“Dalton came to us quite ill,” remembers pediatric cardiologist Robert Mangano, MD. “We had suspicions that he was suffering from a heart problem, and tests confirmed that diagnosis.” The diagnosis was ALCAPA (anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery). Dalton was in severe congestive heart failure and was suffering from what essentially was a heart attack. “One of his coronary arteries was rising from the wrong vessel, which meant the heart muscle became starved for oxygen, similar to a heart attack,” says Dr. Mangano. The heart defect was one Dalton had been born with, but it is very rare and usually not obvious, Dr. Mangano explains. It will, however, be fatal if not diagnoses and treated. The infant had to undergo cardiac surgery at the children’s hospital to repair the defect. “It’s a very intricate procedure,” says Dr. Mangano. “An adult’s heart usually is the size of his or her fist, so you can imagine how small an infant’s fist is – and that would be the size of Dalton’s heart.” Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and Dalton was transferred to the Kiwanis Heart Center in Janet Weis Children’s Hospital to recover. There, Children’s Miracle Network-funded items such as cardiac monitors would help doctors treat the young boy. Less than a month later, Dalton was able to return home. Today, two years later, Dalton is doing very well. He returns for follow-up visits with a Janet Weis Children’s Hospital pediatric cardiologist in his hometown every three to six months. “We’ll have to evaluate him periodically for the rest of his life,” Dr. Mangano says. “His tests are looking very good, however, and we expect him to do well in the long run.” | 
