Meet Isabella
Isabella loves dancing, gymnastics, skiing and biking! After being born with a rare congenital heart defect, Isabella has had multiple open-heart surgeries, with her first one at just six days old.
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ShowWhen Isabella’s mom was 23 weeks along in her pregnancy, doctors discovered that her baby had a rare congenital heart defect called truncus arteriosus. Without surgery, she would only live for a few weeks.
After Isabella was born, she spent twenty precious minutes with her mom before the Stollery transport team whisked her away for urgent care at the Hospital.
Isabella had her first open-heart surgery at just six days old. While the surgery went well, she returned to the operating room later that night, ultimately spending the next month at the Stollery before being able to go home.
Isabella continued to grow and develop at home but returned to the Stollery for her second open-heart surgery at 15 months old. The surgery went well, but her family knew a third open-heart surgery was in her future.
During the summer of 2023, Isabella’s health started to decline, and her cardiac team started planning for her third open-heart surgery. In the fall of 2023, Isabella returned to the Stollery for open-heart surgery. The surgery went great, and she was back on the ski hill a couple of months later.
Isabella will be closely monitored by the Stollery’s cardiac team for her whole life, likely returning for another open-heart surgery in the future. Isabella’s family is grateful to have the most specialized children’s Hospital right in their backyard, and to the donors who support the care kids like Isabella receive at the Stollery.