Chris and Lindsay Balmert were excited to expect their second child. It was at their anatomy scan when they learned she would be born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). It was determined the baby girl had transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA).
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With D-TGA the two main arteries, the pulmonary and aorta, are connected to the wrong chambers of the heart. This means the blood being pumped through the heart is not properly oxygenized and deoxygenized. The baby would need to have an open heart surgery procedure called an arterial switch only a few days after birth.
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Ryann Marie was born on March 6th, and it was determined through an echocardiogram that she has a different form of TGA known as L-TGA or corrected transposition of the great arteries. This is where the right and left lower chambers of the heart are reversed. Basically, Ryann’s heart works opposite of a normal heart. Instead of her high-velocity chamber pumping blood to her body, her low-velocity chamber is now responsible for pumping the blood to her body. This is a growing concern because as her heart begins to take on more of a workload, it may struggle to keep up with the demand of blood flow.
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She also has an atrial septal defect (ASD) which is a hole in the wall that separates the top two chambers of the heart. If the ASD does not correct itself on its own, she will need to have open heart surgery to close the hole.
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Ryann will need very close monitoring for the rest of her life, and possible surgeries to repair her heart in the future.
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Unfortunately, there are a lot of unknowns with this defect. The studies just aren’t available because it is such a rare condition. Ryann’s condition of L-TGA with an ASD falls within the 0.5% of babies born with a congenital heart defect.
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“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it only empties today of its strength. We must remind ourselves to never fall victim to fear and to never consume ourselves in the unknown. The future is the future and we will handle it when it comes through strength and power of prayer. Until then, we will cherish every moment in the present as it happens.”
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They are blessed to have a beautiful baby girl who has an unbelievable will to fight. She has already touched the lives of many, and will only continue to inspire.
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Because of this experience, the Balmert's are determined to spread awareness about CHD to help other families who are or will be effected by heart defects. Medical research is key to provide the best care for CHD babies.
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They will be forever grateful to the pediatric cardiology team at Cleveland Clinic Children's and want to do everything they can to pay it forward.
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Love,
The Balmert Family
