Cheryl, born 1980

I was born November 6, 1980 but it wasn't until two weeks later that I was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries. A balloon septostomy quickly followed, and in May of 1981, I had the Mustard Procedure. I had a second open heart at four years old to fix a "blow out'' in my inferior vena cava, caused by scar tissue from my first surgery.

 

At 11 years old, I was put on lanoxin and five years later, after my first RF ablation, I was taken off. I had my second ablation right after my 21st birthday for AV nodal reentry tachycardia.

 

In 2005, I had placement of an ICD (pacemaker).

 

Story by Cheryl, Adult CHD survivor - North Carolina