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Parents’ Quick Action Saves Toddler from Sudden Cardiac Arrest
While most parents of toddlers typically focus on monitoring sleep habits and dealing with common colds, the frightening reality of heart failure often escapes their attention. However, the Thomases faced this nightmare when their 2-year-old son experienced a sudden cardiac arrest during the night at their residence in Illinois.
In the early hours, the child awoke with a piercing scream, prompting his parents to rush to his side. Stephanie Thomas recounted the harrowing experience to Fox News Digital, stating, “Hearing him scream was alarming because he usually sleeps soundly, and it was a horrible cry.”
Upon entering the bedroom, she discovered her son continued to scream before collapsing face-first into his crib. Initially believing he was experiencing a night terror, Stephanie, who works as a clinical dietitian at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, attempted to soothe him by sitting beside his crib and placing her hand gently on his back.
Unfortunately, his distress escalated. Stephanie noted, “When he finally settled, I could feel his breathing slowly come to a stop.” Panic surged through her as she lifted him from the crib and placed him on the floor. With her son unresponsive, she quickly assessed his pulse and began CPR.
“I was petrified and confused about how my otherwise healthy 2-year-old was in this situation,” she recalled.
As Stephanie performed CPR, her husband, Kris, dialed 911 to alert emergency services. They raced their young son to OSF HealthCare, where medical professionals conducted extensive testing over 11 days. Their findings revealed a diagnosis of Brugada syndrome, a rare heart condition that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and even death.
Brugada syndrome is often elusive, with few signs appearing before a cardiac event occurs. Symptoms can include fainting or lapses in consciousness. The Thomases later connected a prior episode about a month before the alarming night to this condition, believing this might have been their son’s first warning.
Stephanie recounted, “He woke up in the middle of the night with a horrible scream, gasping for air and difficult to calm down. Initially, we assumed it was just another night terror.”
Genetic factors often contribute to the inheritance of Brugada syndrome, prompting the Thomases to undergo genetic testing. However, doctors determined that their son’s syndrome resulted from a mosaic defect, which means multiple genetically distinct cell types exist within his body.
To manage his condition, medical staff implanted an extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, referred to as an EV-ICD. This groundbreaking device is located outside the heart’s blood vessels and is engineered to detect and correct irregular heart rhythms. The procedure marked a significant milestone, as it became the first implantation of such a device in a child of his age.
Since the initial episode, their son has experienced six additional hospitalizations. The EV-ICD’s life-saving feature delivers a shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm whenever an abnormality is detected.
Stephanie explained the challenges they face: “Our son appears healthy more than 99% of the time, but when his heart enters an arrhythmia that medication cannot stabilize, he receives a shock from his ICD.”
Since his discharge, the hospital readmitted their son seven times due to issues associated with arrhythmias and medication adjustments. Dr. Sunita Ferns, a pediatric electrophysiologist at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, is overseeing the child’s treatment and remarked that he is now closely monitored for any signs of arrhythmia.
Dr. Ferns commented, “We continuously monitor these devices. If we observe any arrhythmia, we can offer alternative technologies to assist him.” She further mentioned that ablative technologies could target and modify the tissue responsible for the life-threatening arrhythmias.
To manage his condition better, the young boy is also prescribed a compounded oral medication every six hours, which he must continue for the foreseeable future.
Stephanie shared the daily struggles of managing his health with a toddler who cannot fully comprehend his circumstances. “The hardest part is when he says things like, ‘I can’t use the elephant blankie because it shocked me,’” she said. These experiences create challenging associations between the shocks and familiar objects.
The Thomases have identified specific triggers for their son’s arrhythmias, which can include low-grade fevers and even mild colds. They acknowledged the difficulty of keeping their son healthy with a vibrant lifestyle at just two years old, especially while also raising a 4-year-old.
“It is essential to keep him as healthy as possible,” Stephanie emphasized. She highlighted the importance of ensuring vaccinations are up to date for her son and their entire family, which sometimes proves challenging with active toddlers.
Having experienced this life-altering event, the Thomases are now dedicated to raising awareness about the critical importance of CPR training, recognizing warning signs, and developing emergency plans for families.
Stephanie, who has been a healthcare employee for over 10 years, stated, “I held my Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, believing I’d never need to use it. However, that changed the night my son went into cardiac arrest, and I had to rely on my training when no doctors or nurses were present.”
Empowering Others Through Their Struggles
The Thomases hope their story encourages other parents to be proactive about their children’s health and to familiarize themselves with emergency procedures. By sharing their journey and the importance of vigilance regarding heart health, they aim to empower families to recognize the signs and respond effectively in critical situations.
