An Open Letter to the Surgeon who Saved My Life

EASTON, CT — "Twenty-three years ago I was born at Yale New Haven hospital. Leading up to my birth on August 5, 1993, my parents made regular doctor visits-- each time, nurses exclaiming how everything from my head to my tiny toes was going to be perfect! And everything was perfect until my mom’s final checkup, the last one before I was due.

My dad says the expression on the nurse’s face drastically changed in a matter of seconds. She did more tests, then left the room, then came back. Ultimately she sent them on to their OB/GYN to explain the unforeseen complications.

In less than a few weeks I was born with a hole in my heart and my great vessels were also switched. Within a week of being born, I began to turn blue due to the lack of oxygen in my blood that was supposed to be pumped from my heart to the rest of my body.

My fingertips were the first to turn blue. The OB/GYN immediately sent out a video of my very unique, very urgent heart condition to doctors all around the world. The doctor told my parents they were lucky. Someone at Boston’s Children’s hospital thought he had a “good shot” a performing this risky surgery.

The other alternatives? Most children don’t live more than a few months. I would have open-heart surgery 11 days after I was born. So my family packed up the car, drove to Boston and met Dr. Richard Jonas in the evening.

Dr. Jonas seemed sure of himself and told my parents, “I can promise that I will do my very best.” I was attached to lung and heart machines which were performing the basic functions that my body couldn’t. Surrounded by nearly 12 doctors, Dr. Jonas led the orchestration of their tools, leaving my fate in their hands.

My parents, who paced around with a beeper (cell phones were not yet popularized), were given updates every 45 minutes. About six to eight hours later, the surgery was done. Follow up appointments, procedures, extreme care and sleepless nights awaited, but I had survived.

How do you thank someone for saving your life? This is the best way I know how.

Dr. Jonas is one of the top heart surgeons in the world, specializing in optimizing the developmental and cognitive outcomes of patients after surgery for congenital heart disease. His gift allows me to wake up every morning and read, run, teach elementary school, spend time with my three sisters and friends, grow, dance and spread my own gift to the world. I am blessed to live a very normal life, with a subtle heart murmur and a six-inch scar down my chest as a healthy reminder of the miracle Dr. Jonas gave to me.

I would like to extend my infinite thanks and gratitude to Dr. Jonas. In doing so, I hope to now encourage anyone impacted by him to reach out and say thank you. His hands have touched the lives of countless people, giving young children a second chance before they even realize it. To everyone else, let this serve as a reminder that not everyone gets a chance to explore this amazing world, and that many families will lose loved ones to heart disease.

Thank you to all of the surgeons, doctors and nurses involved in helping patients and families cope and overcome heart disease. And thank you, Dr. Jonas, for saving my life 23 years ago."

— Written by Casey DeLorenzo