The First Pulmonary Ozaki in Florida and Among the First in the Nation, done at Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute: Meet Victoria

March 19, 2026 –

Eleven-year-old Victoria, an energetic swimmer and big sister, underwent open-heart surgery to repair her pulmonary insufficiency. Dr. David Kalfa and the cardiovascular surgery team reconstructed her valve using her own pericardial tissue through the Ozaki Procedure.

Tiny but Mighty: 1.2LB Baby Girl Leaves NICU After Three Months

March 04, 2026 –

Just a few days after baby girl Pierson was born, when she still weighed only 1.2 lb, a small catheter was placed through her vein to deliver a tiny device to treat her congenital heart defect all while she remained in her incubator.

Patient of the Month: Madison

November 30, 2025 –

Madison’s fight for life began just days after being born with a heart defect that required lifesaving surgery.

Patient of the Month: Jack

May 29, 2025 –

Kimberly's pregnancy was going well until a 20-week anatomy scan revealed concerns for her baby boy. After this initial shock, the family turned to The Prenatal Heart Program at Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute for further evaluation.

Jamie's Heart Saved Thanks to a Free EKG Screening

March 25, 2025 – Jamie was found to have a heart condition thanks to a free EKG screening held at a City of Miami summer camp in 2024. Nicklaus Children’s and the City of Miami joined forces to extend the hospitals free EKG screenings program to children in City of Miami parks. Jamie’s heart was repaired in the hospital’s cardiac catheterization laboratory and his family can feel comforted in knowing his heart is healthy.

Against the Odds: Jack's Fight for Life

February 04, 2025 – Kimberly and her husband learned their unborn son, Jack, had a congenital heart defect (Transposition of the Great Arteries), and after being referred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital for specialized care, Jack underwent open-heart surgery within days of his birth, leaving his future uncertain.

Jamie's Heart Story

October 28, 2024 – Jamie was found to have a congenital heart condition thanks to a free EKG screening held at a City of Miami summer camp in 2024.

Madison's Success Story

May 30, 2023 – Madison was born with a heart defect called truncus arteriosus. Despite having open-heart surgery at Nicklaus Children's when just 4 years old, she hasn't slow down one bit. From an early age she's enjoyed dancing, even competing. Now, she's in the race for the title of Miss Florida Teen USA!

Jacob's Success Story

February 09, 2023 – Before he was born, Jacob was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Overcoming multiple surgeries, he started experiencing seizures and even had a stroke. Now, with a combination of medications that helped him manage his seizures and keep his heart rate stable, Jacob is attending high school for students with special abilities and enjoys cooking and dancing.

Yuray's Heart Story

January 11, 2023 – Yuray Rodriguez was only 15 days old when he underwent heart surgery at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to repair a condition known as Coaction of the Aorta, a narrowing of the aorta that can lead to heart failure and high blood pressure. Now in college, one would never know he was born with a serious heart defect, if it wasn’t for a scar that runs down his chest.

Patient of the Month: Kateryna

December 05, 2022 – After being diagnosed with a heart defect in her home country of Ukraine, Kateryna needed surgery for treatment and full recovery. Then, because of the war, her family fled while still seeking medical. Finally, the family was referred to Dr. Daniel Duarte, a pediatric interventional cardiologist at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Cardiac Catheterization Procedure Helps Jackson's Start to Life

October 14, 2022 – Baby Jackson, born after only 24 weeks of gestation, was very fragile and required oxygen around the clock. His parents were referred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital to repair his patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) a congenital heart defect that occurs commonly in premature infants.

High School Wrestler Saved After Experiencing Cardiac Arrest

May 24, 2022 – Shortly after his 17th birthday, Miami Southridge Senior High School athlete Javon underwent cardiac arrest during wrestling practice. Thanks to the fast actions and lifesaving efforts of the athletic staff and their use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), Javon's heart was stabilized and he was transferred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital for care. 

 

Patient of the Month: Alexandra

February 23, 2022 – Born prematurely and with heart complications, Alexandra was described as a miracle baby. Just months old, she experienced respiratory distress and was eventually airlifted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to undergo multiple surgeries.

