Brady James Enge was born on November 29, 2000, a seemingly healthy 8 lb. baby. It wasn’t until his pediatrician examined him the next morning that a heart murmur was discovered and our world was turned upside down. We sat in complete shock as the cardiologist explained all the things that were abnormal in Brady’s heart. Brady had open heart surgery when he was 6 days old to correct a coarctation of the aorta and the holes in his heart. He almost didn’t make it through this surgery. He spent the first one and a half months of his life at UW Children’s Hospital working through feeding issues and having a pacemaker implanted in his abdomen.

Today Brady is an active 15 year old who plays soccer and is involved in drama.  He continues to see the cardiologist every 6 months and also has pacemaker checks periodically.  Brady still has some narrowing around his valves and has high blood pressure.  He may need other surgeries because as he grows things change with the functioning of his heart.  There have been so many strides made in cardiac research and technology in the past 15 years since Brady was born we continue to hope for great progress in this area to make Brady’s life easier when he does need another surgery.