Archive for fetal cardiology

Held by his parent, Yah'ir looks into the camera.

After complex heart surgery, Yah’ir is all smiles

Christina Moreland and Jimmy Austin want their 6-month-old son, Yah’ir, to have a bright future, one where he can pursue all of his dreams. “He can do whatever he wants to do,” Christina says. There’s just one caveat, an understandable one considering that Yah’ir is recovering from complex heart surgery. “As long as he doesn’t ... Read More

Tagged: av canal, congenital heart defect, fetal cardiology, fetal medicine, MFCC, pregnancy

Illustration of a pregnant mother about to have an MRI scan, with a drawing of her fetus projected over her and highlighting the baby’s brain.

Fetal brain imaging predicts neurodevelopment of babies with congenital heart disease

Clinical, Research

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) often have neurodevelopmental impairment. Until fairly recently, this was thought to stem from complications of cardiac surgery or reduced oxygen supply to the brain due to the heart defect. Now we know that some babies with CHD have impaired brain development in utero because of low oxygen supply to ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac neurodevelopment, congenital heart defect, fetal cardiology, fetal medicine, imaging, neurology

An illustration show a pair of hands raised underneath a heart, with a doctor standing on each side.

Wanting to give back, four heart patients now work as heart pros

Patient Stories

They belong to a unique group. As children, they needed surgery to repair congenital heart conditions. Rather than being afraid, they instead were curious about the science behind their treatment. What they learned motivated them to discover more and ultimately pursue careers in medicine. Now healthy adults and working for the Benderson Family Heart Center at Boston ... Read More

Tagged: atrial septal defect, cardiac research, cardiac surgery, fetal cardiology, heart, heart center, surgery, tetralogy of fallot, truncus arteriosis

Ruby, who had surgery for truncus arteriosis, chews on a toy in her yard.

A complex repair for Ruby’s heart

Patient Stories

When Rebecca and Michael Stewart learned their baby would be born with a congenital heart condition, they reacted as any expectant parents would, with shock and fear. But they quickly moved into action, focused on finding the best care for their daughter before her birth. “At about 22 weeks into my pregnancy, Ruby was diagnosed ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac catheterization, cardiac surgery, fetal cardiology, truncus arteriosis

Luca, who participates in the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program, with the horse from his camp

Camp Journey and a horse named Evan build Luca’s confidence

Patient Stories

Until this summer, 8-year-old Luca Castellano had never been on a horse. But after participating in Camp Journey, a therapeutic riding camp for kids with congenital heart conditions, he was riding and caring for a horse like a pro. “Luca pretty much fell in love with a horse named Evan,” says his mom, Rebecca. Camp ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac neurodevelopment, fetal cardiology, heart, heart center