Taylor Outruns Heart Disease To Graduate College and Complete a Marathon

February 04, 2022 – Taylor was born at 28 weeks at St Mary's Hospital and was transferred to Nicklaus Children's hospital due to her patent ductus arteriosus. She was also diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot, a combination of four heart defects that affects one in approximately 2,500 children. Today, Taylor is a healthy 21-year-old who has completed three half marathons and recently her first full marathon.

Gabrien's Story

January 14, 2022 – During a routine ultrasound early in her pregnancy, Rebecca Jones and her husband Brent were devastated to learn there was something wrong with their baby’s heart. The expectant parents learned their baby, Gabrien, had a rare heart defect called transposition of the great arteries, a condition in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed. Their obstetrician referred them to Dr. David Drossner, a pediatric cardiologist and director of outpatient cardiology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. 

Surgeons Use Mixed Reality to Plan Rosemaylee's Complex Heart Surgery

June 01, 2021 – Rosemaylee has always been an active child. The 13-year-old’s cheerleading activities came to an abrupt halt when her pediatrician noticed a heart murmur that had previously gone undetected. Further evaluation revealed she had a serious and complex heart condition. The Advanced Projects Laboratory at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital created multiple three dimensional models of her heart to plan the complicated surgery.

Alia's New Beginning

May 11, 2021 – Alia is one of the smallest babies to undergo open-heart surgery and one of the tiniest in the world to survive and thrive after her complex operation. Baby Alia faced several life-threatening problems when she was born three months early, creating unique new challenges even for veteran congenital heart surgeon, Dr. Redmond Burke.

Patient of the Month: Ezra

February 15, 2021 – Ezra was diagnosed with several heart defects and needed immediate corrective surgery. After being airlifted to Nicklaus Childrens Hospital, the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery team was ready and waiting. Since that first visit, Ezra has undergone two successful heart surgeries and will need an additional operation to accommodate his recent growth, but he's on track to living a happy, healthy life!

Patient of the Month: Lavondre

January 01, 2021 – At three weeks old, baby Lavondre was diagnosed with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), which means he had a hole in the wall that separates the right and left lower chambers of the heart, and he needed surgery to survive.

Adrien: First Baby Born at Nicklaus Children's Hospital

November 09, 2020 – Emily Granados was 20 weeks pregnant with her third child when she found out something was wrong with his little heart. 

Jarel Santiago: A Cardiac and ENT Success Story

July 23, 2020 – Jarel was born healthy, according to the doctors, but in the days following his birth, Maria Lourdes and her husband began having concerns about Jarel’s breathing. His respiration was rapid and he seemed to have trouble breathing.

Patient of the Month: Juan Diego

June 01, 2020 – After a completely normal pregnancy in Nicaragua, Juan Diego was born with blue skin and shortness of breath. He was immediately diagnosed with a congenital heart disease and given a 50% chance of life if mom and dad didn’t seek treatment. Check out how far Juan Diego has come with the help of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute!

Killian Basketball Player Has Heart of a Champion

February 27, 2020 – Toniyah Washington grew up on the basketball court. It is her passion, but four years ago this week, Washington underwent life-saving surgery and her road to recovery provided more challenging than you could imagine.

Patient of the Month: McKenna

February 01, 2020 – Imagine going through most of your pregnancy with hopes of having a surprise gender reveal at birth, just to be told your baby girl will be born with heart complications during one of your last ultrasound appointments.

Brenden's Story: A Matter of the Heart

July 23, 2019 – Brenden was only days old when he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart. His parents traveled all the way from Naples on the West Coast of Florida to plan for his surgery with the Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

A Medical Miracle: Ayden's Story

July 23, 2019 –

After a normal full-term pregnancy with no complications, Shenequa gave birth to Ayden via C-section in May 2017 in the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Shortly after, the baby's pediatrician detected a murmur, but with no pediatric cardiologist on the island, Ayden was airlifted to Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

Saving Teegan: From Minnesota to Miami in Search of Hope

March 26, 2019 – Though Teegan grew only a few pounds during her first three months, a stark contrast to her twin sister, the critically ill baby stunned her family and pediatrician with each day she survived. Her will to live spurred her family to search for a miracle.

