Patient Stories

Branda

Before she was born, doctors found a large mass blocking Branda's airway. Branda's parents were referred to the Fetal Concerns Center of Wisconsin, where doctors and nurses helped her parents understand her condition and plan treatment that could save her life.

To save Branda's life, doctors at Children's Hospital and Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin teamed up to perform one of the first EXIT procedures in southeast Wisconsin. During this procedure, doctors performed surgery on Branda before birth, while she still was getting oxygen through the umbilical cord. They created an airway for her so that she would be able to breathe at birth. After the surgery, doctors delivered Branda 8 weeks early.

After Branda was born, doctors determined the tumor could not be removed. She spent about 70 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

Through the years, Branda's tumor shrunk and then disappeared by itself, without treatment. Today, Branda is a healthy, happy 5-year-old that runs and plays like any other child.

Gannon

Before birth, Gannon was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart, which means that the left side of his heart was underdeveloped and could not function properly.

Gannon's family was referred to the Fetal Concerns Center of Wisconsin. Doctors and nurses in the program helped Gannon's parents understand everything about their baby's heart condition and treatment and plan for their baby's care.

Gannon spent the first 7-1/2 weeks of his life at Children's Hospital, during which he had an abdominal surgery and the first of three surgeries required to fix his heart.

However, after the second heart surgery, Gannon wasn't doing well. Physicians decided that he needed a heart transplant. One week later – at age 10 months – he was placed on the transplant list. The family waited 96 days for a new heart.

Today, Gannon is doing very well. He just celebrated his one-year anniversary for his new heart.