Born 12 weeks premature, Ethan had to spend time at his birth hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for a few weeks due to supraventricular tachycardia. Supraventricular tachycardia, or SVT, is an arrhythmia causing a fast or erratic heartbeat and breathing difficulties. His NICU, part of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s network of neonatal care, treated his SVT but also discovered that the blood vessel that joins the pulmonary artery to the aorta was not closing as expected and he would need a procedure called a PDA ligation. Patient ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation closes up the space when a patient’s body hasn’t done it itself.  

Ethan was transferred to Nationwide Children’s main campus where he met with his new care team in the Heart Center and underwent the PDA ligation procedure. Post surgery, Ethan began to thrive. “Dr. Kovalchin, was amazing through the whole experience,” remembers Ethan’s mom Karah. “I will never forget the time, patience, and care from all the staff at Nationwide Children’s.” 

Ethan was discharged even before his original due date. He was sent home on oxygen and a heart monitor and had follow-up appointments with cardiology and the bronchopulmonary dysplasia clinic for the next two years. He also participated in speech and language therapy. 

Ethan is now 14 and as healthy as can be. He loves being outside and playing sports, fishing, finding bugs, and building furniture with his dad. “I cannot express my gratitude,” mom Karah shares. “If you saw him today you would never know.”