Willow's Journey to a Healthy Heart

February 21, 2019 – Hearing about any type of unexpected diagnosis can be incredibly overwhelming for parents, let alone an unusual or rare abnormality like a tumor in their child's heart.

Patient of the Month: Chad

February 05, 2019 – While on a father-son fishing trip in the Florida Keys, Chad, 3, was playing and swinging from the rope of a nautical wood pole when the 200-pound object came crashing down onto his chest, sending him into a state of cardiac arrest.

A Child's Journey: Olivia's Story

February 04, 2019 – Olivia was born with a congenital heart defect, her first open heart surgery was scheduled just days after she took her first breath. Olivia's parents placed their trust in the hands of The Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

Infant flown from Puerto Rico days after Hurricane Maria for Lifesaving Surgery

September 19, 2018 – Naialee Perez had just given birth to her first child, a baby boy named Liam, when a category five hurricane was making its way towards her hometown in the island of Puerto Rico. Liam was on a ventilator and undergoing treatment for a congenital heart defect in Hospital del Niño in San Juan while those on the island prepared for what would become one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in its history.

Patient of the Month: Luife

August 17, 2018 – While he was still inside his mother’s womb, Luife was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries, a congenital heart defect. Shortly after birth, Luife was taken by ambulance to the cardiac team at Nicklaus Children’s. The pediatric cardiology team took Luife’s heart apart, piece by delicate piece, and successfully, put it back together. Today, Luife is a healthy, active and outgoing 8-year-old boy who wears his “Scar of Honor” with pride. 

Harry's Badge of Honor

August 08, 2018 – Harry was admitted for heart surgery when he was only three years old. The life saving surgery and care he received in 1988, in what was then Miami Children's Hospital, has resulted in a fulfilling and accomplished adult life for this aspiring public servant.

Patient of the Month: Justin

July 25, 2018 – The moment Justin was born, his mother and father were faced with the most daunting and challenging experience any parent can imagine. Just hours after birth, Justin was airlifted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for more specialized pediatric care. Having been diagnosed with pulmonary atresia and tetralogy of Fallot, he required immediate attention before it was too late.

Patient of the Month: Victoria

June 01, 2018 – Meet Victoria, our June Patient of the Month! Before birth, Victoria, was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). While Victoria's mother was pregnant with her, the left side of her heart did not form correctly, causing an urgent need for surgery just after birth to help restore its function, or Victoria would die. 

Christina's Success Story (PDA)

May 31, 2018 – Christina was born with a variety of medical complications and congenital heart defects. She is now a 23 year pursuing a dental career. The Heart Institute and Nicklaus Children's Hospital provided the care she needed when she was a baby, and for that, they will always hold a special place in her heart.

Patient of the Month: Theodore

March 15, 2018 – When she was just 18 weeks pregnant, Micheleen, learned that her baby would be born with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped, as well as a cleft palate and cleft lip.

Camila Dances Away from Congenital Heart Disease

October 18, 2017 – Camila Parra, 17, is too busy dancing to think about the fact that she could have become a tragic statistic. She had been feeling some fatigue when participating in her rigorous dance program. After a free heart screening, Camila and her mother were stunned to learn that the teen's echocardiogram was abnormal.

Baby Grace Beats All Odds Despite Rocky Start to Life

August 28, 2017 – Grace was transferred to Nicklaus Children’s for what referring doctors believed were complications associated with neonatal sepsis. Soon after, the care team learned Grace had an enlarged failing heart due to hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a complex congenital heart defect that essentially means the baby was born with half a heart. 

Patient of the Month: Anabella

April 10, 2017 – ​Meet our April Patient of the Month, Anabella. During an early check-up, Anabella was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition called atrial septum defect, or a hole in her heart.

Patient of the Month: Lukas

February 07, 2017 – As a newborn, Lukas was in cardiac arrest and brought to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, where he underwent open heart surgery and placed on a Cardiopulmonary Bypass Machine, which stabilized his condition.

