The "Normal" Life
Growing up with heart disease is a tremendous challenge for anyone especially for Angelie Boyd. Trying to go through school and be a “normal” kid as well as live a “normal“ life. Boyd’s kind of “normal” is completely different than the average person. Boyd was born with Congenital Heart Disease and has many heart defects that include Single Ventricle, Transposition of the Great Arteries, and Double Inlet Left Ventricle.
Boyd was a couple of days old when she had her first open heart surgery and didn’t stop having procedures until she was three-years-old. The surgeries involved the Arterial Switch operation where they move the aorta back to its original spot among many other things. As well as the Bilateral Glenn procedure and the Fontan Procedure ( two separate surgeries).
The surgeries are performed to correct Boyd’s Double Inlet left Ventricle. In a normal person the left ventricle sends oxygen-rich blood to the body and the right ventricle sends oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. Someone with DILV, only the left ventricle is developed causing the atria to empty blood into only the left ventricle causing both oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood to mix together.
As a kid having this disease, Boyd didn't really think much of it. Growing up, Boyd’s mother would tell her about the times she was in the hospital. She would show Boyd pictures of herself and what she looked like after her very first surgery. At that time, Boyd couldn't believe that the person in the photo was her. Boyd felt inspired as well as sad. Sad because she didn't understand a majority of it.
Until Boyd was a teenager, being in school and having friends do things that she couldn’t, really impacted her. It was tough, especially mentally.
Now as a 22-year-old, it's still a challenge and Boyd is still learning every day but she decides to make the best out of it. Of course, Boyd still has days where she is depressed because of the limitations this disease has caused, as well as the physical pain and symptoms. In fact, most children who grew up with a CHD usually go through these symptoms. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia talks about the link between adults living with Congenital Heart Disease and PTSD.
For the past couple of years, Boyd has really been into weight lifting - an activity and hobby that makes her feel herself and as she puts it “normal”. Boyd has now realized that she wants to help others that are in the same boat as herself or that have certain limitations. To teach those like her to live an active lifestyle in any way that they can.
Boyd continues to show everyone that she may have limitations but it doesn’t stop her from doing the things she loves. Boyd can safely say she Never Misses a Beat and neither should you.