Born with a serious, potentially fatal heart defect, a Michigan woman believed it would be too dangerous to have children, but after suffering multiple high-risk pregnancies over the span of a few years, she is now living a happy and healthy life with two children.
Hannah Hawley, 31, of Houghton, Michigan, was diagnosed with an abnormal left coronary artery (ALCAPA), which made it difficult for her heart to pump enough oxygen.
Throughout his life, he required surgery, hospitalization, and regular medications to manage his condition. As part of one of the surgeries, a valve was placed in her body that could prevent her from getting pregnant.
She is the proud mother of 2-year-old Luna and 1-year-old Axel, who, after two surprising and difficult pregnancies, are living happy lives she never thought were possible anymore.
Hannah Hawley (pictured), 31, of Houghton, Michigan, never expected to become pregnant after she had a bioprosthesis inserted to correct a congenital heart defect.
Hawley had to undergo two surgeries before she turned five because of her battle with ALCAPA.
The serious condition affects one in every 300,000 babies born, according to a study published by the Nation’s Institutes of Health.
Those suffering from this condition have a malfunctioning mitral valve that cannot deliver enough oxygen and blood to the heart.
In many cases, it can cause heart inflammation, failure, and even death. The first sign that a baby has a heart problem is often feeding difficulties.
After two surgeries at a young age, Hawley took medications to manage her condition. His condition improved to the point where he could stop taking the drugs in adulthood.
However, he was hospitalized again in 2017 after a person was diagnosed with endocarditis, a condition in which the heart valves become inflamed.
However, Hawley (pictured) got pregnant in 2019 and had a difficult pregnancy that nearly cost her her life. The severe heart defect recurred during pregnancy and at some point had to replace the bioprosthesis as well.
He needed an implanted bioprosthetic valve to replace the mitral valve to improve the condition and save his life. While it probably saved her life, she was told that she would probably never get pregnant and even if she did, it would be a very risky ordeal.
Only years later, in 2019, she got pregnant. Throughout her pregnancy, she was constantly supervised and monitored by doctors from the University of Michigan.
“He was a very complex patient who needed the care of our collaborative team,” said Dr. Elizabeth Langen, MD, a heart obstetrician at Michigan Health, said in a statement.
“She was pretty sick of heart problems before, during, and after pregnancy.”
At some point during her pregnancy, Hawley started having trouble breathing and was taken back to the hospital.
He eventually had to replace the heart valve as the original prosthesis shrank.
However, a problem arose. Because a baby is on the way and a cesarean delivery is likely to be imminent, doctors were unsure whether they would be able to perform the surgery before or after delivery.
However, Hawley survived the ordeal and even had a second child, which she now happily raises at home.
They decided to have a cesarean section at 33 weeks and Luna was born in 2019 while her mother was waiting for heart surgery.
Treating Hawley at the hospital, Dr. “We knew we had to have the mitral valve procedure very soon,” Timothy Cotts said in a statement.
Six days after birth, she developed congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to supply the body with the oxygen it needs.
Doctors performed a valve-in-valve procedure to insert a catheter into the femoral artery.
“It was such a difficult experience… I was just trying to resist,” Hawley said.
After a few weeks in intensive care, Hawley was able to recover and raise her first child at home.
Her second birth was less eventful, but she still needed the Michigan Health team’s supervision so her heart could keep up.
“Her heart was much better during her second pregnancy,” Langen said.
Axel was born without major problems and is now raising two children at home.
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
