Hopeful Hearts

When Rachel Contrearas was twenty weeks pregnant, a routine prenatal scan revealed a troubling anatomical defect. The right and left ventricle of her baby’s heart were in each other’s position. Known as congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA), this condition leaves the stronger left ventricle pumping blood to the lungs while the weaker right ventricle must pump blood throughout the entire body.

Rachel recalls the uncertainty she and husband Andrew felt about her child’s future upon learning of his diagnosis. “We were terrified.” Disappointment soon followed as the family was told that because Lincoln’s left ventricle was too weak, he could not undergo a planned double switch surgery to correct his condition.

Pediatric heart care comes to town

Rachel first became aware that Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, was coming to Dell Children’s Medical Center to establish the Texas Center for Congenital and Pediatric Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin, via social media. “I sent the video to everybody in our family, and I was just so excited.”

Dr. Fraser called the family to discuss treatment options and ultimately performed a pulmonary artery band operation on Lincoln in May 2021. Rachel says that after the surgery, members of Lincoln’s care team frequently checked up on him as he recovered. Dr. Fraser credits this team effort with Lincoln’s positive experience and outcome.

From heartache to happiness

Thanks to the care he received at the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, Lincoln now enjoys an active childhood. “He wakes up in the morning with so much energy and he bounces down the stairs every day,” says Rachel.

“95 percent of the people who meet him think there’s nothing wrong,” adds Andrew, noting that the only difference between Lincoln and his peers is that Lincoln gets more tired easily.

According to Rachel, the worry they felt about Lincoln’s future has turned to hope. “I just look forward to him growing up and having a full life.”

For more information about the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, visit here or call 1-855-324-0091.