Charlotte baby ‘thriving’ after open-heart surgeries required to treat life-threatening heart defect

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – 9-month-old baby boy, James Satterfield, sat on his parents’ lap inside Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, while his parents described the long journey they’ve all been on.

In the months leading up to James’ delivery, doctors told first-time parents Madison and Andrew Satterfield, their boy had a life-threatening heart defect.

It would require multiple open-heart surgeries, to save his life.

“There was lots of tears, lots of emotions, lots of fear of just, the unknown,” Madison Satterfield said. “We were both just very taken aback and had never in a million years thought that would be what was happening, or part of our story.”

James was diagnosed with hypoplastic right heart syndrome, meaning about half of his heart wasn’t developing properly.

Doctors at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital came up with a comprehensive care plan for James before he was born.

“At first it was definitely scary because we got to hold him for like 10 minutes and then he was whisked away to the NICU,” Andrew Satterfield said.

After multiple surgeries and a month-long recovery, James was able to go home.

The hospital’s CHAMP (Complex Congenital Heart at Home Monitoring Program) helped guide the Satterfield’s through James’ recovery at home.

Now almost 10-months-old, doctors said James is doing great.

“It’s by far the most rewarding part of our job is to see them thriving,” Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Amy Svenson said. “We always tell [parents] in the beginning, you’ll always look back on this and say, I made it through that.”

The Satterfield’s said James will need another heart surgery when he turns three.

There is also the chance, later in life, he’ll need a heart transplant.

James’ father, Andrew, said this whole journey has made them stronger, and they’ll be ready for whatever, with the guidance of their doctors.

“If anyone gets a diagnosis like this, you can do it,” Andrew Satterfield said. “It’s hard, I’m not going to sit here and act like it’s easy, but with what we’ve been provided and the resources, obviously it’s not ideal but how he looks today I’m just so glad we made the decision to go forward with the pregnancy.”

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