Dr. Brian Kogon repairs hole in little boy's heart
Four-year-old Tatum Atherton showed no signs something was wrong with his heart. He was a fireball, hunting, fishing, mudding on his four-wheeler, swimming in a horse trough and conking out by 8 pm. But deep in the recesses of his chest, between the top two chambers of his heart, there was a nickel-sized hole – a very rare congenital heart defect.
To fix it, Tatum and his parents, J.R. and Joyce, traveled from Homosassa to AdventHealth for Children in Orlando, one of the few health systems in Florida that can perform minimally invasive heart surgery for an atrial septal defect.
“God sends you people for a reason, and AdventHealth was sent to us for a reason and that was for Tatum,” Joyce Atherton said.
Dr. Brian Kogon, medical director of congenital cardiac surgery at AdventHealth for Children, explained that instead of traditional open-heart surgery, which requires breaking open the breastplate, he could repair Tatum’s ticker by going in through a small incision under his armpit. He patched the hole with material from Tatum’s heart sack while Tatum was hooked up to a heart-lung machine.
“We are always looking for ways to do open-heart surgery in a more minimally invasive fashion,” Kogon told the Citrus County Chronicle. “The major medical advantage of this approach is that it avoids the risk and complications of opening the breastbone. The other major advantage is cosmetic. The incision is completely hidden underneath the arm. That being said, it can only be used for a small subset of our open-heart operations.”
The defect Tatum was born with only accounts for about 4% of congenital heart defects, and its cause is unclear. The Atherton's pediatrician discovered it during a check-up. Kogon said although children don’t usually have any symptoms, if the hole goes untreated, extra blood in the lungs can eventually weaken the heart, increase blood pressure and lead to heart and lung disease.
The ideal time to operate is between 3 and 6 years old when children are resilient and recover quickly, Kogon said.
Tatum left the hospital after just three days, and with more energy than before.
“He used to run on seven cylinders,” J.R. Atherton laughed. “Now he’s running on all eight.”
12 items. To interact with these items, press Control-Option-Shift-Right Arrow. These items are in a slider. To advance slider forward, press Shift-Command-Right Arrow. To advance slider backward, press Shift-Command-Left Arrow.
News
What 26.2 miles taught one longtime nurse about caring for patients
AdventHealth Daytona Beach nurse Julius Dayandante says marathon running and nursing require many of the same qualities: patience, discipline and endurance.
News
AdventHealth brings steadier care to patients by reducing nurse turnover
Nursing turnover across the East Florida Division dropped from 16.4% to 12.3% in 2025 as hospitals strengthened support and expanded opportunities for nurses.
News
At the bedside, an ICU nurse carries lessons from home
While caring for her father through serious illness, ICU nurse Kaleigh Hulsman learned lessons in compassion she now brings to patients.
News
A nurse’s calling: Charity Carlisle on growing the next generation
With nearly 25 years at AdventHealth, Charity Carlisle reflects on compassionate, whole-person care and the joy of growing the next generation of nurses.
News
Nurse-led effort brings inclusive hair care to patients at AdventHealth for Women and Children
Nurse-led effort brings more inclusive hair care options to the bedside, helping patients feel more comfortable, confident and cared for during their time in the hospital.
Media Coverage
From beds to networks: AdventHealth redefines growth strategy
AdventHealth is shifting growth beyond hospitals, investing in primary care and ambulatory sites to expand access and improve coordination.
Media Coverage
Birthday cards are just the start: Inside AdventHealth’s hospitality strategy
In 2018, AdventHealth set out to redefine what healthcare could look like by asking consumers a simple question: What does an ideal healthcare setting feel like?
News
After 35 years supporting patients, an AdventHealth Waterman leader becomes one
A routine mammogram led to an early-stage diagnosis, offering a reminder of the importance of screening.
Media Coverage
The 'learning community' AdventHealth leans on to upskill its workforce
AdventHealth is shifting from episodic, mandatory training to a culture of continuous learning across more than 100,000 team members.
Social Media Post
What David Banks learned in his first year as AdventHealth president and CEO
From leadership lessons to a renewed sense of purpose, David Banks shares what the past year has taught him -- and how he sees his role as part of a broader calling.
Media Coverage
AdventHealth CEO brings a cyclist’s mind to healthcare headwind navigation
As he approaches his one-year anniversary as president and CEO of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth, David Banks pointed to mounting headwinds and broader industry changes as key challenges...
News
After a health crisis, AdventHealth’s Community Care helped a Palm Coast man rebuild
When Phillip McKinney thinks about healing, he thinks about music. As a child, he would sit at his grandmother’s piano after church and play the final hymn by ear. It was where he first learned...