Starting at 30 weeks of pregnancy I had a race against the clock to save my daughter from a congenital heart disease that would take her life within hours of her birth. Living in a sleepy town in rural New Mexico might be good for the soul but it was a death sentence for my baby whose only option by medical professionals was termination. Desperate, confused, and more frightened than I've ever been, my attempt to figure all the answers with ten weeks remaining, left me torn and panicked. Calling and emailing any contact I could find in multiple states to arrange my prenatal visits, find an OB/gynecologist, find a surgeon, get into support groups, find a place to live during COVID-19 ...this nightmare had a puzzle theme, it needed me to figure out how to escape it while I was mentally at my worst. I cried to those who would listen, that there are so many moving parts and I just don't have the aptitude to put it all together, we prayed for help and waited.
Soon after, I received a call from Sheila Perez, Nurse Care Coordinator, RN, BSN from CHLA. She understood everything about the Transposition of the Great Arteries and the severe condition of Coarctation of the Aorta, she knew who I needed to see, she was going to help me solve this puzzle and get me out of this nightmare. I remember listening to her as she explained in detail her step-by-step process on how she was going to solve this puzzle.
I cried for the first time with complete joy, finally experiencing what it's like to be taken care of when your mind is so broken you can't think through the fog you're in.
I trusted her instantly. Her composure, her confidence, her incredible attention to detail, and her ability to show she cares over the phone, states away, led me to action and I immediately purchased a one-way plane ticket to come to California.
From my first appointment and each week through my daughter's birth, I had Sheila to guide and support me. I've been in her office; I've seen the number of cases she has on her desk. I always felt like a priority, like I was the only one. Despite having her experience, education, and background, she never once made me feel that any of my concerns were wrong or misplaced. She always made me feel heard, took time to diligently review my thoughts, and responded to me with humble counsel and dignity. She has made everything possible and without her, there's no way I would have been here. I credit Sheila Perez for guiding me to the light at the end of the tunnel. I want to recognize her in hopes that others can learn about her and what role she plays when it comes to the patients that they care for, the families that come with them, and may her work never cease to continue. Thank you for giving me the gift of holding my darling daughter as she thrives.