BATON ROUGE — Marin Varnado is a survivor.

The 16-year-old LSU Lab School sophomore has been battling congenital heart disease since birth. Having had two open heart surgeries and a pacemaker fitted four times, she carries the physical scars of her courageous journey.

Open heart surgery at 3 weeks old

Marin’s mother, Anna Claire William Varnado, a home health nurse, said her pregnancy was uneventful. It was the day after Marin’s birth that doctors told her she would need open heart surgery in the next few months.

The journey became even more intense when a cardiologist discovered Marin’s condition was more serious than expected and recommended surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. On Halloween 2007, three weeks after his birth, Marin underwent his first open heart surgery.

“The surgery didn’t go well,” Anna Claire explained. “There were some complications. She was discharged from the hospital after surgery with a permanent bypass machine called ECMO for a week. She was on a ventilator for a month.”

“Inside and outside” of the hospital

A number of procedures followed, including the installation of a pacemaker and feeding tube for her heart condition. “For the first year of her life, she was in and out of the hospital almost constantly with heart-related issues.”

A few months later, doctors had to replace Marin’s pacemaker due to an infection. Marin lived her life to the fullest despite having her pacemaker replaced at the age of nine due to a Reed fracture and being diagnosed with heart disease.

Lately, Marin has been going through a roller coaster of health issues. Two years ago, she developed an abnormality in her heart, which she managed well with medication. She had her pacemaker replaced and surgery to correct her arrhythmia last summer. However, three weeks later, second-year student Marin’s health suddenly deteriorated and she went into sudden cardiac arrest.

“She went into cardiac arrest,” Anna Claire said. “Her stepmother called me and she could hear (Marin) crying in the background. By the time I got to her father’s house, she was gone. Ta.”

Anna Claire used her background as a nurse to administer CPR and was able to revive her daughter.

“I think I went into nurse/mother mode,” she said. “I lifted her off the couch onto her floor. I gave her two rounds of CPR and she started breathing.”

“She’s doing incredibly well.”

Marin was rushed to OLOL Children’s Hospital and remained in the ICU for several days. After her doctors were able to stabilize her condition, she was flown by Medivac jet to Boston Children’s Hospital, where she underwent surgery to be fitted with a defibrillator and pacemaker.

“So if she has an arrhythmia again, which we hope she doesn’t, a defibrillator can shock her heart back into a normal rhythm. Sho.”

“She’s doing incredibly well. We’ve been back to Boston twice for tests and everything is good. After multiple open heart surgeries, four pacemakers…this was unexpected. So it was the scariest thing I’ve ever done and the hardest thing to recover from.”

Anna Claire says her heart condition hasn’t brought her down. Marin not only returned to her normal life, but also played soccer, got a driver’s license and secured her first job.

“The most common birth defect is congenital heart disease.”

February is American Heart Month, and Anna Claire hopes sharing Marin’s story will raise awareness about heart health. Statistics show that approximately 1 in 77 children in the United States has heart disease, and 40,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects each year.

“The most common birth defect is congenital heart disease, which is simply the heart not forming properly in the womb,” Anna Claire said. “Raising that awareness helps pregnant women know what to ask about on their ultrasounds. That’s always been important to me, because I also want to help pregnant women know what to ask about that at the ultrasound.” Because I didn’t know what would happen. I was born with these effects.”

Identify signs of heart disease and problems in children

Signs of heart disease in children vary depending on the condition. Also, although children are tested after birth, some problems may remain undiagnosed.

Signs of heart disease in babies include:

• Weight gain worries
• bluish color of lips and nail beds
• feeding difficulties
• Rapid breathing, difficulty breathing (even at rest)
• easily get tired while eating
• sweat while breastfeeding

Some signs of heart disease in young children:

• faint while exercising
• palpitations (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath during activities
• chest pain

Many teens get a physical exam before playing sports, but if your child complains of chest pain or exhibits other heart symptoms during exercise, parents are advised to consult their pediatrician. It is recommended.

Anna Claire said she shares her daughter’s inner struggle to empower others. Not only does she want her family to know the signs, but she also wants others to be trained in first aid and CPR. She says it saved her daughter’s life.

More information: Online Adult First Aid/CPR/AED

“CPR is very important to me,” Anna Claire said. “We want everyone around Marin to know about CPR. Her soccer coach, teachers, everyone has become more aware of the need for that skill. ,[her cardiac arrest]could have happened anywhere, and if you don’t have someone to jump in, that’s when you lose someone.”

The American Red Cross offers CPR and AED training both online and in-person.

The Red Cross First Aid Certification is valid for two years. If your certification has expired within 30 days, you can renew it by enrolling in one of our first aid renewal classes. These shortened courses will teach you the latest techniques and keep your memory fresh so you’re ready when the time comes. Once you complete your first aid training in Baton Rouge, your certification will be valid for an additional two years.

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