Baby J's Journey

August 12, 2016 – Only a short week after been born, Baby J began to show signs of distress. A visit to the pediatric cardiologist revealed his heart was very sick. He was transferred to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to await surgery for a crucial coarctation of the aorta.

Patient of the Month: Teegan

July 12, 2016 – Once the cardiac team met with Teegan and her family, the doctors realized that this was a case unlike any they had seen before. From before birth she had been diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and then they realized that she had a little less than half a heart and only one lung. Teegan's doctors and her parents knew she had a long road to recovery, but they were prepared to do whatever it takes to get her there.

How 3D printers saved a four year old girl's life

April 27, 2016 – Every human heart is different, and 3D printing is a changing the world of surgery by providing surgeons exact replicates.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital uses Stratasys' 3D printing technology to save a young girl's life

October 13, 2015 – Mia was born with an abnormal aortic arch. It's a rare congenital heart disorder, that can be difficult to diagnose. Children like Mia are often deemed "inoperable". Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Heart Institute used 3d printing technology to plan her complex cardiac surgery and find a solution to save her life. Mia is now a very active girl that loves dancing and baseball, she can go back to living her life to the fullest.

Patient of the Month: Andrew

May 01, 2014 – Andrew Lorenzen had always been a healthy, happy child, who enjoyed playing all types of sports. So, when his mom brought him to Nicklaus Children's to get a free EKG screening, neither of them believed the results would actually come back showing something was wrong with Andrew. Imagine their shock when after the screening, Andrew's mom received a call from the hospital telling her to take Andrew in immediately because they found he had a rare condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Nicolas' Success Story

March 19, 2014 – Nicolas was born in Peru with an aortic coarctation and had an emergency surgery when he was 3 weeks old. A local pediatrician monitored him closely and was in constant contact with Nicklaus Children's Hospital, whom he had recommended for most of his complicated heart patients. Nicolas underwent a valve procedure at Nicklaus Children's Hospital and received excellent care in the ICU.

Patient of the Month: Gaetano

March 01, 2014 – Just four months after being born, Gaetano already knows what it means to fight for his life. At birth, doctors discovered he had a right-side congenital diaphragmatic hernia and pulmonary hypertension, meaning the muscle separating his heart and lungs from the lower abdominal organs did not develop completely while he was in the womb.

Caden's Success Story

February 04, 2014 – Caden was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – which essentially means he was born with half a heart. His parents did their research and decided to trust his care to the Nicklaus Children's Heart Program. Caden had his first open-heart surgery with Dr. Redmond Burke when he was a few days old. Over the span of three years Caden underwent three open-heart surgeries and two cardiac catheterizations.

Anthony & Christopher's Success Story

December 02, 2013 – My brother Anthony and I are twins with heart problems. We are very glad that Dr. Richard Zakheim was our doctor for a long time. We wanted to thank him and the staff at his office for the care we received.

Patient of the Month: Nathan

December 01, 2013 – Nathan’s mom went in for what was supposed to be a normal ultrasound and instead discovered that her son’s heart had serious complications. In most places Nathan would not have survived, but he was referred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, where the Cardiac team not only rebuilt his heart, they gave him the opportunity to grow as a healthy, happy child. 

Ava's Success Story

November 11, 2013 – Ava was a healthy, energetic 2 year old until one evening, she complained of belly pain when she laid down. The next day, her mom noticed Ava was lethargic, very thirsty for water and refused to drink milk, so she took her to the pediatrician and was referred to the Nicklaus Children's Hospital Cancer Center.

Gianna's Success Story

October 13, 2013 – At just 4 years old, Gianna has had 3 open-heart surgeries at Nicklaus Children's Hospital (NCH). Her parents were comforted by the incredible staff of doctors and nurses at NCH and thanks to them, Gianna will be able to live a full life.

Thomas's Success Story

December 11, 2012 – On August 28 2011 Thomas experienced Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). He was hospitalized at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital, and was put on medication. A few weeks later he had a heart cath with an ablation.

