Michele and Matthew were eager to grow their little family and give their one-year-old son, Dean, a younger sibling. So, they were delighted in early summer 2024 when they discovered Michele was pregnant.
Aware of maternal antibodies in her blood that had been detected and required monitoring, Michele’s family physician referred her to the IWK’s Prenatal Special Care Team, who explained that, in about 1% of cases, these antibodies could affect a baby’s heart. Michele and her husband Matthew followed every recommendation, taking prescribed medication and attending weekly appointments to track Hugh’s heart rate. A drastic drop in heart rate could be a sign that a condition called heart block had developed.
At 13 weeks, they received even more difficult news: non-invasive testing showed a 98% chance that Hugh had trisomy 13, a rare genetic condition considered incompatible with life. The family prepared for the worst, but during a follow-up ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis, Hugh appeared perfectly healthy. Michele and Matthew chose to undergo further testing immediately. The 48-hour wait was excruciating, but the call from their doctor brought miraculous news: Hugh did not have trisomy 13. Their baby boy was okay.
Relieved, they settled into a smooth pregnancy and prepared to welcome their new addition.
Unfortunately, at 22 weeks, the unthinkable happened - Hugh’s heart rate dropped drastically to 60. He was diagnosed with third-degree heart block, the most severe type. The family was immediately brought into the IWK’s Children’s Heart Centre, where Michele describes the care team as wrapping them in a “warm hug.” Michele and Matthew remember how supported they felt by the entire team, who did everything they could to give Hugh the best chance possible. The first step was making it to the critical 24-week mark, when the pregnancy would be considered viable.
Michele began having scans twice a week, underwent several treatments and tried various medications, and was eventually admitted to the IWK for close monitoring. The goal was to help Hugh remain stable and grow big enough for a pacemaker at birth.
As Hugh’s heart rate dropped further into the 40s, his IWK care team prepared for his arrival. When Hugh was born in January of 2025, his tiny heart struggled, but his highly skilled care team was ready and acted fast. Hours after birth, Hugh was in surgery and was just big enough to receive the pacemaker that saved his life.
After spending three weeks in the IWK’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the family went home—together. Michele says the day they were discharged, just before her birthday, was the greatest gift she’s ever received. Thanks to the incredible IWK care team around them, their family was finally complete.
