My Daughter is one of those kids

It's amazing to think how many kids had zero chance because of something that is now considered a routine procedure... I know animal rights people will say differently but if even one kid's life is saved, all the testing and experimenting is worth it.



For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

Wow I had no idea Shaun White had Tetralogy of Fallot as in infant. It truly is amazing how medicine can give people a second life.

That is great to hear your daughter is doing well. I would just like to say that I myself was born with Tetrology of Fallot along with many other complications but 21 years later I am a healthy 21 year old. I feel that me and your daughter both owe our lives to both Dr. Blaylock and Mr. Thomas. Glad to know there are others out there, more importantly others who have survived. Well glad to hear of your story maybe we can even keep in touch, my email if you want is [email protected]. Oh and not sure if you or your daughter would be interested but there is a Camp for children with heart conditions ages 7-18 called Camp Del Corazon, I feel you would be happy to look into that. I felt that camp helped me a lot and was also fun experience to meet other with heart conditions. Well once again it was nice to meet you and here is a link to the camp website. http://www.campdelcorazon.org/

~Jenna

I was born with a hole in my heart (ventricular septal defect) and had open heart surgery as a child to correct this. My condition made my heart inefficient, but not to the extent that I was a blue baby. My surgery was more straightforward than that depicted in the movie: they basically just sewed up the hole. (for larger holes they sometimes have to put a patch to cover the hole, or did back then). I do remember seeing a blue baby while at the hospital for a follow-up.

It is amazing that they made such gains so that those of us born with heart defects can get these corrected and live long healthy lives!

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

I was also born with Tetralogy of Fallot back in the mid-sixties. I had the Blaylock-Taussig Shunt perfomed on me when I was only 3 years old. Back then, the University of Tennessee Medical Center performed this type of procedure for folks living in my area. My surgeon, Dr. Hu Blake, was also a pioneer in open heart surgery. It was only a temporary fix as I had a permanent repair a few years later. I've never had another issue and have lead a full life, attending college, marrying, and having children. I saw this movie about 3 years ago while I was working out on an eliptical machine. When the movie came to the scene of little Eileen Saxon lying in bed with the blue hue to her lips and skin, a whole flood of emotions came over me. I remember looking very similar to this when I was a child. I was very surprised to be overwhelmed with emotions like this (as I am now when I write this). I am so fortunate to still be here as I am approaching my 50's. Thank you to the work of Dr. Blaylock, Mr. Thomas, Dr. Taussig, and Dr. Blake. This is a must-see movie.