Mile 66

When Knox was four years old, his annual wellness checkup with his pediatrician revealed a subtle anomaly that sent ripples of concern through the Rabalais family. During that visit, his pediatrician discovered a heart murmur, and he was referred to Dr/ Durga Naidu, pediatric cardiologist in Alexandira. When Knox visited Dr. Naidu, his blood pressure was very high. They checked it multiple times, and it remained dangerously elevated. Further tests, including an ultrasound of his heart, revealed a problem. Knox had coarctation of the aorta, a congenital heart defect where a portion of the aorta, the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body, is narrowed. This narrowing restricts blood flow to the lower part of the body and can lead to various complications including high blood pressure in the upper body and heart failure if left untreated. Surgery is required to repair it.

Dr. Naidu referred them to Dr. Timothy Pettitt, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Manning Family Children’s. They knew surgery was needed, which made Knox’s parents Shelly and Tanner anxious. But as Dr. Pettitt explained their son’s heart condition and how he would surgically treat it, they trusted him and The Heart Center at Manning Family Children’s team to guide them through. On January 25, 2024, Dr. Pettitt performed surgery to correct Knox’s coarcation of the aorta. The surgical repair involved removing the narrowed portion of the aorta and reconnecting the healthy ends together.

After surgery, Knox was transferred to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). The surgery was successful and Dr. Pettitt told the family that he was able to fix the coarcation and Knox would make a full recovery. Knox spent seven days in the hospital recovering before he was ready to go home. Since his surgery, 5-year-old Knox is thriving. He enjoys riding his bike, jumping on trampolines, playing ball, and being outdoors. He’s very active and loves playing with his 2-year-old sister.