Alyssa’s Essay

Everybody is born into different walks of life. Some babies are born and have no choice other than to prove their strength at day one. I would like to share my story and journey with my “mended little heart.” In March of 1997, my mother took me to my two-week newborn check up thinking that everything was going to be okay. Little did she know that our worlds were about to be turned upside down. My pediatrician, Dr Mary Lou Gavin, discovered a heart murmur. Luckily for me, there was a cardiologist, Dr Vijayan Menon, located in the office at the time who was consulted to assess me. An echocardiogram was performed and it was revealed that I had a birth defect. I was born with an ASD and a VSD. I had been having trouble with feeding and wasn’t gaining weight. At seven months old, I underwent open heart surgery with Dr Menon to repair my heart defects. I suffered from complications post-operatively.

My life hasn’t been all sunshine and daisies since the open heart surgery in September of 1997. I’ve had routine appointments with my cardiology team. I’ve had a number of angiograms due to abnormal echocardiograms. Fast forward to twenty-four years later, I have taken all of my strength and energy from fighting for my life at such a young age and turned it into drive and motivation. Since a young age, I always told my parents that I wanted to become a nurse and care for others like the nurses always cared for me during my many hospitalizations and procedures. I currently work as a registered nurse on a step-down intensive care unit for Catholic Health Systems in Buffalo. I strive to provide the utmost care to my patients each and every day. I have been able to share my story with my patients to help ease their anxieties and let them know that I truly do know what they are going through. Although I had a rocky start at life, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I believe that I was born with their struggles so that I could not only prove my strength, but utilize it in a way that will help many others in their time of need.