Mile 38

When Kheri went in for her first ultrasound during pregnancy, she was excited to see her baby boy, Easton. But that appointment quickly turned serious when doctors noticed something concerning with his heart. From that moment, Kheri began working with the cardiology team at Manning Family Children’s. Though they couldn’t see Easton’s heart directly in the womb, it was clear that something was wrong, and when Kheri gave birth, Easton was immediately transferred to the NICU for observation and a full diagnosis.​

Easton was diagnosed with tricuspid atresia—a serious congenital heart defect—along with several related complications, including a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Despite the severity of his condition, he didn’t require immediate surgery as a newborn. Instead, at six months old, Easton underwent the Norwood procedure, a complex operation that helps reroute blood flow in children with single-ventricle hearts. When he was three and a half, he had the Glenn procedure, which is typically the final planned surgery in the series. Now nine years old, Easton has come a long way from his early days in the NICU.​

Today, Easton is part of the Fontan Clinic at Manning Family Children’s—a comprehensive care program for patients who have undergone single-ventricle heart surgeries. In addition to seeing his cardiologist twice a year, Easton receives care from a team that includes a gastroenterologist, psychologist, and other specialists who monitor how his heart condition affects other organs like his liver. The clinic offers wraparound support that helps Easton navigate life after surgery, with personalized attention to every aspect of his health and development.​

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