameh Said, MD, Chief of the Section of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiac Surgery, who specializes in repairing congenital heart defects in children, including the most complex abnormalities. With the help of the children’s cardiovascular team, Dr. Said successfully completed the surgery and improved the boy’s heart function, offering hope for a brighter future.

The hope is that with the heart defect corrected, his lungs will gradually improve, reducing his reliance on respiratory support which has been followed by the specialized pediatric pulmonary disorders team at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital

"Dr. Said and the rest of our team, with additional support from Refuah Helpline and members of the community, not only saved this child's life but also provided invaluable assistance to his family during an incredibly difficult time," remarked Dr. Gewitz. “When they had nowhere else to turn, we were there for them, and we’re thrilled by the successful outcome.”

While the boy's journey is far from over, his story demonstrates the power of community support and the dedication of medical professionals at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, like Dr. Said, the physicians and nurses of the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital operating rooms and pediatric intensive care unit who refuse to give up on even the most challenging cases.