OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A metro girl is the first to have a groundbreaking heart surgery.
That girl’s story started way before this surgery though. News 4 first introduced you to Marlee back in 2017.
Marlee was abandoned at the hospital and was born with a life-threatening heart condition.
Jolene Baxter was asked to love on Marlee until she passed away, but there was a chance for her to live with surgery.
“All I keep hearing is ‘This baby needs a surgery,’” Baxter said. “I never heard one time ‘She didn’t have a chance.,” said Baxter.
Marlee was unable to undergo surgery without her biological mother’s signature, which thankfully arrived just in time before she was moved to comfort care.
But, the biological mom left again. This time for good and Baxter was able to adopt Marlee.
“I was literally fighting for her life, and it changed everything. I couldn’t let her go; I had to be there to support her journey,” Baxter explained.
Over the years, Marlee underwent multiple heart surgeries. But recently, she made medical history.
Thanks to a groundbreaking procedure, Marlee was the first child to have her Fontan taken down.
“She’ll have a complete heart, leading to a vastly different life than with the single ventricle route, and we’re truly excited about that,” Baxter added.
Baxter says Marlee’s story shows there are other options for patients.
“For patients with Ebstein’s anomaly, there is now a second option available—you can receive help even in your 20s or 30s, not just as a child,” stated Baxter.
Today, Marlee is thriving and is feeling better than ever.
“The right side of her heart, that’s never worked since she’s been born, had grown 50 percent,” said Baxter.
She attends school, dances and lives life just like any other third grader all because of medical advances and a mother who never gave up.
“It’s one of those situations where you must advocate because if you don’t, these kids will not receive what they deserve. They all deserve a loving home and a dedicated parent who will advocate for them tirelessly,” Baxter emphasized.
Marlee’s procedure was recently published in a medical journal, click here to read it.
