Little Alana Morales’ rare genetic disorder comes with many medical concerns that impact multiple parts of her body. Her mom was relieved to find the best possible care for her toddler close to home.
“Extremely resilient” is how Christine Morales describes her 17-month-old Elmo-loving daughter, Alana.
“She loves to laugh. She loves to hold your hand. She’s a very calm, sweet baby,” said Christine.
Alana was born with Mosaic trisomy 8, a rare chromosomal condition that can come with cardiac, kidney and neurological abnormalities. She spent her first 2 months in the NICU at another hospital. Just a few weeks after finally settling in at home – about 30 miles north of Richmond – Alana began having seizures. That’s when Christine brought her to our CHoR ED.
“Not only were they close, but they made us feel really comfortable,” said Christine. “Ever since then, we’ve transferred all her care to VCU.”
This care includes several specialists, many of whom see patients in our Fredericksburg Multispecialty Center, an even more convenient option for the busy Morales family than commuting to Richmond. One of these specialists is cardiologist Dr. Brad McQuilkin.
An unexpected heart diagnosis and the quick, caring action that followed
What Christine expected to be a standard echocardiogram appointment to keep tabs on Alana’s small patent ductus arteriosus – a congenital heart defect where a blood vessel doesn’t close as it should after birth – uncovered a much bigger concern.
“Alana had been breathing fast and needed more oxygen. The echocardiogram showed a significant increase in pulmonary artery pressure,” explained Dr. McQuilkin.
This hypertension, in combination with Alana’s other medical concerns, required prompt and coordinated care to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.
“It was urgent for Alana to be admitted to hospital. Dr. McQuilkin gave me the news. I was really upset, but he was calm and so patient,” Christine recalled. “He said, ‘I’ll make sure Alana is taken care of.’ The other cardiologists were ready for her when we arrived. They were just so amazing with her.”
This wasn’t Alana’s first hospitalization. Since transferring care to CHoR, she’s undergone bowel surgery, G-tube placement for feeding difficulty, EEG monitoring for seizures and ENT surgery to improve breathing, along with care for multiple bouts of aspiration pneumonia (an infection resulting from food or liquid being inhaled into the lungs). She also had her congenital heart defect corrected through PDA closure in our pediatric cardiac catheterization lab.
During this particular admission, the team identified that her symptoms were the result of aspiration. While the inpatient teams attended to her urgent medical needs, Dr. McQuilkin – who primarily cares for kids in the outpatient setting – made a point to stop in and see Alana.
“He showed up to check on her. That touched my heart that he took time out of his day to check on Alana. He cared about how I felt too. He’s very calm, knowledgeable and helpful. He’s just so humane,” said Christine.
“I wanted to let her know we care about her and that all of her specialists are behind her,” added Dr. McQuilkin.
Convenient care in Fredericksburg makes life a little easier for the Morales family
Alana has been doing much better and continues to see Dr. McQuilkin for follow-up appointments in Fredericksburg every 3 months. Our team helps Christine coordinate appointments with our other specialists – like pulmonary, neurology, nephrology and GI – at this location when possible, and Alana also receives therapy at our Fredericksburg Therapy Center right next door. Having the specialty care her daughter needs so close to home leaves more time for Christine’s family to enjoy all the best parts of life – like Alana snuggling and playing with her older brother and sister.
“When I got to CHoR, I was in a very vulnerable moment of my life. With Alana’s genetic condition, there’s not a lot of information. I felt like I was left to figure it out,” Christine said. “Getting to VCU was so relieving. Everybody was so honest. They promised they’d give her the best care and that’s exactly what they’ve done.”
As Alana grows, her CHoR team will be right by her side, whether in the hospital, at an outpatient appointment or over the phone.
As Dr. McQuilkin said, “We’re always here. They can call any time.”