Mile 51

When Dennis and Aaron McDuffie found out they were expecting a baby at age 41, they were shocked and overjoyed. After years of infertility and welcoming their adopted daughter, they believed a natural pregnancy wasn’t possible. But as the pregnancy progressed, they encountered a series of challenges—including a two-vessel umbilical cord and gestational diabetes. At a 24-week ultrasound, they received even more difficult news: their daughter, Eliza, had Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a complex congenital heart defect. From that point on, they prepared for a high-risk delivery and a potentially complicated road ahead.

Eliza was born at 37 weeks and admitted to the NICU. Just days later, she began experiencing tet spells—sudden drops in oxygen levels—which led to her emergency transfer to Manning Family Children’s. At just 13 days old, she underwent open-heart surgery. The surgery successfully repaired her heart while preserving her pulmonary valve, reducing the likelihood of future interventions. Eliza spent over three weeks recovering in the cardiac intensive care unit, facing a collapsed lung and feeding challenges before finally becoming strong enough to go home.

Now three months old, Eliza is thriving. She’s gaining weight, engaging with her family, and charming everyone with her smiles. The McDuffies credit the expert team at Manning Family Children’s with not only saving their daughter’s life but treating them with compassion every step of the way. For them, the hospital became more than a place of healing—it became an extension of their family.