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American Morning

Doctors Prepare for Heart Surgery on Newborn

Aired July 06, 2001 - 11:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Doctors in Denver are getting ready for what they say will be groundbreaking surgery on a baby. First, though, they have to wait for the baby to be born. Doctors know that the girl will need a new heart in order to survive. Unlike other transplants, she can accept a heart from a baby with an incompatible blood type.

Reporter Chris Ornelas (ph) from affiliate KKTV in Colorado Springs has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIFFANY RAY, ARIONNA'S MOTHER: Because I know she's going to be fine.

CHRIS ORNELAS, KKTV REPORTER (voice-over): This small home in Rockvale is home to what may be medical history.

RAY: These are my ultrasound pictures.

ORNELAS: Nineteen-year-old Tiffany Ray is pregnant with her first child. She'll name her Arionna. But doctors say there's a problem with the baby's heart and something will have to be done if she's going to survive more than a few weeks after birth.

RAY: I just based my decision what was best for Arionna.

These are the next pictures.

ORNELAS: Now unborn Arionna is being targeted for the first ABO incompatible heart transplant in the U.S.

RAY: I just thought that she would be normal but she wanted to be more difficult than normal. She's more special, though.

ORNELAS: Once the baby's weight in the womb is five pounds, doctors will give Tiffany a pager and put Arionna on the heart transplant list. When a donor is found, Tiffany will go to Memorial Hospital in the Springs. Baby Arionna will be delivered by C-section and flown to Denver's Children Hospital for the life saving transplant. That may seem like a lot for a 19-year-old, but Tiffany dismisses talk about being brave.

RAY: And I'm just carrying her. She's the one that's having everything done to her.

ORNELAS: Right now, Tiffany says she's just trying to keep her spirits up for herself and for Arionna.

RAY: I have to keep strong for her because I know she can feel me being sad and...

STEVE, TIFFANY'S FATHER: She's very brave and...

ORNELAS: Tiffany's main support has come from her father Steve. He says this experience has brought him closer to god and has brought this small town closer as well.

STEVE: Well, you know, they've been really supportive and I don't think I could make it this far without them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And our thanks to KKTV for that report. Baby Arionna will be in the hospital at least three months. Medicaid will pick up most of the cost of the surgery.

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