Taylor, who was pregnant with her first child in the fall of 2025, never expected that a routine ultrasound at 34 weeks pregnant would show issues with her unborn baby’s heart.
To find out what was wrong, Taylor was immediately sent to the IWK for further tests because her baby’s heart rate was beating at a staggering 298 beats per minute — much higher than the average fetal heart rate.
Taylor was terrified, unable to share the news with her partner, Sumner, who was away fighting forest fires. Thankfully, her mother was by her side while she travelled four hours to the IWK. Once at the IWK, the medical team quickly went to work.
Taylor underwent multiple tests to check her and her unborn baby’s vitals as they tried different medications to help lower her baby’s heart rate.
When Taylor’s baby — a boy she named Theodore — was born, he was transferred to the IWK’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and diagnosed with SVT (supraventricular tachycardia), a condition where the heart suddenly beats much faster than normal. Taylor was heartbroken. “The world outside kept on spinning while our world stopped,” she shared. Thankfully, Sumner was able to join them in the NICU as they processed the news as a family.
After spending her last month of pregnancy in the IWK Prenatal Care Unit and 12 days in NICU after giving birth, Taylor, Sumner, and Theodore were able to go home.
The care Theodore received at the IWK saved his life and provided much-needed emotional support for his parents during this difficult time. “We were cared for in a world-class hospital,” Taylor shared. “We often think of the special moments where members of Theodore’s care team would sit by our side and share their own stories with us or just make small talk to help pass the time.”
Theodore remains in the care of the IWK as an outpatient. The IWK continues to monitor him, in collaboration with his local hospital, with occasional in-person visits.
Theodore is still too young for doctors to know if he will grow out of this condition or if he will need to manage it with medication for the rest of his life. With the support and care of the IWK, Taylor and Sumner feel confident in their abilities to care for Theodore. “We couldn’t be prouder of how strong our boy is and how far he’s come”.
To the IWK’s care team, she shares her gratitude. “You held our hands on the hardest days and gave us hope when we felt hopeless. The support and care you’ve provided our family will be carried with us for a lifetime. Thanks to you, we know that we can do anything.”
