Caitlin is the first patient in Florida and one of a few in the nation to receive a Staged Cardiac Septation procedure for a congenital heart defect.

When Catalina attended her 14-week pregnancy ultrasound, she expected to see her growing baby but was met with the news that her daughter, Caitlin, would be born with Single Ventricle Heart Defect. With only one functioning ventricle, the heart cannot circulate blood in the normal way of the right ventricle pumping blood to the lungs and the left ventricle pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body. Fearful of what would come next, Catalina's obstetrician referred her to Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Heart Institute to develop a treatment plan for Caitlin's arrival.

Requiring a highly specialized care plan that would not overwhelm her growing heart and lungs, Caitlin became the first child in Florida to benefit from an innovative staged cardiac septation operation.

Led by Dr. David Kalfa, chief of cardiovascular surgery, co-director of the Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute as well as professor and researcher at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, two functioning ventricles were able to be created out of just one by dividing the ventricular cavity and anchoring the new septum. In comparison to traditional single-staged repair surgeries, this novel approach reduces the stress on a baby's heart and lungs while giving medical experts more flexibility to adapt treatment over time. The staged septation improves blood flow and creates better long-term outcomes while improving quality of life for Caitlin.

"The day of the surgery, I was nervous and kept thinking, 'What if something goes wrong?'," said Catalina. “I was amazed by the care the nurses gave me by providing regular updates and reassuring me that everything was going according to plan. When Dr. Kalfa walked out to let us know the surgery was complete and that Caitlin would be okay, a wave of relief ran through my body.”

Today, Caitlin is recovering well, bringing joy to everyone around her and a very active baby girl since her surgery. She is known for her bright smile and loving personality. Following her procedure, she celebrated her 1st birthday with her family by her side.