Special heart keeps baby alive

It's hard not to feel helpless when your baby is sick. There are the sleepless nights in the intensive care unit, and the endless meetings with doctors and specialists. At the end of the day, your mind rests only on one thought: Will my baby be okay?

For the parents of Audrey MacIvor, these questions were all too familiar. MacIvor went in for her 2-month checkup, and seemed fine to her pediatrician and parents.

But when Audrey started wheezing and coughing, her parents became concerned. They took her to Stanford Medical Center in Palo, CA where she was tested and x-rayed. Eventually, Audrey was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged, and is no longer able to pump blood efficiently through the heart. Doctors informed Audrey’s family that Audrey needed a heart transplant.

Fighting the odds

Audrey’s journey wasn’t over yet. Doctors placed her on a heart-lung treatment called Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation(ECMO), even as conventional methods began to fail.

As her team of doctors looked on, Audrey stopped functioning. Doctors described her as “unable to eat and lethargic.” Finally, she was hooked up to a breathing machine. Fearing the worst, doctors gave Audrey medication to keep her from moving. Without it, they feared for her safety.

Audrey was sent to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. Doctors knew Audrey’s condition was worsening, and without intervention, she wouldn't make it to a transplant. With heart transplant waiting lists ranging from 100 days or longer, Audrey needed time. It was there that doctors made the radical decision to give Audrey the Berlin Heart. The device supports a baby's heart and helps to ensure that blood is pumped efficiently around the body. More importantly, it would buy Audrey time until a heart transplant could be found.

The next stage

Last month, Audrey was given the Berlin Heart. The device, which was surgically implanted in her left ventricle, will give Audrey the chance to stay healthy and grow stronger for her upcoming heart transplant.

While Audrey still has a long road ahead of her, doctors feel that she is making a steady recovery. In an interview with SmartPlanet, Dr. David Rosenthal, MD, at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, spoke about Audrey’s changing condition.

"She’s out of the intensive care unit, and being taken care of in a regular hospital bed,” Rosenthal said. "Her mom can also hold her in her lap."

28-year-old mother Atasha MacIvor noticed a difference as well.

"She’s kicking her legs, punching her arms out, and cooing to visitors."

When asked to describe Audrey, Atasha laughed.

"She’s a very smart and strong girl," said Mac Ivor. "She’s a fighter, and we hope a heart transplant is coming soon."

To learn more about Audrey, visit her Facebook page at Prayers for baby Audrey.

Editorial note to readers: The Berlin Heart is not FDA approved. The Berlin Heart is still being evaluated by the FDA at this time. Last month, an endorsement was given at an FDA advisory panel. A final decision is expected in about two months.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com