From infant surgery to netball: girl beats rare heart odds
Alexis underwent three surgeries at 10 weeks for a rare heart defect and now plays netball.
Alexis was diagnosed at 14 days old with atrioventricular septal defect. The defect means holes form in the heart's chamber walls and valves don't develop properly.
At 10 weeks, she had three major surgeries in 14 days. Surgeons patched the holes and tried to repair the valve.
Then they replaced the valve entirely with a mechanical one. Alexis received a pacemaker at age five.
Now in grade 6, Alexis plays netball. She takes care to avoid injury.
Her mother says the long journey from intensive infant care to normal childhood has been extraordinary. The family is sharing her story ahead of a HeartKids fundraising walk on Oct 11 in Tasmania.
- one in 2100
- Heart defect rate
- 10 weeks
- Age at surgery
- 14 days
- Surgery timeframe
- five years old
- Pacemaker installed age
Why it mattersShows how early specialist surgery and long-term care can help. Children with severe heart defects can have not just survival, but active, normal lives.
AustraliaAustralian families facing a child's serious heart condition can see the real outcomes modern surgery and medical support make possible.
Corroborated bytheadvocate.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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