Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Awareness Month
Over $45 million has been raised since 2007 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through Spanish language Radiothons and balloon campaigns. These media and fundraising events encompass 96% of the Hispanic population of 54 million in the United States. CMN Hospitals is proud to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Awareness Month and the life-saving work that has been accomplished thanks to the generous Hispanic community.
Donations have impacted pediatric care, research, child life programs and more for member hospitals – helping kids like Isai Victorin.
Shortly after birth, medical staff quickly noticed that Isai had a very rapid heartbeat and had stopped breathing. He was rushed to NICU, but after a thorough check-up, Isai was released with no further complications. It was not until his 12-month check-up when Isai’s pediatrician noticed his head circumference was off the charts. After a CT Scan and MRI detected an abnormality, he referred Isai to a neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.
Only a few days after his birthday, Isai’s mom received the devastating news that he suffered from an incredibly rare and serious condition called vein of Galen malformation (VOGM). The vein of Galen is a vein located deep within the brain that returns blood from the brain to the heart. Children’s who suffer from VOGM are missing capillaries that slow the blood flow, resulting in a life threatening condition that causes the blood to rush into the vein of Galen with too much force, causing the heart to work overtime. Isai’s condition brought on other complications, such as hydrocephalus. The cerebral fluid within his brain was obstructed and unable to flow properly, which caused increased intracranial pressure and his head to become enlarged.
Isai’s parents were told he needed immediate treatment, but was not in good, medical condition to undergo this delicate procedure. In addition to this complication, there was only one neurosurgeon in San Antonio who specialized in this type of surgical method and would have to receive care at another hospital, while still being monitored by his neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.
Soon after his diagnosis, Isai started experiencing cardiac failure and episodes where he would become suddenly unresponsive. His doctors warned his mom that “Isai was at risk of not waking up one day if he didn’t undergo treatment immediately.” After waiting for Isai to recuperate from an infection and get medical clearance, he finally received his first embolization in October 2007. Doctors had told his mother that he had a 50 percent chance of making it through the procedure, but after 8 hours of waiting for some news, Isai’s parents received the great news that his first embolization was a success. After his second embolization a few weeks later, Isai was cured from his vein of Galen malformation.
Today, he is a healthy 11-year-old that loves video games and Pokemon. Isai now only has follow-ups with his cardiologist and neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospitals of San Antonio, who monitors his hydrocephalus.
