John's Story

On the day Katie’s son, John, was born, an army of incredible doctors and nurses came together to bring him into the world safely. Weeks earlier, doctors including cardiologist Anita Krishnan, MD, at Children’s National Hospital, helped create the detailed birthing plans that were necessary to gather this army at Katie’s side and make sure John arrived as safely as possible.  

Dr. Krishnan first met Katie in 2020 after a routine ultrasound detected a potential issue with John’s heart. She was referred to Children’s National for a follow-up prenatal cardiology assessment. An echocardiogram revealed that John had hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) – a critical congenital heart defect that prevents the heart from pumping enough blood to the rest of the body. Without special care right away after birth, John could die.  Katie’s husband was not with her at the appointment that day because of COVID-19 office visit restrictions—she was on her own when she heard the news. However, she remembers Dr. Krishnan stepping in to hold her hand and reassure her as she processed the news. Dr. Krishnan’s support and encouragement continued throughout the next 17 weeks of her pregnancy.

After John’s careful and successful delivery at the family’s birth hospital, he was flown by helicopter to Children’s National while Katie recovered. Her husband sent her a video of the helicopter carrying her precious cargo taking off from the helipad.

John’s HLHS Journey at Children’s National Begins

John’s HLHS required a set of three specialized procedures in his early years to allow his heart to pump blood more effectively throughout his body. The first procedure, the Norwood, happened very quickly after birth. In the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Children’s National before the first surgery, Katie and her husband were introduced to Yves d’Udekem, MD, PhD, chief of Cardiac Surgery. He performed John’s Norwood procedure and ultimately completed all three of John’s surgeries over the course of the next four years. Katie remembers Dr. d’Udekem giving the family an important prescription for themselves in that first meeting: “Take care of yourself. If you aren’t healthy, he’s not going to be healthy.” The family took that advice to heart, and said it greatly helped them get through the next few years of visits, hospital stays and milestones. 

John's Fontan Procedure Starts a New Chapter for His Family

John’s Fontan procedure, happened at age 4. Since then, he and his family are living life to the fullest. His mom calls him a true “force of nature.” He loves preschool, playing soccer and spending time with his two siblings. 

 “John and his parents have been really strong through all his procedures and always had optimism and a sense of humor,” Dr. Krishnan says. “It's been fun to see him grow and get to love swimming and soccer.” 

While they’ve relished the new opportunities to have big adventures now that John is feeling better, they really try to enjoy the little things, too. After years of hospital stays, Katie says, “you forget how much you want to be on the couch on a Friday night.” 

Through everything, the Children’s National team, especially Dr. Krishnan, Dr. d’Udekem and the care providers from the hospital’s Single Ventricle Program, have helped the family celebrate John’s progress and navigate any challenges. 

“(The Heart and Lung Center) is a special place because of who leads them,” Katie says. “They are a team but also a family. They lift you up in the moment when you need it. I don’t think I would have been able to do it without them.”