Healing Amelia's Heart
Amelia was an unusually-sleepy baby at a week old. Her mom, Melissa, knew something wasn’t right. “My pediatrician said, “Go straight to Children’s National Hospital.’”
Our emergency department prioritized care for the 6-day-old. They thought she might have had an infection. Care providers transferred her to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Lowell Frank, MD, diagnosed Amelia not with an infection, but with something more serious: a ventricular septal defect. He drew pictures for her family to illustrate the hole in Amelia’s heart and explained what her symptoms meant. “We felt very informed,” Melissa says. “They made it possible for us to be partners in this process.”
Melissa recalls the nurses as a very calming presence. Discounted meals and care from lactation specialists also helped ease the stress of Amelia being in the hospital. “The care was for all of us,” Melissa says.
The family continued to work with cardiologist Gerard Martin, MD, after Amelia was discharged, to monitor her heart. Last August, Dr. Martin delivered news that the family could fire him — Amelia’s heart had healed itself. She’s now almost 2 and loves to play with her older brother, Maxwell.
“Amelia had a rough start,” Melissa says, “but Children’s National was the place to be to get her back on track.”
Amelia's Care Team Departments
Care Team
Lowell Howard Frank, MD
- Program Director, Cardiology Fellowship Training
- Advanced Imaging Cardiologist
Lowell Howard Frank, MD
Locations
Departments
Gerard R. Martin, MD
Locations
Departments
Be the Reason a Child Smiles
Every day at Children’s National Hospital, lives are changed through compassionate care and groundbreaking discoveries. Your charitable donation helps us deliver expert treatment and hope to thousands of children and families.
Meet the patients whose stories inspire us—and see the difference your support makes.