10/22/2025
Erin Kidwell was pregnant with her third child when she found out she'd need a new aortic valve. "It's barely open and it's working overtime to keep going," her doctor said. "If you weren't pregnant, you'd be in immediate surgery."
Because Erin's heart was otherwise strong and the baby was healthy, doctors decided to see her weekly and test the baby monthly. At 37 weeks, Erin welcomed a healthy baby boy, Caleb.
Erin’s valve replacement a few months later went well, although it also included a surprise: Her aorta had only one flap instead of the usual three.
After the surgery, Erin was back to running and exercising like before, with a fully functioning heart. "It was a crazy year and a half, but there were many blessings, too. I want to use my time here on earth to raise three really great kids and also support other people going through the kind of scary things I did."
