Baylor Rusher was born in March 2021 with several heart defects — double-inlet left ventricle, great vessels transposition and stenosis of the pulmonary artery. It all started with a routine ultrasound. Chelsea Rusher, who was pregnant with her son, Baylor, was getting a 20-week anatomy scan. During the scan, the provider noticed a complication: It…
It’s not a matter of how much heart you have, but how much heart you give. That is true for Johnathan Young. He was born with half of a working heart. Johnathan, age 11, is the youngest of Greg and Jill Young’s three children. When Jill had her 20-week pregnancy ultrasound, the clinician noticed something…
The commonly-known “goal” for healthy blood pressure in adults is 120/80, but this guideline does not apply to many children. “What is considered a healthy reading for adults could indicate an unhealthy blood pressure for some children,” said Jyothi M. Matta, M.D., pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Heart Institute. How does blood pressure work? Blood…
Community members have an opportunity to send children who are patients at Norton Children’s facilities a Valentine’s Day greeting. The greetings can be selected at NortonChildrens.com/Valentine. From Feb. 1 to 10, 2022, people can choose from seven different Valentine’s Day cards with heartfelt messages on the front and fun kids’ activities on the back. The…
In many cases, preventing heart disease in children can be accomplished with lifestyle changes. Preventable heart disease in children is increasing, likely tied to a widespread increase in childhood obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 children ages 6 to 19 is obese. Children in the U.S. typically…
A new study confirms that a patient who breastfeeds has a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease. New research suggests that the risk decreases with longer periods of breastfeeding, up to 12 months of duration. “We already know that patients who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing breast…
You occasionally hear about it on the news: A seemingly healthy child suddenly collapses or dies after cardiac arrest on the football field or basketball court, or during another sporting event. But any teenager can have sudden cardiac arrest, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends screening all children, not just those involved…
State-of-the-art technology is helping save the lives of some of Louisville’s youngest patients. Cardiologists are using a new device to help treat micro-preemies — babies born before the 28th week of pregnancy and/or weighing less than 2 pounds — who have a heart defect caused by part of the fetal structure that remains at birth. Joshua…
In October 2009, Clayton Fackler was “a pretty typical 3-year-old,” according to his mother, Susan Fackler. The family was outside playing when Clayton suddenly collapsed, going into cardiac arrest. From there, Clayton would begin a health journey that would include a brain injury that has caused a number of issues, including spasticity. Sudden collapse leads…
Andrea Lambert, M.D., decided to specialize in heart failure and heart transplant care after an especially challenging case during her cardiology training. The patient appeared to be out of options, but after a collaboration between different medical specialists, she underwent a new heart procedure that saved her life. “There’s something really exciting about being able…
Pediatric cardiologist Delwyn E. McOmber, M.D., has advice for couch potatoes, athletes sidelined by COVID-19 and heart patients alike: Just get started. “Let’s get rid of the standard definition of exercise — the stuff you learn in PE. It doesn’t matter what you do. It’s just as simple as increasing your heart rate through physical…
A toddler’s heart rate while resting is normally between 70 and 110 beats per minute (bpm), with the rate gradually moving toward the lower end of the range as a child gets closer to age 3. It’s normal for a child with a fever to have a higher heart rate or pulse as well as…