Little heart, big strength

PARKER, Colo. — When Katie and Sam Hughes welcomed their daughter Scottie into the world, they expected the usual mix of excitement and nerves that comes with becoming first-time parents. What they didn’t expect was that Scottie would be born with a serious heart condition that hadn’t been detected before delivery.

“It definitely came as quite a shock,” Katie said. “I was a bit dazed at first and just so happy she was here. It took a couple of days to process everything that had happened.”

Katie remembers how calm the AdventHealth Parker team remained as they cared for Scottie immediately after birth.

“They were very responsive but never panicked,” she said. “I think that’s part of why I stayed so calm.”

Even during an urgent situation, the team honored Katie’s wish to briefly hold her baby after her C-section.

“I know that’s not typical protocol, but it meant so much to me,” she said. “Even though it was only for a short moment, I’m incredibly grateful I got to see and hold her.”

Katie also remembers the compassion shown by her care team during an emotional day.

“My nurse, Kelsey, held my hands while I received my spinal block because I was shaking and crying,” Katie recalled. “Later she came back to check on me even though she had another patient. She hugged me and told us she would be praying over our family. That meant a lot.”

Because Scottie needed specialized care, she was transferred to Children’s Hospital shortly after birth. The team at AdventHealth Parker made sure Katie and Sam had as much time with their daughter as possible before the transfer.

“They were very sensitive to the fact that I couldn’t go with her immediately because I had just had surgery,” Katie said. “They kept checking on me and helping me decide what was best for me and my recovery.”

Adding to the uniqueness of the experience, Scottie’s cousin was also in the NICU at AdventHealth Parker after being born prematurely just days earlier.

“It was comforting to have family going through something similar,” Katie said. “We were able to lean on each other during a really overwhelming time.”

Today, Scottie is 10 months old and thriving.

“The first several months were extremely challenging,” Katie said. “She went through two open-heart surgeries and had a feeding tube for a while. But now she’s feeding-tube free and meeting all her developmental milestones. She’s full of joy and we feel incredibly lucky to have her.”

Katie says she will always be grateful for the care her family received.

“I know doctors and nurses do this every day, but they truly are everyday heroes,” she said. “Bringing a baby into the world is so special, and they deserve to know how much they’re appreciated.”

For parents who may one day face a similar journey, Katie offers this advice: trust your care team.

“I trusted the nurses and doctors completely,” she said. “Their confidence helped me stay calm.”

Today, as Scottie grows stronger every day, Katie says her family’s gratitude continues to grow as well.