This is the story of Mallory Shae Green. The news of Mallory coming into our life was unexpected, but it was a great day for both of us. Mallory's first few months were going normal as any baby's would, until the routine twenty week ultrasound. It started out as all of the other ultrasound's did, with the nurse asking if we knew the sex of the baby, which we did and she was a girl. The sonographer started with all of the measurements, and after a few minutes of talking became alarmingly quiet. We were concerned about the silence but nothing that we could have been prepared for. After the ultrasound was done, our doctor explained to us, the technician was very good and thought she had seen a problem with her heart. The doctor said that it looked like Mallory had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). He then referred us to Ohio State University for a level two ultrasound.
After waiting two weeks we had our level two ultrasound at OSU. During the exam they confirmed that she has HLHS. After the confirmation we were both very emotional and the doctor's left us alone. While we were talking and trying to lift each other up we decided to call Mallory our baby grinch...because her heart is two sizes too small...just like the grinch.
Being diagnosed with HLHS it requires a series of three open heart surgeries. The first surgery will happen within a few days of being born, the second surgery will be between three to six months and the third surgery will be between two and three years old.
After several appointments with different doctor's and hospitals we decided the best place for Mallory to be born and have her surgeries would be at the University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital. With the first surgery the recovery time is up to eight weeks. Once we come home she will be seen by a cardiologist at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital on a regular basis.
During this difficult time the Green family greatly appreciates all of the thoughts and prayers from family and friends. We ask that you not only remember Mallory in your prayers but all of the other children and families that are affected by a Congenital Heart Disease.
