Emmanuel's Story
When I met with my doctor for my 5-month pregnancy check-up, he told me he couldn’t see my baby’s heart properly and referred me to the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
I am a nurse and when I got the report, I read it obviously by curiosity. It was written ‘’not being able to see the heart properly, Tetralogy of Fallot or Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). Before going to the cardiac echography of Emmanuel’s heart, I knew it wasn`t a good thing and I was scared.
I got a call from the Children’s and they had an opening on the day we were due to leave on a trip. So that morning, I went to the Children’s by myself. We thought everything was probably going to be fine. My spouse would pack up so we could go to the airport as soon as I come back.
Then it became the worst day of my life...
The cardiologist came in and showed me the difference between a healthy heart and Emmanuel’s heart: he had a Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). Emmanuel would need a very delicate surgery after his birth.
We still went on that trip but I cried a lot. Then I told myself it wasn’t good for Emmanuel for me to be sad. He could actually be even sicker or I could lose him so I tried to buck myself up and think positive.
I reached a cardiac surgeon I knew at the Royal Vic. knew Dr. Tchevenkov, Emmanuel’s heart surgeon, very well. He told me: ’’Look Sandra, I know this is stressful for you but Emmanuel is in the best hands ever.’’ I must say that after meeting Dr. Tchervenkov, I realized how much he treated this baby like his own.
We were very well taken care of during my weekly check-ups at the Children’s.
I gave birth on September 3rd 2013 at the Royal Vic. There was a trauma team waiting for Emmanuel and 3 intensive care doctors. They intubated him and they told me it was very important to transfer him to the Children’s as soon as possible.
Emmanuel was only 4 pounds and was extremely sick.
The first time I ever saw my child was in this picture sent by my spouse. I couldn’t move away from the Royal Vic and Emmanuel was at the Children’s. I signed myself out of the hospital because, from my understanding, my son was very sick and we didn’t know if he was going to make it. He was three days old when I first saw him in person in the NICU. I have to tell you, these nurses deserve all the praise they get. They really take the time to explain to you what’s going on.
Emmanuel underwent his operation on Day 7 and spent his first 41 days of life in the hospital. Today he is a healthy 2 year-old boy. We are grateful Emmanuel was taken care of by the very special and competent staff at the Children’s.
I now feel it is my duty to help other families because having a child with a heart condition is a big burden, not only emotionally but also financially.
- Sandra
Learn how Sandra is helping other families going through similar difficult moments by tuning in to Bell Media’s CJAD 800, Virgin Radio 96, CHOM 97.7 or TSN 690 on June 2 for the 13th edition of the Caring for Kids Radiothon.
Broadcast live from the P.K. Subban Atrium of the Montreal Children’s, the Radiothon is a unique opportunity for dozens of young patients and their families like Sandra to share with you remarkable and inspiring stories of how their lives have been touched by the Children’s and those who support the hospital.
The first time I ever saw my child was in this picture sent by my spouse. I couldn’t move away from the Royal Vic and Emmanuel was at the Children’s. I signed myself out of the hospital because, from my understanding, my son was very sick and we didn’t know if he was going to make it. He was three days old when I first saw him in person in the NICU. I have to tell you, these nurses deserve all the praise they get. They really take the time to explain to you what’s going on.
Emmanuel underwent his operation on Day 7 and spent his first 41 days of life in the hospital. Today he is a healthy 2 year-old boy. We are grateful Emmanuel was taken care of by the very special and competent staff at the Children’s.
I now feel it is my duty to help other families because having a child with a heart condition is a big burden, not only emotionally but also financially.
- Sandra
Learn how Sandra is helping other families going through similar difficult moments by tuning in to Bell Media’s CJAD 800, Virgin Radio 96, CHOM 97.7 or TSN 690 on June 2 for the 13th edition of the Caring for Kids Radiothon.
Broadcast live from the P.K. Subban Atrium of the Montreal Children’s, the Radiothon is a unique opportunity for dozens of young patients and their families like Sandra to share with you remarkable and inspiring stories of how their lives have been touched by the Children’s and those who support the hospital.