Meet the Norton Children’s surgeon who delivers every heart transplant
It’s a phone call pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Deborah J. Kozik, D.O., has received more than 100 times. One of her patients has been waiting months for a new heart. On this morning, a donor heart in another state has become available. There’s little time to waste. Dr. Kozik and the team are on a plane…
Read Full StoryWhat does a pediatric cardiac surgeon do?
A pediatric cardiac surgeon is a doctor with specialized training to perform heart surgery on children. The majority of heart problems requiring surgery on children are congenital heart defects. A skilled pediatric cardiac surgeon is capable of repairing all types of complex heart defects on newborns, babies, young children and teens. Given the complexity of…
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New type of pacemaker gets Louisville girl active again
Aubrie Chandler loves volleyball. A hitter on her championship team last year, Aubrie, 12, has always wanted to play as the libero, a defensive player in the back row who receives lots of spikes and hard-hit balls. Due to a heart condition and having an abdominal pacemaker, Aubrie has refrained from playing her favorite position…
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Norton Children’s Heart Institute now 100 transplants strong
The transplant nurse clinician at Norton Children’s Hospital got the call on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. It was one that got her heart racing — in a good way. A heart was available for a young patient at Norton Children’s Hospital who had been waiting for nearly a year for a transplant. This news sent…
Read Full StoryHybrid heart surgery saves baby’s life
When Jessica and Jarrod Hogue left Norton Hospital without their newborn, they had no idea what to make of the following days, let alone years. On March 12, 2021, the Hogues welcomed their baby, Hudson, into the world nine weeks early due to a very complex congenital heart defect. As a chronic planner, Jessica had…
Read Full StoryNorton Children’s celebrates 100th heart transplant patient
As doctors, nurses and staff lined the lobby of Norton Children’s Hospital to say goodbye, Thomas Norris had a big reason to smile. After almost a year of waiting and more than 100 days in the hospital, Thomas left Norton Children’s with a new heart. Thomas, a 9-year-old from Jeffersonville, Indiana, was born with dilated…
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Young boy flown from Africa receives lifesaving care at Norton Children’s
Four-year-old Nouri was born with a hole in his heart, a condition that — for babies in the U.S. — usually can be surgically repaired soon after birth. But in Nouri’s home country, Burkina Faso, such lifesaving treatments were not accessible. In fact, the country in West Africa is considered one of the poorest in…
Read Full StoryNorton Children’s performs 100th heart transplant
Norton Children’s is celebrating a milestone almost 40 years in the making. Doctors with Norton Children’s Heart Institute performed the hospital’s 100th pediatric heart transplant. The patient, a 9-year-old, is currently recovering. He had been on the transplant waiting list for almost a year. “It’s exciting to reach this milestone,” said Bahaaldin Alsoufi, M.D., chief…
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Getting a second opinion at Norton Children’s Heart Institute
We know it’s a stressful time after learning your child will be born with a congenital heart condition, and it is common to want a second opinion. We welcome families seeking second opinions at Norton Children’s Heart Institute. For families expecting babies with congenital heart defects and other heart conditions, planning the road ahead starts before…
Read Full StoryWhat types of fetal heart abnormalities can be detected by an ultrasound?
A specialized ultrasound, known as a fetal echocardiogram, can detect a myriad of congenital heart abnormalities well before your baby is born. This type of scan is available at Norton Children’s Heart Institute locations across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. A fetal heart condition may be detected as early as a 20-week anatomy scan. If a…
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Toddler receives specialized heart care close to home in Paducah, Kentucky
Three-year-old Zoey Keipp is all smiles during her visits with Brian J. Holland, M.D., pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Heart Institute. Zoey, whose family lives in the Paducah, Kentucky, area, doesn’t have to take long car rides to Louisville for her cardiology appointments. Dr. Holland sees patients at the Norton Children’s Heart Institute office in…
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What to do if your child’s heart is beating abnormally fast or irregularly
What to do if your child’s heart is beating abnormally fast or irregularly A child whose heart is beating fast or irregularly often won’t have the vocabulary to describe what’s happening. While an adult may be able to say “I am having palpitations”, children may describe vague chest symptoms, a fluttering or racing heart or…
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