Just days old, Amelia had her first episode of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a very rapid heartbeat, measured between 250-300 beats per minute. She was quickly transferred to Dayton Children’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit for treatment. While there, one of the pediatric oncologists noticed a small anomaly on Amelia’s EKG (electrocardiogram). The anomaly was consistent with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a congenital condition in which the heart has an extra electrical pathway and also one of the most common causes of fast heart rate disorders in infants and children. After a few days of treatment, the Cutters went home with tools and training to monitor Amelia’s health, a beautiful quilt made by a loving volunteer, and their precious little girl. The Cutters manage Amelia’s condition by using a heart monitor at night, by giving her daily beta blockers to control her heart rate, and through monthly appointments with the cardiologists at Dayton Children’s. Amelia is now a smiling little girl who loves to laugh, especially when her parents sing to her.
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