Heart Stories

Gabe

Gabriel was born on September 15, 2015 in Reading, PA.  He was rushed to our local hospital at 8 days old where we found out that he was in cardiogenic shock due to a critical coarctation of the aorta. He was flown to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where he had heart surgery with Dr. Spray at 14 days old and a heart catheterization at 3 months old. Gabe was also diagnosed with a hypoplastic aortic arch, a bicuspid aortic valve, hypertension, and Subclavian Steal Syndrome. Early in the pandemic, Gabriel had an open heart surgery to repair his aortic arch and reimplant his subclavian artery, followed by several catheterization repairs with stents. Gabe is an incredible little boy who loves to play soccer and spend time with his family. We are beyond blessed to have an amazing team at CHOP and supportive heart community in our area.

Nora

Nora was born on October 20, 2021 at the Special Delivery Unit at CHOP. At our 20-week scan, she was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries. She had her life-saving open heart surgery at 2 days old. She came home 10 days later and has been doing amazing since.

Nora is still seen at CHOP cardiology by the same doctor that saw her prenatally. She loves swimming, dancing, and Sesame Street. She is the happiest baby and the light of our lives!

Charlie

Charlie was born in December 2015 in the Special Delivery Unit at CHOP. He was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) at his 20 week prenatal ultrasound. He was our big, beautiful, blue, baby boy. He was quickly taken to the cath lab after his birth for a balloon septostomy. At 3 days old, he had his open heart surgery. 

Charlie has been thriving ever since! He is a happy 7 year old boy. He’s on a year-round swim team and can be seen perfecting all 4 strokes. He also enjoys playing on soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He loves first grade-especially math and gym class. We are so thankful for Charlie and we know he will enjoy every minute living his best life!

Lucy

Lucy was born on March 17, 2017 in CHOP's SDU. Lucy has multiple complex congenital heart defects that have led to a single ventricle anatomy. She also has heterotaxy, which is an organ disorder. She had her first open heart surgery at 6 days old and has had 4 more open heart surgeries since then. She is currently waiting for next steps in her heart journey. She is a happy first grader with twin younger brothers. She participates in karate and is a purple belt. She loves Disney World and visits often. She is a true warrior! 

Karli

On May 12, 2016 Karli and her twin sister Kaycee arrived five weeks early.  Karli was the one who decided it was time to make their grand entrance; she broke my water.   Prenatallydiagnosed with truncus arteriosus, doctors believed that the CHD could be repaired with surgery shortly after birth and that she could live a full and happy life.   Since Karli was born at only 3lb 13oz., the goal was to allow her to get as big as possible for surgery.  However, a few days after birth it was determined that we could no longer wait and needed to proceed with the repair surgery.  At only six days old, Karli had her first open heart surgery.  She did beautifully, but due to her small size she had several complications post-surgery.  Karlifought hard for 11 more days, but sadly at only 17 days old, our sweet little girl passed away.  Although her time here was short, she worked her way into the hearts of many people, even some she never got a chance to meet.  She is our angel, watching over us all, especially her twin sister Kaycee.

~Not all twins walk side by side, sometimes one has wings to fly~

Aubree

Aubree Jean was born November 5, 2016. We had an early ultrasound and a fetal echo. It wasn’t until her 2yr check up that the pediatrician heard a heart murmur. Followed up with cardiology and they believe she has bicuspid aortic valve. They report that there is no correlation between the two. We are super thankful that this was picked up sooner than later. 

Aubree is a lovable, silly 6 year old. She loves to dance, color and play basketball and Tball. Aubree admires her big sister, Gianna!

Gianna

Gianna Stephanie was born August 18, 2014 at CHOP in the Special Delivery Unit. At our 20 week scan, she was diagnosed with Tetrology of Fallot. She underwent open heart surgery December 16, 2014. She was a true rockstar and the physicians wanted to discharge us post op day #2 from the CICU. 

Gigi is a sweet and energetic 8 year old. She loves to play sports especially soccer, softball and basketball. 

Brinley

Brinley Nicole Rosthauser was born August 14th, 2014 a beautiful 4 pound 9 Oz little girl, full of spunk! She was diagnosed at 22 weeks old with HLHS (Hypoplastic left heart syndrome), along with many other CHDs. She had open heart surgeries and heart caths. Brinley smiled and danced her way through her short time on earth, a little less than 5 months earthside. She has brought so much love and strength to our family. We do our best to honor her everyday! 

Parker

Parker Henry Rosthauser was born a healthy 7lbs 5oz ball of energy on July 20th, 2015. As a baby Parker had many echos to double check for heart defects. Parker has ran laps around everyone he meets, since he could walk. In July of 2022, Parker began having shortness of breath and syncope episodes. After months of testing and finally an echo in December of 2022, Parker was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (BAV with AVI). He will soon need repair but, we are living life to the fullest until then!

Olivia

Olivia Mae was born on June 28th, 2022 in the Special Delivery Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, after being diagnosed at her prenatal scans with hypoplastic right heart syndrome and multiple ventricular septal defects. After spending 3 days in the NICU at CHOP, Olivia was stable enough to be able to go home and work on her number one goal before open heart surgery: GROWING! 

Olivia had a PA Band placed on September 2, 2023, at just over two months old. The band would help blood flow correctly throughout her heart, and help her to be able to grow as big as possible over the next year until her open heart repair surgery. 

Olivia had her life saving open heart operation with Dr. Stephanie Fuller on December 5, 2023 at 18 months old and is now thriving! She will continue to be monitored by her cardiology team at CHOP and will most likely require a few more cardiac catheterizations for observation, however they are optimistic that this could be her last open heart procedure. 

Olivia Mae is a strong, sweet, independent little girl who loves her little gym classes, eating, playing, dancing, swimming, and keeping up with her big sister, Kennedy Marie! We are beyond grateful for the team of doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for saving our little girl, and so happy that Olivia is now able to live her life to the fullest!