Comer girl waits for heart surgery

She doesn’t want to let go of the 9-year-old with the disarming smile, the sweet singing voice, the love of cheering.

She loves her little girl.

“RaeAnah is the most loving, giving, concerned child there is,” said Colvin. “She only wants what is best for everyone and she would cut off her right hand for someone if she knew the needed it.”

But Colvin knows she’ll have to hand her daughter over to doctors in the next couple of weeks for a major heart surgery, a rare procedure on a rare condition.

RaeAnah was born with a “double-aortic arch,” meaning she had two aortas at birth. A repair was made on RaeAnah’s heart when she was 13 months old, but over the past year and a half, the Comer Elementary School third grader began having difficulty breathing, while also struggling to swallow.

Doctors discovered that the “extra” aorta had grown into RaeAnah’s trachea, blocking 55 percent of her breathing.

“The extra aorta is a working aorta, entering and exiting blood which causes the trachea to be knocked even further,” said Colvin, a single mother of four.

RaeAnah enjoyed cheering at the recreation department last year, but her condition causes her heart to speed up when she’s active. And she struggles to breathe.

“She feels like she’s suffocating and has even said ‘I think I’m dying,’” said Colvin. “She only eats soft foods, because anything else makes her feel like she’s gagging and choking. … It has been extremely difficult watching RaeAnah, who has always been so happy and going constantly, to struggle for every breath she takes.”

Finding a doctor to perform the rare and complex surgery to correct the problem has been difficult. Colvin said that one doctor who seems most qualified to handle the operation is considered “out of network” by their insurance provider.

Now, the family is waiting on word on when and where the surgery will be performed. It could be in Chattanooga. It could be in Miami. The operation could come on Aug. 18. Another date they’ve heard is Aug. 28.

“More than anything, I just want Madison County to pray for us,” said Colvin.

Want to help?

The Madison County Youth Association is sponsoring a fund-raiser for RaeAnah Eidson to help cover her medical expenses. Donations can be made to RaeAnah Eidson at First Madison Bank and Trust.

UPDATE FROM MARCIA COLVIN ON AUG. 15:
“I wanted to let you know that I just received a phone call a few minutes ago from Wellcare. A group of doctors met this morning and looked at RaeAnah's file and approved her surgery with Dr. Redmond P. Burke in Miami. Their exact words were, "GET THAT GIRL TO MIAMI"’ Her case has turned into an emergency and they have made it very clear that she can NOT wait any longer. We are thrilled that we finally have an answer and we have all our trust in this doctor, who we know God has provided for us. Anyway, just wanted to give you the update.”