A Mother Shares Her Daughter's Heart Survival Story
WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Each year, over a hundred babies are born with congenital heart defects, just like 2-and-a-half-year-old Georgie Schumacher. Her mom, Rachel, describes her as a fighter.
"This is her incision," Schumacher pointed out. "Her scars here are from her chest tube."
Georgie was born with five congenital heart defects, including two holes in her heart.
"The overwhelming fear and anxiety is indescribable," expressed Schumacher.
The tiny baby underwent testing, scans, and surgeries before finally meeting her big brother, Charles. It was an emotional moment for everyone.
"So he finally got to meet her," Schumacher recounted. "She was 23 days old, and it was one of the most special days of my life. It was the fear, the fear that she might not make it."
Now, after numerous doctor's appointments, scans, and physical therapy sessions, Georgie is living life as a typical toddler.
Georgie is the 2024 American Heart Association survivor and will be featured at this year's Heart Ball, an event that raises funds for research to help detect and fix heart defects like hers.
"In the future, I hope these defects will be found in utero," Schumacher remarked. "Georgie's was not found in utero. That's where the technology needs a little bit more. It would have been found a little bit earlier."
Schumacher credits a new nurse practitioner for discovering Georgie's heart defect just before she was discharged from the hospital, emphasizing the importance of sharing this story.
"It's not just about the research. It's about education to teach our providers to take that extra look," Schumacher emphasized. "I don't know her. I wouldn't be able to pick her out of a crowd, but she saved my kid's life, and I'm in debt to her for that."
Georgie's life is expected to be healthy and happy for years to come.
"She has a lot of strength, bravery, resilience, drive, and I'm proud of myself for getting her the care that she needs."
Georgie shouldn't need another heart surgery until she's in her 50s or 60s, which is a true testament to what doctors can accomplish now.