Download heartheroesjacobwasbornahealthybabyboythirteenyearsago

Jacob was born a healthy baby boy thirteen years ago. He has grown up to be a great
student, a dedicated athlete, and an all-around great person. Last May during a routine
well-child/immunization visit to the pediatrician it was discovered that Jacob had high
blood pressure and a heart murmur that had never before been detected . After follow
up tests were performed up at OHSU in Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Jacob was
diagnosed with a heart condition known as a coarctation of the aorta. The aorta is the
largest vessel attached to the heart. Jacob's aorta had a pinch in it much like a kink in a
hose. The kink was causing very high blood pressure above the kink in his upper body,
and simultaneously causing very low blood pressure below the kink leaving his lower
extremities in a state that is comparable to dehydration. In fact, the only way Jacob was
getting any blood flow beyond his kink, is that he had developed a bunch of small
compensatory vessels that began above the kink and ended below, it was his body's
way of adapting to his specific situation in order to get blood flow to the lower portion
of his body for 13 years until this point.
In July, of 2014, the cardiology intervention team at OHSU attempted to open
up this kink by adding a stint. At this time, the intervention team discovered that what
had been previously considered to be a kink, was virtually disconnected and it would
require heart surgery to repair.
On September 5th, 2014, Jacob underwent heart surgery. The pediatric cardiac
surgical team successfully grafted a carbon based tube in place of the disconnected
portion of his aorta. The surgery itself took about 7 hours and his recovery went well.
Jacob has since had two subsequent hospitalizations; both to remove fluid from his
paracardium, which is the lining around the heart.
He is doing great now and has since gotten all caught up in school with his peers and also
has recently been released to play sports again, Jacob plans to play baseball this spring. Although
his aorta is now functioning normally because the structure was repaired, Jacob continues to
have high blood pressure and will likely have to work with a cardiologist for his entire life in
order to keep his blood pressure within a healthy range.