Born: January 7, 1973
Passed: November 7, 2000
Co-Founder of the Heart Defects Society
Treasurer from June 23, 2000 to November 7, 2000
Adult with Tetralogy of Fallot
The Melissa Trothen Memorial Fund

I'm a 27 year old female with Tetrology of Fallot.

I have 2 younger sisters and a little brother. One of my sisters, Lindsay (16 years old) has a bicuspid valve (instead of a tricuspid). Jessica (13) and Kayle (9) are both heart healthy.

I have a boyfriend named Jay. We have 3 cats, Boots, Piper and Smokey, who are my babies.

My hobbies are reading, playing the piano and doing word puzzles.

Please, take a look at the pictures of my family on the picture page. (pictures to be posted soon)

My Defects

Tetrology of Fallot - a combination of four defects, which includes the following:

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) - a hole in the wall separating the bottom two chambers. Mine is about one cm in size.

"Over-riding" Aorta - my aorta straddles my VSD, instead of coming completely from the left ventricle. The blood mixes, before it leaves my heart.

Right Ventricular Hypertrophy - the muscle around my right ventricle is thick and enlarged.

Pulmonary stenosis - a narrowing of the right pulmonary artery where it enters the lung. I also have:

Severe infundibular pulmonary stenosis - a greater degree of Pulmonary stenosis, consisting of a partial muscular obstruction of the pulmonary valve.

Pulmonary Atresia - no left pulmonary artery, and as small right pulmonary artery.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) - a hole in the wall separating the top two chambers of my heart. I'm not sure of the size of this hole.

Surgeries

Age 14 months - Aortico-Pulmonary Anastomosis (Waterstun Shunt) - a connection of the aorta and the right pulmonary artery, to increase the blood flow to the right lung.

Age 6 years - Attempted corrective surgery, but they found that the pressure in my lung was too high therefore the risk would be too high to finish the surgery.

I will be having open heart surgery on July 27th, 2000, in which the surgeon hopes to do a total correction. He will be fixing my PA, patching the VSD and ASD, placing my aorta where it should be.

 
Remember Me
A Poem by Melissa Mackenzie (Trothen)

Don't remember me with tears
Or feel you're alone to face your fears.
Just talk to me and I will hear --
Remember me.

Please try to smile when you recall
All the good times, after all
I will catch you when you fall --
Remember me.

When you remember, feel no pain
The sun will shine after the rain;
For I will one day hold you again --
Remember me.

Even though I may be gone,
You must know that life goes on.
I'll be there to make you strong --
Remember me.

Melissa Mackenzie

Melissa had her corrective surgery on July 27, 2000, and after a 5 week fight in the hospital, she returned home amazed that she was actually "PINK!" Unfortunately, this only lasted about 2 weeks, and she spent the last two months of her life in and out of the hospital. On Sunday, October 22, 2000, I saw Melissa for the last time, with a chance meeting at the local supermarket. Two days later, she went up to Toronto for the cath that was to help her, and alleviate her Congestive Heart Failure. The following Tuesday, Hallowe'en day, Melissa called me from Toronto, and told me the story of her cath. Everything went okay, but she panicked after feeling the catheter in her heart, and the cardiologist decided to stop the test. The problem was found, but they weren't able to correct it at that time.

A follow - up cath was planned for the next week. Melissa was VERY optimistic about the cath, and said that she felt so much better, with what little they were able to do.

A week later, on November 7, 2000, Melissa passed away. It was very unexpected, and such a shock after the good news that I received from her the previous week.

She was a dear friend, a heart sister, who will be missed terribly.

 
If you would like to make a donation in Melissa's memory, or in the memory of another loved one, please email us with your request, and we will arrange for your donation to be finalized. Contributions to the Melissa Trothen Memorial Fund are greatly appreciated.

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