New England's newest patriot
We remember Patriot's Day in part because of the night ride of Paul Revere, who warned the American colonists of the approaching British Army. New England Patriot Matt Light and his wife, Susie, will remember it as the day their son Collin was born fighting for his life.
Just 22 weeks into Susie's pregnancy, a routine ultrasound indicated a possible heart abnormality. Children's Hospital Boston cardiologist Gerald Marx, MD, used echocardiography to diagnose the Lights' unborn baby with transposition of the great arteries (TGA), a congenital heart defect that occurs when the aorta and pulmonary artery are improperly connected, resulting in the pumping of unoxygenated blood to the body and brain.
Echocardiography is a non-invasive, painless imaging technique where ultrasonic waves bounce off the structures of the heart. The results are used to computer-generate images of the heart walls and valves, which, in turn, are used to diagnose defects and conditions of the heart.
In Collin's case, Marx performed a series of 2D and 3D fetal echoes, both of which are safe for mother and baby, and provided a tremendous amount of information about young Collin's heart before he was even born.
"With the 3D format, we can look at the heart from a variety of directions, which allows for the early detection of heart defects," says Marx. "Diagnosis in utero really makes all the difference. The echo is shared with surgeons, expanding the window of time they have to operate and correct the condition, and it can allow time for explaining to parents what they can expect."
Such was the case with Collin in the months before his birth. The echoes he had helped surgeons make a detailed surgical plan, which would have been impossible without echocardiography.
On April 19, 2005, Collin Light was born weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces and almost immediately went to the operating room for open heart surgery to correct the TGA.
"They wrapped him quickly and let me look at him," recalls Susie. "It couldn't have been 20 seconds, and they went running out of the room with him."
It took two surgeries to repair Collin's heart. The first, performed by Children's Chief of Cardiac Surgery Pedro del Nido, MD, put the large vessels of his heart in the correct positions. Then, several days later, a second four-hour surgery was performed to correct narrowing in Collin's aorta, which is common after an arterial switch operation. After two weeks on 6 East, Children's cardiac unit, Collin was on his way home. Today, he is 6 months old and expected to live a normal life.
After their experience at Children's, the Lights decided to donate $25,000 from the Light Foundation, their non-profit organization, to provide "Better Living through Giving" by helping to support Marx's research in echocardiography.
"To this point, echocardiography has been predominately for adults," says Marx. "This money will help us further develop the technology for pediatric patients." One way to do this, explains Marx, is to "use higher frequency ultrasonic waves to produce finer images with better resolution."
"The work [Children's is] doing is unbelievable," said Matt at a press conference on October 11 to announce the donation. "It's an honor to present this check. I hope this helps them continue to do the great work they do."
Despite the fact that Collin had a difficult start to his life, Susie knows he'll be okay. "Collin was born fighting. That'll be his spirit forever."
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