Samantha’s Journey through CHD

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect and a lifelong condition with no cure.

My name is Samantha I am from Huntington, WV and I was born with Congenital Heart Disease, I was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta, Ventricular Septal Defect, Pulmonary Stenosis and Transposition of the Great Vessels. I have had 6 of my 7 surgeries done at WVU Medicine, which I was the first Arterial Switch that Dr. Gus performed at WVU. I had my 7th surgery, left subclavian bypass at Nationwide Children’s in 2016.

I don’t remember my life without having my scars. My parents have NO pictures of me WITHOUT scars on my body. I was 3 days old when I had my first surgery. No my skin is not blemish free, or scar free, but I AM beautiful. My scars make me who I am, and they remind me of the pain I went through. Every chest tube that was pulled, every suture that was removed, every sleepless night because I was in too much pain to get comfortable. I am reminded of how my parents never left my side, even after visiting hours were over. I want parents of CHD children or even younger CHD kids to look at me and see that there is hope, hope for today, hope for tomorrow. Hope that one day they can celebrate their 30th birthday. One surgery, in particular, I was given three percent chance of survival. I couldn’t be happier with how these turned out, they remind me what I have gone through! Don’t be ashamed of your scar(s), for, without them, we wouldn’t be here today!

https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sam-scar.jpg
https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/moms-day-1.jpg
https://flutter.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SAMANTHA-e1486727729549.jpg

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect and a lifelong condition with no cure.

My name is Samantha I am from Huntington, WV and I was born with Congenital Heart Disease, I was diagnosed with Coarctation of the Aorta, Ventricular Septal Defect, Pulmonary Stenosis and Transposition of the Great Vessels. I have had 6 of my 7 surgeries done at WVU Medicine, which I was the first Arterial Switch that Dr. Gus performed at WVU. I had my 7th surgery, left subclavian bypass at Nationwide Children’s in 2016.

I don’t remember my life without having my scars. My parents have NO pictures of me WITHOUT scars on my body. I was 3 days old when I had my first surgery. No my skin is not blemish free, or scar free, but I AM beautiful. My scars make me who I am, and they remind me of the pain I went through. Every chest tube that was pulled, every suture that was removed, every sleepless night because I was in too much pain to get comfortable. I am reminded of how my parents never left my side, even after visiting hours were over. I want parents of CHD children or even younger CHD kids to look at me and see that there is hope, hope for today, hope for tomorrow. Hope that one day they can celebrate their 30th birthday. One surgery, in particular, I was given three percent chance of survival. I couldn’t be happier with how these turned out, they remind me what I have gone through! Don’t be ashamed of your scar(s), for, without them, we wouldn’t be here today!

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