The Dodd household’s battle for Meyer’s future
Melissa Dodd’s first being pregnant was wholesome and fully freed from issues.
Twenty weeks into her second being pregnant, Melissa had an anatomy scan that exposed her child, Meyer’s, coronary heart was not growing correctly.
Following the scan, her obstetrician supplied her the choice to terminate the being pregnant, saying, “The prognosis is extreme, and a few households wouldn’t select to proceed the being pregnant.”
The Dodds knew that terminating the being pregnant wasn’t an choice, and have been referred to Dr. Nita Doshi at CHOC, who stays Meyer’s heart specialist as we speak. After assembly with Dr. Doshi, the Dodd household felt reassured. Melissa shared, “That day, we knew we had made the correct alternative.”
Meyer’s coronary heart situation and the journey of monitoring and care
Meyer was handled by way of the Congenital Coronary heart Program, an affiliation between CHOC and UCLA Mattel Kids’s Hospital.
Whereas Melissa was pregnant, Meyer was identified with a double outlet proper ventricle, a coronary heart situation the place each the principle blood vessel to the lungs and the one to the remainder of the physique come from the identical facet of the center. This makes it more durable for the center to ship oxygen-rich blood to the physique.
Meyer had seven main coronary heart defects that required restore, requiring Melissa to bear echocardiograms at CHOC’s Fetal Care Middle of Southern California each different week throughout her being pregnant to observe his improvement.
As Meyer grew, his pulmonary artery, the blood vessel that carries blood with out oxygen from the center to the lungs to get oxygen, wasn’t growing correctly.
The Dodds met with the CHOC workforce to debate what would occur after Meyer was born.
Dealing with uncertainty and explaining the state of affairs to their younger son
Melissa shared that being pregnant is already an expertise stuffed with uncertainty, however when she found her child wasn’t properly, her fear and concern deepened.
Melissa and her husband, Cooper, additionally needed to contemplate the right way to discuss to their older son, Dawson, concerning the state of affairs. On the time, Dawson was simply two years outdated, however his consciousness and curiosity made it essential for his mother and father to be open with him.
As an alternative of pretending all the things was positive, they talked Dawson by way of it. They acquired books concerning the coronary heart, surgical procedure and what docs do. They even let him be a part of a name with Dr. Doshi to ask his questions. It was a means of getting him be concerned, even within the face of such uncertainty.
The Dodd household needed to make quite a few choices and changes alongside the way in which. They weren’t positive how lengthy Meyer can be within the hospital, and together with his Christmas Eve due date, they needed to put together for the opportunity of customer restrictions because of the winter viral season.
Melissa defined, “We advised the household that neonatal intensive care items (NICU) usually limit sibling visits round that point due to RSV, so we weren’t positive when Dawson would have the ability to meet Meyer.”
There have been additionally questions on Meyer’s long-term care: Would he want surgical procedure each 4 to 5 years? In the event that they reconstructed his coronary heart, would it not develop with him? These have been the sorts of unknowns that the Dodd household confronted as they navigated every step ahead.
Steering by way of the unknown
Melissa stated, “We requested Dr. Doshi the identical questions time and again, simply because we wanted to listen to the solutions once more, and simply having a workforce the place we felt snug doing that made all of the distinction.”
As Melissa and Cooper processed the entire unknowns, they met Dr. Glen Van Arsdell, Meyer’s cardiothoracic surgeon, who dedicated to making sure they felt as ready as attainable. He took the time to satisfy with them whereas Melissa was nonetheless pregnant, presenting varied situations of how Meyer’s surgical procedure might unfold.
The Dodd household appreciated how Dr. Van Arsdell defined medical jargon in an easier-to-understand means. His easy strategy was precisely what she wanted, and his clear communication helped them really feel extra ready for the completely different prospects. “No query was too foolish,” Melissa stated.
How Meyer redefined the that means of ‘warrior’
As Meyer went by way of his procedures, the thought of energy started to vary for Melissa. Initially, the time period “coronary heart warrior” felt an excessive amount of for such a tiny child. However as she watched him be born and face all of the checks—the electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, open-heart surgical procedure, and his NICU keep—the that means of “warrior” shifted.
What as soon as felt like a adverse thought, considering, “I don’t need my child to should endure this,” reworked into, “Wow, look what he’s turn into.” The phrase “warrior” started to signify all the things Meyer had been by way of in his first six months of life. He had endured greater than any grownup she knew.
Melissa stated, “I didn’t consider myself as a really resilient or robust individual, not less than not earlier than. However then watching Meyer and being by his facet, he has not solely encompassed these phrases, however he’s additionally taught me the right way to be robust and resilient.”
Surpassing expectations: Meyer’s development and true energy
When docs first warned the Dodds that Meyer confronted a 40% probability of incapacity attributable to his surgical procedure and bypass, the exceptional feats Meyer would later surpass appeared unimaginable.
Meyer exceeded all expectations. His coronary heart is repaired now and Dr. Doshi has no considerations about his progress.
The Dodds stated, “CHOC saved Meyer’s life.” From the second the household discovered of the prognosis to the day they left the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit with a child whose coronary heart had been repaired, CHOC was with them each step of the way in which.
Melissa emphasised that CHOC not solely supported Meyer but in addition her household, offering the care, info, and assets they wanted to make the perfect choices for him.
Meyer’s first birthday and giving again to CHOC
Meyer just lately celebrated his first birthday, and his mother and father are nonetheless discovering his character. Mischievous and enjoyable, he’s additionally fiercely impartial.
Meyer went straight from crawling to operating. At all times sporting a tiny smirk, he loves ensuring everybody is aware of he’s doing his personal factor. He’s a really energetic child.
As their son’s first birthday approached, The Dodd household mirrored on their journey. The Dodds’ development over the previous 12 months deeply intertwined with the assist they acquired from CHOC, and so they felt grateful for the various blessings surrounding their household.
They acknowledged how the love, time, and prayers of so many individuals had upheld them.
To honor the assist they acquired, the Dodds felt impressed to have fun Meyer’s first birthday in a significant means. As an alternative of asking for toys, they inspired their family and friends to contribute to a CHOC Basis fundraiser for the CHOC Coronary heart Institute in his honor. It was heartwarming for the Dodds to see their family members, who had supported them by way of the hardest occasions, now giving again to assist others in related conditions.
Cohesion: Dawson’s nightly affirmations and the longer term forward for Meyer
Whereas Meyer was within the hospital, Dawson, his older brother, known as him each night time to share nightly affirmations. The nurses and docs usually gathered round, touched by the bond between the 2 brothers.
Trying forward, the Dodd household is happy to see Meyer and Dawson play collectively and attain new milestones.
The Dodds shared, “We’re so excited to shift our focus from the medical facet to who Meyer is as an individual and watching him develop. We’re wanting ahead to seeing who he turns into. We already know he’s been by way of a lot and may accomplish something.”
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Be taught extra about CHOC’s Coronary heart Institute
CHOC Hospital was named one of many nation’s finest youngsters’s hospitals by U.S. Information & World Report in its 2024-25 Finest Kids’s Hospitals rankings and ranked within the cardiology and coronary heart surgical procedure specialties.
