The history of disease

We got to know about our daughter's disease in twentieth week of my pregnancy during antenatal examination. Dr Wojciech Cnota, who performed the examination diagnosed pulmonary atresia. This information was shocking for us, however we had to keep on living normally. Two our daughters: Marta (6 years old) and Kinga (3 years old) needed our attention as usually. We didn't cry when they were near. After multiple consultations we decided on further diagnosis and delivery in Polish Mother's Memorial Research Instutute in Łódź.

On May 31st, 2007 our third daughter, Malwina Drabik, was born. She was born in good condition and she was hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. After 7 days she was transported to Cardiology Clinic in Polish Mother's Memorial Research Instutute. Barbara Niedzielska-Stanek was a doctor who treated us.

I will never forget that happiness which accompanies the birth. And that pain which I forgot so easily. At that moment we even forgot for a moment about our daughter's disease.

After performing all examinations (echocardiography, cardiac catheterization), the antenatal diagnosis was confirmed: Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia and multiple aortopulmonary collaterals. Because Malwina wasn't qualified to the surgery, after 3 weeks of hospitalization we were discharged home.

Through the first week Malwina ate very well, grew and it started to be "normally". Unfortunately, after catheterization there was a complication and a leg that was catheterizated was pale and cold. To this reason we were once again hospitalized in Silesian Cardiac Center in Zabrze. Our doctor was Jarosław Rycaj. Angio TK was performed and its appeared that there was an iliac artery occlusion 4 cm long. During hospitalization, the condition of our daughter was worse, some circulatory insufficienty was observed and Malwina stopped to grow. Unfortunately, after treatment there wasn't any improvement and on July 30th we went to Lodz again to conduct complex assessment of circulatory system and analyze further proceedings.

On August 6st Malwina was catheterizated again with closing 2 aortopulmonary collaterals. This closure was to cause decreasing of pulmonary flow and improvement of general condition. Malwina felt good after this intervention and on August 11th we were discharged home again to our great joy. Now we enjoy every day that we spend at home, we take the best care of our daughter, because she must grow (it's the condition of the operation) and she mustn't be ill.