RaeAnah Eidson, a 9-year-old from Comer, is in good condition following major heart surgery in Florida Aug. 28.
Eidson 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 opened her sternum Aug. 28 and released the extra aorta off of her trachea, stitching it to her chest wall to relieve the pressure on her trachea.
Initial reports after surgery were not good. Eidson was was taken off the ventilator and was breathing on her own, but later that night doctors realized her lungs were not working properly. She has also received antibiotics for a persistent low-grade fever.
However, her condition has improved. In recent days she has been up and walking and has had some slight improvements in her lungs.
“They (doctors) feel the more she heals the better her lungs will respond,” said a family friend who has had regular contact with Eidson and her mother, Marcia Colvin. “She has a long recovery ahead of her though and will be home schooled for a while.”
The family has significant medical expenses ahead. They have received approximately $650 in donations from the Madison County community. Those interested in helping the family with medical expenses can make donations to the Colvin/Eidson account at First Madison Bank and Trust.
“I’m very grateful for any help we can get and my children and I feel the prayers of people all around us,” said Colvin in a recent posting to the Journal website.
