The Maverick Effect

May 15, 2018, Maverick Evangelista entered the world with his parents and other family members by his side. It was soon after his birth that everyone knew something wasn’t right. Doctors told the parents that there is a possibility little Maverick has a congenital heart defect.

They were transported to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shortly after the news was given. As you can imagine, both parents had no idea what a congenital heart defect even was. If it was fatal or something that can be easily fixed. All they knew was that it was scary for them to think about.

Within hours of arriving at CHOP and after further testing had been conducted, the parents were informed that Maverick was born with a congenital heart defect known as Transportation of the Great Arteries (TGA). After going through the details and learning what was to come from the excellent staff at CHOP, the family felt a massive weight lifted off their shoulders as they realized Maverick was in the best hands possible.

After learning what TGA was and after doing their own research, Maverick’s family knew that surgery was the only option. At just six days old, little Maverick went in for open heart surgery to switch his aorta and his pulmonary artery, as well as close his one Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). Fortunately because Maverick was in such great care, the surgery was a success and little Maverick was released from CHOP just six days later.

Maverick is now 6 months old and continues to thrive. The journey that Maverick and his family have taken is something that makes them grateful as well as hopeful for a wonderful future that Maverick has in store. Heart surgery isn’t for the weak, it is for the strong and this little warrior is one of the strongest of them all.

Maverick and his family are continuing to show how they Never Miss a Beat!

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