Jay's Journey...

Much of this blog content is written about our journey through the world of congenital heart defects (CHD).  Just check out the number of posts in March 2008 and August 2010!  Here's the short version...


  • March 7, 2008 - Jay was born at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC
  • March 8, 2008 - diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta; transported via LifeFlight to Duke Children's Hospital
  • March 11, 2008 - surgery to repair coarctation
  • March 15, 2008 - took Jay home for the first time
  • March 22, 2008 - brief return to Duke for difficulty breathing and feeding; returned home the following day

(Lots of happy, healthy time with good cardiology reports!  Baby brother Luke born Feb 2010.)



  • June 9, 2010 - routine cardiology visit shows significant mitral valve stenosis and mitral regurgitation.  Begin plan for mitral valve repair/replacement.
  • June 10, 2010 - went to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte for 3D echo and surgical evaluation.  Surgery scheduled for 6/29/10.  Requested second opinion from surgeon at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
  • June 25, 2010 - made decision to pursue surgery at CHOP; surgery scheduled for August 11.
  • August 8, 2010 - traveled to Philadelphia for pre-surgery consultation and testing
  • August 11, 2010 - mitral valve replaced successfully. 
  • August 12, 2010 - unexplained cardiac arrest; CPR performed for 1 hour 20 minutes.  Placed on ECMO.
  • August 13, 2010 - multiple episodes of ventricular tachycardia (v-tach)
  • August 18, 2010 - came off ECMO successfully; remained on significant medical and ventilator support
  • August 25, 2010 - came off the ventilator
  • August 30, 2010 - moved to step-down unit
  • September 16, 2010 - HOME!