Patient Family
For more information, contact Shelly Braun by email at heartandsole5k@aol.com or by phone (920)901-0991.
Katelyn Houston
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Katelyn was born on December 27, 2005 at 33 1/2 weeks at Aurora Baycare in Green Bay. Angie (Christel) Houston, Katelyn’s mother, had been hospitalized for six weeks for premature labor due to complications of a placenta previa. Although Katelyn was born early, numerous tests had predicted a healthy baby girl and the doctors seemed confident that she had made it past the crucial 28th week. Shortly after delivery it was discovered that she had tracheoesophageal atresia, meaning that her esophagus was connected to her breathing system instead of her stomach. Katelyn needed to be airlifted to Children’s Hospital, but it was too foggy to fly so she was taken by ambulance to Milwaukee. Angie was told that the Katelyn’s biggest hurdle would be surviving the ambulance ride. Hours later word came that Katelyn had been diagnosed with a rare combination of birth anomalies besides her esophagus, the most severe being a heart defect known as an“AP window.” This is where the aorta and pulmonary artery have failed to separate, causing the blood to circulate incorrectly. VATER or VACTERL association is an acronym used to describe this series of characteristics which have been found to occur together.
Katelyn had surgery to place a feeding tube through her stomach when she was one day old. When she was barely one week old, she had the connection between her esophagus and stomach connected. The staff in the NICU at Children’s was so helpful and considerate. The heart surgery was to be scheduled for when she was at five pounds, but her deteriorating condition forced the team to move ahead, and surgery was scheduled for Katelyn’s 15th day in this world. She was small, the AP surgery is rare, but Children’s Hospital has one of the best pediatric heart teams in the country.
The cardiac intensive care at Children’s is amazing. One young patient received an artificial heart, which was highly publicized in the media. Doctors were there from Germany, where the heart was invented. The boy left with the heart, and a few weeks later returned when a donor heart became available. Several days later he left the PICU, looking much stronger. The artificial heart kept him alive until a human heart became available. The artificial heart had not been used at Children’s before as it was still not approved by US government! So Children’s borrowed one from Canada. Just one example of the people at CHW always looking for a way to make a difference, patient by patient. Meanwhile, Katelyn still had her chest open…
Katelyn’s teams of doctors were challenged by her condition, her size and unpredictability. But the nurses were experienced and wise, and they kept saying that Katelyn was a fighter and when she was ready she would improve rapidly. They never gave up hope and they helped Katelyn’s family keep their sanity. One nurse even knitted her socks.
Katelyn finally got to come home on April 12, 2006. She returns several times a month for ongoing care and has had other short term hospitalizations required since. Katelyn underwent her most recent surgery at Children’s Hospital on June 14, 2010. Through it all, Katelyn’s family is so thankful for the wonderful care she received and continues to receive through the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
We are proud to welcome Katelyn and her Mom, Angie, as our Patient Family. This is Katelyn in 2010 - she is an amazing little girl with a wonderful spirit that inspires us all!!