Lifesaving Care at UH Rainbow’s Congenital Heart Collaborative

Kylee Johnson was just five months old when she ended up in the hospital with breathing troubles. Doctors told Kylee’s mom, Dameyonna, that her baby had a viral infection and asthma, but that she would recover. Two weeks later, however, Kylee was still breathing heavy and fast.

“I thought, ‘Something is not right with my baby,’” said Dameyonna. “She was not getting better.”

Dameyonna took her daughter to UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital where pediatrician Eliane Malek, MD, was also concerned. To rule out problems with Kylee’s heart, Dr. Malek called pediatric cardiologist Sarah Plummer, MD, an expert in congenital heart disease.

“If the primary care doctors think something is really urgent, they don’t hesitate to call us directly to see if we can expedite a consultation,” said Dr. Plummer, who, within 15 minutes, was evaluating Kylee and ordering tests. She quickly determined that Kylee had a rare and life-threatening congenital heart defect.

“Kylee’s vital signs were normal and she didn’t look that sick, but she had severe dysfunction of the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber,” said Dr. Plummer. The condition, which affects about one in 300,000 babies, was preventing Kylee’s heart from receiving enough blood and oxygen, putting her at risk of heart muscle damage, heart rhythm problems and even death. In need of surgery, Kylee was admitted to The Congenital Heart Collaborative at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

Kylee underwent a four-hour surgery to correct her heart defect and, nine-days later, went home. Today, the preschooler’s heart continues to improve. She sees Dr. Plummer regularly and will continue to be monitored by a cardiologist, specializing in congenital heart defects, throughout her life.

Dameyonna could not be more grateful for the outcome. “I thought the procedure might slow her down, but it’s been the opposite,” she said. “Kylee’s moving faster than I’d ever imagined! She wiggles and dances and loves to sing – she has a big personality. You’d never know she was sick.”

“We are so happy we went to UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s for care. They saved our daughter’s life.”