FORT WORTH, Texas — A North Texas hospital has successfully treated a newborn from Georgia with a rare heart condition, giving her a strong start in life.
The Beavers family from Athens, Georgia, discovered before birth that their daughter, Anna Claire, had a rare heart defect in which her left ventricle was underdeveloped. She was also diagnosed with Turner Syndrome, a genetic disorder.
“With her left ventricle so small, it never fully developed,” said father Zach Beavers. “At first, we didn’t understand the severity or rarity of it.”
Local specialists in Georgia were unable to manage the complex combination of her conditions, prompting the family to look elsewhere for care. They found Dr. Vincent Tam at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, who has extensive experience performing Norwood surgeries and treating children with Turner Syndrome.
Anna Claire was born on April 3 and underwent open-heart surgery at just one day old. The operation lasted more than five hours and was deemed successful.
Now nearly nine months old, Anna Claire is thriving. Her family occasionally returns to Fort Worth for follow-up visits with Dr. Tam.
“It feels great. As doctors, this is what we aim to do every day — make kids better,” Dr. Tam said.
Sarah Ellen Beavers described their daughter as “a living and breathing miracle,” while Zach added that they are grateful to end the year with such a joyful baby girl.
Doctors have said Anna Claire will likely need another surgery between ages 3 and 5, with hopes that advancements in treatment will continue to give her the best chance at a long and healthy life.