Brisa's Success Story

November 27, 2012 – Little Brisa Gutierrez-Guerrero started life with a severely broken heart, and her frailty seemed destined to break her mother’s heart as well. Brisa had only one lung and so many heart defects that physicians in the north Florida community where she was born in October 2011 encouraged her mother to prepare to say farewell to the tiny newborn.

Rosa's Success Story

February 02, 2012 – I had heart surgery at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital, in 1996 to repair an atrial septum defect. Dr. Richard Zakeihm was my cardiologist.

Brenna's VSD Success Story

February 02, 2012 – Brenna was diagnosed with a moderate sized VSD before she was born. At six months old she was finally big enough to undergo the VSD repair. She is now doing fantastic and is a very happy and active one and a half year old.

Natalie's Miracle Story

January 24, 2012 – At just four days old, Natalie came down with a bad case of jaundice and dehydration. She was scheduled to see Dr. Ana Paredes for hydronephosis of her left kidney. Tests showed that she was born with congenital heart defects, more specifically Shone's complex. Within the hour, Natalie was transferred to cardiac intensive care, where she waited to undergo open heart surgery.

Martina's Success Story

January 24, 2012 – Martina has down syndrome and a cardiac condition. Her picture with seventeen teddy bears she received at Nicklaus Children's Hospital after a successful open heart surgery done in 1998 was part of the fifty years anniversary campaign of Nicklaus Children's Hospital.

Janiery's Success Story

January 24, 2012 – Janiery was born May 16th, 2003 with a double outlet right ventricle with sub-pulmonary stenosis and transposition of the great vessel. Thanks to the cardiac team of doctors and the man with the hands of miracles, Dr. Hannan, today she is seven and has had all of her surgeries.

Melissa's Success Story

January 18, 2012 – Melissa was born on July 16, 1992 and was diagnosed with a Double Outlet Right Ventricle. She was taken to Nicklaus Children's Hospital for all her tests, which included x-rays, echo's, ekg's, heart catheterizations, and blood work. Also, many times she was taken to the emergency room for care. Each time she had a catheterization done she was admitted to the short stay unit.

Alexander's Success Story

January 18, 2012 – In January 13, 2005 Alexander was born with a congenital heart problem that would require open heart surgery as soon as possible. He was transferred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital's, formerly Miami Children's Hospital, emergency cardiology department.

Victoria Rose Success Story

January 12, 2012 – Victoria Rose was born with asymmetric crying facies in conjunction with a congenital heart disease (a small atrial septal defect) and developmental delay in speech, feeding and some physical setbacks along with sensory disorder. It has been a very long road for Vicky and her family as they have seen her change for the better throughout the past year upon receiving speech and physical therapy from Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital.

Jake's Success Story

January 12, 2012 – Jake was born at Hollywood Memorial West. About five hours after his birth they discovered he had some heart problems. By the next day he was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. That same day he was taken by helicopter to the best hospital in the world—Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital.

Jonas' Success Story

January 11, 2012 – Jonas was born with a condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. He was diagnosed a little more than twenty four hours after birth. He was then  airlifted to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital, where he had the first of three surgeries to repair his heart.

Lomaun's Success Story

January 09, 2012 – Lomaun, was born on February 17th, 1993. He was not due for another six weeks. He was going into fetal distress with every contraction and was delivered via Cesarean Section. He had many complications and washe was very sick. An ambulance came and took him to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital. A portion of the problems were: A hole in his heart, an enlarged liver, and only one kidney due to the other being atrophied. He was 8 pounds and 3 ounces at birth, despite being so very early. He "coded" twice, and both times the medical staff brought him back from certain death.

Cristina's Success Story

January 09, 2012 – Cristina was admitted in 1974 for heart complications. Now an adult, she had to admit her own daughter for jaundice. She feels there is no better hospital for her and her family.

Brittany's Success Story

January 09, 2012 – Brittany was born 22 years ago with a life-threatening heart defect called a double outlet right ventricle. She was admitted to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital, at birth because she needed immediate surgery to save her life. Because of her complex problem, she needed three other heart operations over the next seven years.

