Heart Health Articles | Patient Stories

Image of the retrievable leadless pacemaker

UC Davis doctor first in the world to implant a retrievable leadless pacemaker in a child

“It’s amazing how small the device is. It’s like the size of one AA battery,” said Heather Hayes, whose son Matias was the first to have the procedure done.

Surgery

Local fetal and cardiac surgery team saves Folsom baby with heart defect

When a routine ultrasound at 20 weeks revealed a potential heart defect in their developing baby, Stephanie and Travis Dover of Folsom were caught off guard.

Heart Health

Cardiac procedure saves child with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome

“Dr. Frank Ing took one look at Zyllah and said that she had SVC syndrome. Right off the bat he knew it and he knew what to do to treat it. We were so relieved.”

Heart Health

Happy homecoming for local baby after high-risk heart procedures

JJ Gomez-Flores’ heart defect meant a long, scary road ahead. But he and his family would not be alone on the ride.

Heart Health

Baby with congenital heart disease finds winning care team

Lodi infant with Tetralogy of Fallot needed multiple heart surgeries.

Heart Health

Innovative procedure buys time for newborn who needs heart surgery

Carter Vincent is living proof that a unique approach by doctors at UC Davis Children’s Hospital could successfully stave off major cardiac surgery just days after his birth.

Heart Health

Family grateful after son’s congenital heart condition is found during a free heart screening event

My son would never have met the clinical guidelines to warrant an echocardiogram! I can’t say enough about how much this screening has meant to us!

Frank Ing with baby Mateo and his parents.

Heart Health

Game-changing heart surgery helps premature baby

Born at 25 weeks, Mateo was diagnosed with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome and transported to UC Davis Children’s Hospital where world-renowned pediatric cardiologist Frank Ing performed life-saving surgery.

Read Mateo’s full story

Heart Health

Pediatric cardiologist performs life-saving surgery on baby with rare heart condition

The Carson family had no idea their daughter had a rare congenital heart defect until she was airlifted to UC Davis after her heart was compressing her windpipe.

Read Heidi’s full story

Maternity

Another Fontan patient joins motherhood with healthy baby

With help from UC Davis Health, patient Karla Barrientos had baby Andrea.

Surgery

Thanks to the amazing care at UC Davis, Alana is now a thriving, independent and healthy little girl

After spending 119 days in the NICU, the Bender family could finally take their miracle baby home. Six years later, Alana is healthy, energetic, loves music, dancing and her family.

Maternity

Fontan patient fulfills her dreams of motherhood

Born with only one functional heart ventricle, Kayla Price always thought that having a baby wasn’t in the cards. But then she got her miracle.

Surgery

The specialists who gave a boy a heart for life

After being born with a rare heart defect, Damian overcame three open-heart surgeries with the help of pediatric specialists who provided life-saving care and support to him and his family.

Video

Surgery

Multiple heart surgeries set the stage for a promising future

Casey was born with a congenital heart defect and needed a series of surgeries to repair it. Now as a 16-year-old, he lives a normal teenage life as he pursues photography, engineering and a promising future.

Watch the video

Surgery

Grace's story

“Grace loves everyone and everyone loves Grace.” That is how people see this little superhero.

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