Paxton’s Heart Journey

During my entire pregnancy, I believed I was carrying a perfectly healthy baby boy. On February 27th, I believed I was taking home a perfectly healthy baby boy. When Paxton was just a few weeks old he began throwing up frequently, and refusing to eat or sleep. After many doctors appointments and being told for 6 months, he was just a normal baby with belly issues, he began losing weight. After several tests, I took Paxton to Dayton Children’s hospital desperately seeking answers for my baby boy. They discovered he had an enlarged heart after an x-ray of the chest. That’s where out journey began. We were immediately rushed to the cardiology department for our first of many echos. We were told he had either an infection that was attacking the heart or a condition called ALCAPA. My entire family was absolutely devastated. My baby had been fighting for his life for 6 months, and I had no clue. His heart was so overworked it was the size of an adult’s hearts at 6 months old. The very next day we were transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Two days after arriving at Nationwide, Paxton’s diagnosis was confirmed, he was born with Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). My husband and I were completely heart broken but the Doctor working in the ICU that night hugged us, allowed us to cry on her shoulder, and assured us that they would do everything they could to save our babies life. The nurses at Nationwide Children’s Hospital truly care about their patients. They were so kind, understanding, and sweet during the most difficult time of my life.

On September 16, 2013 Dr. Galantowicz saved my sons life. Nothing can prepare a parent for something like this, handing your baby over to the nurses knowing this could be the very last time you see your baby alive. Dr. Galantowicz had the most amazing team that reassured us and kept us up to date through the entire 6 hour surgery, After surgery Paxton was placed on an LVAD machine and it was explained that it could be difficult to control blood loss while he was on blood thinners needed while on the LVAD machine. When I walked in the room to see him for the first time I was absolutely overwhelmed with emotion. The blood loss was uncontrollable and Paxton had to be opened back up to find the source of the bleeding. During this entire process the nurses and doctors were keeping us informed and called in a sweet chaplain to pray with us and support us emotionally. Paxton spent 21 days in the hospital post surgery and is now energetic normal 4 year old and I can’t thank Nationwide enough.

https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/gravity_forms/4-ede9f44fbfc12d4ad796078917b471d6/2018/02/Paxton31.jpg
https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/gravity_forms/4-ede9f44fbfc12d4ad796078917b471d6/2018/02/Paxton5.jpg
https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/gravity_forms/4-ede9f44fbfc12d4ad796078917b471d6/2018/02/Paxton21.jpg
  • Name: Paxton B.Paxton Bell
  • Condition(s): Congenital Heart Disease
  • Age at Treatment: 6 Months Old
  • Age Today: 02/25/201311 Years

During my entire pregnancy, I believed I was carrying a perfectly healthy baby boy. On February 27th, I believed I was taking home a perfectly healthy baby boy. When Paxton was just a few weeks old he began throwing up frequently, and refusing to eat or sleep. After many doctors appointments and being told for 6 months, he was just a normal baby with belly issues, he began losing weight. After several tests, I took Paxton to Dayton Children’s hospital desperately seeking answers for my baby boy. They discovered he had an enlarged heart after an x-ray of the chest. That’s where out journey began. We were immediately rushed to the cardiology department for our first of many echos. We were told he had either an infection that was attacking the heart or a condition called ALCAPA. My entire family was absolutely devastated. My baby had been fighting for his life for 6 months, and I had no clue. His heart was so overworked it was the size of an adult’s hearts at 6 months old. The very next day we were transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Two days after arriving at Nationwide, Paxton’s diagnosis was confirmed, he was born with Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). My husband and I were completely heart broken but the Doctor working in the ICU that night hugged us, allowed us to cry on her shoulder, and assured us that they would do everything they could to save our babies life. The nurses at Nationwide Children’s Hospital truly care about their patients. They were so kind, understanding, and sweet during the most difficult time of my life.

On September 16, 2013 Dr. Galantowicz saved my sons life. Nothing can prepare a parent for something like this, handing your baby over to the nurses knowing this could be the very last time you see your baby alive. Dr. Galantowicz had the most amazing team that reassured us and kept us up to date through the entire 6 hour surgery, After surgery Paxton was placed on an LVAD machine and it was explained that it could be difficult to control blood loss while he was on blood thinners needed while on the LVAD machine. When I walked in the room to see him for the first time I was absolutely overwhelmed with emotion. The blood loss was uncontrollable and Paxton had to be opened back up to find the source of the bleeding. During this entire process the nurses and doctors were keeping us informed and called in a sweet chaplain to pray with us and support us emotionally. Paxton spent 21 days in the hospital post surgery and is now energetic normal 4 year old and I can’t thank Nationwide enough.

Share Paxton's Story

Comments

More Stories

  • Conlee H.

    Age: 8 Years | Cystic Fibrosis

  • Chloe .

    Age: 17 Years | Scoliosis

  • Stephanie F.

    Age: 53 Years | Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels

  • Lauren .

    Nager Syndrome

  • Emma D.

    Age: 17 Years | Cerebral Palsy

  • Evangelia B.

    Age: 10 Years | Pancreatic Tumor