Nicole Carter's connection to CHKD spans her entire life. She was born with a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosis – a condition that consists of a hole between the two ventricles in her heart (a ventricular septal defect, or VSD) and obstruction of blood flow to her lungs. At 6 months old, she had open heart surgery at CHKD's nationally ranked Heart Center to close the VSD and remove her pulmonary valve to allow free blood flow to her lungs. By age 12, Nicole was experiencing progressive fatigue and breathlessness due to the lack of a pulmonary valve, leading to backflow into and enlargement of her right ventricle. She returned to CHKD for a second cardiac surgery to have a bioprosthetic pulmonary valve implanted.
Now 31, Nicole continues her care at CHKD thanks to the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. While adult cardiologists and cardiac surgeons primarily treat normal hearts that have become diseased over time, CHKD's program specializes in caring for patients of all ages whose hearts have malformations that were present at birth, and actively follows over 650 adults in Hampton Roads and counting.
"Returning to CHKD as an adult feels like coming back to a familiar and safe place," says Nicole. "My journey with CHKD is more than a medical story. It's a lifelong relationship built on trust, compassion, and continuity of care."
Nicole is preparing for a third heart procedure at CHKD – this time, a minimally invasive implantation through catheterization – to replace her current valve.
"Congenital heart disease is a lifelong condition, not simply a pediatric issue – patients do not outgrow it," says Dr. Alexander Ellis, Nicole's CHKD cardiologist who established the program in 2007. "Improvements with surgery, imaging, catheterization techniques, and ICU care have allowed patients with CHD to live and thrive into adulthood, but their conditions are often complex and require continuous care within a care team fluent in their anatomy, physiology, and management, regardless of age."
Nicole shares her love and gratitude for Dr. Ellis and the nurses and technicians at CHKD's Heart Center – many of whom cared for her as a child and still cheer her on during stress tests and treatments. "It's a small gesture that makes a big difference and reminds me how special the CHKD environment truly is," she says.
Today, Nicole gives back through her role with STIHL Inc., a corporate partner of over 40 years, and its Donations Committee, which makes a holiday toy donation to children at CHKD every year. "Being able to give back through my work while continuing my care in a place that feels like home is something I don't take for granted," she says. "My story is a testament to the lasting impact of exceptional pediatric care and the lives CHKD continues to save every single day."