Kai's Success Story

December 27, 2011 – Kai, who was 15 weeks old, started having fits. He was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where they discovered a rare and dangerous heart defect. The doctors said Kai needed to be airlifted to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital, as soon as possible as they didn’t know how long he had left to live before his heart stopped working.

Navaeh's Success Story

December 09, 2011 – Nevaeh began her life with heart defect. She was just three months old when we began seeing Dr. Nancy C. Dobrolet (cardiologist) and Joann Nieves (nurse-practitioner). On Jan. 6, 2009, Dr. Burke performed open-heart surgery that she needed. Nevaeh is now doing great.

Leila's Heart Surgery Success Story

December 09, 2011 – Leila was born with three serious heart defects. At three months old, Dr. Redmond Burke performed open-heart surgery to correct her condition.Leila is now 15 months old and extremely healthy thanks to her wonderful doctors.

Anthony's Success Story

July 26, 2011 – Little Anthony was only days old when doctors in Sigonella, Italy, made a discovery that would send his family on an international trek in search of hope and healing. Born in Sicily, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Navy, Anthony’s tiny heart was so riddled with defects that Navy physicians advised the family to seek care. With the support of the U.S. Navy, the family’s search led them to The Congenital Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital – one of the leading heart programs in the nation known for its innovative techniques.

Nathan's Heart Defect Success Story

October 10, 2008 – Ethan Bortnick tells the story of how Dr. Redmon Burke and the team at Nicklaus Children's Hospital helped bring back his baby brother, Nathan, back to life. Nathan was born with a hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the most devastating heart defect a baby can have.

Daniel's Success Story

July 17, 2007 – Daniel was working hard to fulfill his dream of winning a sports scholarship to a prominent university, when suddenly those plans seemed to unravel.

Parker's Success Story

December 14, 2006 – Parker is not yet 2 years old, but he's already living up to his name. Within a month of his birth, doctors discovered the infant had multiple heart valve defects. The complications were so severe that at one point doctors considered him a candidate for a heart transplant. But thanks to Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital's internationally recognized Cardiovascular Surgery team - and a life-saving procedure never before performed on so young a child - Parker's heart is going strong.

Myranda's Success Story

December 14, 2006 – The Parents of Myranda (8 months old) Open Heart Surgery Patient October 2, 1995 at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, formerly Miami Children's Hospital Dr. Redmond Burke, Chief, Cardiovascular Surgery.

Jordan's Success Story

December 14, 2006 – Jordan was born with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), which means he had a hole his heart that caused more blood to pump to his left lung than to his right. During the first three months of his life, his breathing was very labored, he barely ate and was taking several medications. When he was three months old and only 10 pounds he underwent open-heart surgery to repair his heart. The result was unbelievable. After surgery, he no longer needed breathing support. His surgeon, Dr. Robert Hannan, sent him home four days later.

David's Miracle Story

December 14, 2006 – David had a hole in his heart and that the artery that feeds blood to the lungs was partially blocked. The medical term for this is Tetralogy of Fallot. David started this adventure at 15 pounds. David was discharged on Monday, April 22nd, 1996, six days after his operation.

Ashley's Thank you Letter

December 14, 2006 – A letter from Ashley, a patient of Dr. Burke and Dr. Zoen.

Analiah's Success Story

December 14, 2006 – Baby Analiah Duarte Escorcia was born in February, Heart Month. Thanks to groundbreaking cardiovascular surgery performed at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, soon after her birth in 2012, she is now the poster child for a novel new procedure that seems poised to become the “holy grail” for children with heart valve defects. Little Analiah came into the world with one of the most devastating of heart defects, called Ebstein's Anomaly.

Ricki's letter

November 11, 2004 – Hi Dr. Burke! I really, really want to see you but you are too busy.
All I wanted to say is that I love you and I really miss you.

Jillian's letter

November 11, 2004 – Dear Dr. Burke
thank you for closing
the hole in my heart.
Your friend,
Jillian

Xavier & Zachary's letter

January 30, 2004 – To D. Burke, Dr. Zahn and Staff
Guess who just turned 4 years old? We did!