Dedicated care team helps Roman through heart transplant and cancer diagnosis
Ashley was in for a routine ultrasound when she learned her baby Roman had one of the most extreme cases of dilated cardiomyopathies doctors had ever seen in a fetus. A few weeks later, Roman was delivered at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and was quickly placed on a ventricular assist device (VAD) as the care team discussed a long-term solution. His heart was too weak, and a heart transplant was the best path forward. After nearly six months on the transplant list, Roman received a heart. Roman’s transplant went well but as he and his family were settling in back home, Roman had to be readmitted to the hospital for a bad cold, given his immunocompromised status. Doctors found that Roman had post-transplant lymphoma, a common reaction to the anti-rejection medication taken after his transplant. He underwent a six-course treatment of two medications, and after four weeks, there was no detection of cancer! Now in remission, Roman is thriving and loving toddlerhood.
