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Our Kids - Meet Scarlet

Doctors saved little Scarlet's life, even before she left her mother's womb.

Scarlet

Scarlet's mother endured lethargy during her 34th week of pregnancy. Tests revealed her tiny baby had hydrops, a deadly condition in which too much fluid builds up beneath the skin. Doctors acted quickly as and stuck an antenatal needle through her mother's stomach and into Scarlet's chest cavity, saving her life.

Unfortunately, Scarlet's medical issues did not end there. At birth, Scarlet suffered from a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), where most of her internal organs floated up into her chest cavity causing pressure on her vulnerable heart and stunted growth in her right lung. Doctors sent Scarlet off to The Hospital for Sick Children to receive critical emergency care.

At only 24-hours old, Scarlet underwent a three-hour surgery to repair the hernia. Afterwards, she spent one week in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hooked up to numerous tubes, monitors and a feeding tube.

After her second week at SickKids, Scarlet took matters into her own hands. She removed her feeding line. Nurses decided to try feeding her orally through a bottle. Scarlet took to the bottle feeds and began gaining strength and weight. Within days she was able to go home.

Scarlet, now a vibrant and healthy two year old, spent the first year after being released from the hospital making regular visits to SickKids as an outpatient. Currently she is only required to check-in annually. Her parents remain forever very thankful for the care she received while at SickKids.

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