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First-grader shares news of hope, inspiration
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Like most first-grade boys, 6-year-old Corey Barnett dreams of hitting a grand slam home run, shooting a three-pointer on the basketball court and scoring the winning goal for his soccer team.
His parents, Cheryl and Russ Barnett of Buffalo Grove, say their dreams for Corey are a bit closer to the heart.
Corey was born Jan. 19, 2001, at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, and his parents say they knew their son was special right from the start.
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| Six-year-old Corey Barnett of Buffalo Grove takes to the soccer field. |
While tipping the scales at a healthy nine pounds, the newborn faced some immediate and daunting health challenges.
Like many of the approximately 36,000 babies born each year with a congenital heart defect, Corey arrived after a normal 40-week pregnancy, although the delivery was frightening.
According to the American Heart Association, congenital cardiovascular defects are present in about one percent of live births. They are the most common congenital malformations and in many cases, scientists say they don't know why they occur.
"I was in labor for 12 hours, but doctors became concerned when the baby's heart rate kept dropping," recalls his mom, Cheryl, a manager for Discover Financial Services in Riverwoods.
"His first 12 hours of life were uneventful, but by morning the pediatrician noticed something was wrong. He heard a heart murmur."
An echocardiogram and additional testing helped a pediatric cardiologist pinpoint the source of Corey's murmur — a congenital cardiac defect.
"We were told our son had something called aortic valve stenosis," says the mother of two. "Corey's aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and his aorta, wasn't formed properly. Instead of the normal three valve leaflets, Corey had only two. Because of this, his heart was working very hard and we were told it would become bigger and bigger."
'The repairs won't last forever'
Sometimes, experts say, as in Corey's case, the aortic narrowing or stenosis is so severe that symptoms occur in infancy. The need for surgery varies depending on severity. To date, Corey has had three heart surgeries to repair the problematic valve, with surgeons periodically sewing pieces of pericardium to form the missing flap.
"Unfortunately, the repairs won't last forever," Corey's mom explains. "He'll eventually need a more permanent repair. The older he gets, the stronger he'll be and at some point, valve replacement will become necessary."
The Barnetts say they are grateful for the expertise of Dr. Michel Ilbawi, the pediatric cardiac surgeon who has performed all three of Corey's repairs and for the American Heart Association researchers whose work made their son's life possible.
"Twenty years ago, Corey would not have survived infancy," his mom explains. "Thank goodness the expertise was available when Corey arrived."
Corey is now a 54-pound first grader at Tripp Elementary School in Buffalo Grove, and the Barnetts say it's difficult to understand their son's heart challenges while watching one of his soccer, basketball or baseball games.
"Aerobic activates are great, but his doctors have warned Corey to avoid anaerobic sports like wresting or football," reports his mom. "Like many boys his age, he dreams of one day becoming a professional baseball player or a fireman. The options are endless."
Corey, his big brother, Max, 8, and parents shared their story of hope and inspiration as speakers at the 2007 American Heart Association Metro Chicago Heart Ball, an event celebrating 25 years of lifesaving work and raising awareness of heart disease and it's consequences for families, friends and co-workers.
Open heart surgery, advances in congenital cardiac care and repair, mechanical hearts, valves, the use of stents, clot-busting medications to save stroke patients, cholesterol and blood-pressure lowering drugs, robots, new preventive measures — all miracles of the 21st century — are cause for celebration, they say.
While deservingly proud of medical science advances, American Heart Association experts say more needs to be done for the thousands of children like Corey born with congenital cardiac defects, and to reduce deaths from heart attack and stroke.
26th Annual American Heart Ball
This year's Heart Ball is slated for Saturday, April 12, in the Grand Ballroom at Chicago's Navy Pier.
The 26th annual event is a prominent black-tie gala featuring gourmet heart-healthy dining, great music and outstanding auction items, says Michael Kasper, Humana-Illinois president, who co-chairs the event with Dr. Stephen Archer, chief of Cardiology at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, chief of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
"Heart disease has affected me personally," says Kasper, who points to the deaths of all four of his grandparents from cardiac and stroke causes.
"At the time my grandparents faced health challenges, there was a lack of technology and understanding," notes Kasper, an avid runner and exercise enthusiast. "Now I'm seeing my parents facing similar challenges, but with dramatically different results."
Kasper points to his father's same day surgery to place an artery-clearing stent and his mom's cardiomyopathy and diabetes treatment with special medications as perfect examples of newer techniques and advances making a difference in the lives of Americans.
"The Heart Ball is a terrific opportunity to celebrate research advances, raise money for additional research and bring together the medical experts, executives from the administrative side of health care and corporate leaders," he says.
Over the past 26 years, the Chicago Heart Ball has generated $8 million to fund local research projects, education and community programs to fight heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association funded 59 research studies at 10 institutions in Illinois at a cost of $7 million in 2006. But many medical challenges remain.
For more information, call (312) 476-6636 or e-mail 2008ChicagoHeartBall@heart.org.
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