How do you celebrate the 1-year anniversary of successful heart surgery? For Bryce Ripley and his family, there was no better way to mark the occasion than a visit back to Akron Children’s Hospital to support patients in need of a boost. The 5-year-old, his mom, Tracy, and sister, Reyna, who is 9, visited the […]
Nurse switches roles, learns what life is like as a patient family
Sarah and her husband, Zach, were already parents to 3-year-old Chloe when they learned she was pregnant with a second daughter. But 3 weeks after her 19-week ultrasound, their world came crashing down when they learned their unborn baby had a series of complex congenital heart defects.
Tiny Hearts, Big Responsibilities: Akron Children’s cardiologists honored at Heart Ball events
An Akron Children’s Hospital pediatric cardiologist Dr. Peter Vande Kappelle, Jr. and one of his mentors, Dr. Chandrakant Patel, were honored as “Heart Champions” at two separate American Heart Association Heart Ball events in February in Youngstown and Akron, respectively.
Baby Jackson battles against the odds with heart (Video)
Jackson Straits has defied the odds. Diagnosed with non-immune fetal hydrops at 27 weeks gestation, this often fatal form of prenatal heart failure caused Jackson to develop fluid around his heart. Strong family faith along with the care of 3 Akron Children’s specialists came together to give him the best chance at life.
After 3 surgeries to repair a heart defect, Sidney is thriving
Nine-year-old Sidney McLain is very creative. Her artwork can be found throughout the WestPark/Cleveland home she shares with her parents, Pat and Lisa, and her big brother Ryan. An honor student, she loves to play the piano and sing in the choir, but she also plays tennis and is known as one of the heavy […]
Motherhood brings Joy, Grace and Faith to woman with congenital heart defect
Born with a heart defect, Debbie McFarland underwent numerous heart surgeries throughout her life, and was told she shouldn’t become pregnant. But then, she came to the Akron Children’s Hospital Heart Center, and found that her type of congenital heart defect, known as Tetralogy of Fallot, did not pose a high risk during pregnancy. Under the […]
