Rebecca epitomizes the old saying, “Like mother, like daughter.” Not only does her 2 1/2 month-old-daughter, Rose, look like her, she also has the same heart condition.

“I was devastated when I learned I may have passed my heart condition on to my baby, but I know that Dr. Jeffrey Towbin and the staff at Texas Children’s Heart Center® will take good care of her, just as they continue to care for me,” said Rebecca.

Rebecca was diagnosed at the age of 3 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an abnormal growth and arrangement of muscle fibers in the heart leading to thickening of the heart walls. The thickening of the muscle walls cause the heart chamber to be stiffer and smaller, making it difficult for blood to flow into and out of the heart effectively.

“At that time, my family lived in Abilene, Texas. I am so thankful that my local pediatrician trained at Texas Children’s Hospital and referred me to the Heart Center right away,” recalls Rebecca, who has been seen by Towbin since 1989.

“Rebecca has always been a special patient,” says Towbin. “She epitomizes the important problems we see with this disease, including the potential for sudden death and the genetic behavior of the disease.”

At the age of 15, Rebecca had cardiac arrest while running to catch the bus for school. She was resuscitated and rushed to the Heart Center and received an implantable pacemaker-defibrillator.

“I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Texas Children’s Hospital. It has been a great place for me,” says Rebecca.

Although the cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is unknown, most cases appear to be genetic in origin. Knowing this, Rebecca had a sonogram each month during her pregnancy to monitor her baby’s heart.

At the time of delivery in San Antonio, both mother and newborn daughter were taken for an echocardiogram, and it was discovered that Rose also has this same congenital heart disease.

Rebecca’s husband, Adam, who is in the military, worked hard to get referrals to bring his girls to Texas Children’s.

“At first, I didn’t understand why Rebecca was so insistent that the only place she wanted treatment for herself and our daughter was at Texas Children’s, but now after our visits to the Heart Center, I understand exactly what she means,” said Adam. “Dr. Towbin drew a picture of everything that goes on in a normal heart and then showed me how Rebecca and Rose’s hearts are operating. The heart doctors at Texas Children’s are a lot more in-depth than any I have seen with my wife.”

Rose is being treated with medication and now has much more energy. She likes playing with her daddy and shiny things and is discovering her fist and fingers.