"I was only four months pregnant when Dr. Nancy Ayres (a Texas Children’s cardiologist) performed our first echocardiogram,” Lori said. “We discovered all the connections in our baby’s heart were totally backwards, a condition known as heterotaxy syndrome. This was just one of eight specific heart abnormalities: she also had three chambers instead of four, complete heart block, a bad mitral valve and a hole in her heart.” 

Lori had a baby girl — Mary —by Caesarean section three weeks early. Five days later, Mary received a pacemaker. Her parents were amazed and delighted to take her home at two weeks. 

Mary’s open-heart surgery was performed a year and a half later at Texas Children’s. “The doctor did as much as we could have ever hoped for,” Lori said. “For that huge surgery, Mary was in the hospital only five days. Today, she takes medication regularly and runs all over the place, definitely keeping up with her two older brothers.”

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