Kerrington's Heart Hop Benefits Children and Families

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 27, 2010) − Kerrington's Heart Hop will be held 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at Monkey Joe's, 1850 Bryant Road near Hamburg Place in Lexington, to support the care provided to Kentucky Children’s Hospital patients and their families.

Kerrington Johnson was born Jan. 20, 2009, to Sam and Christy Johnson. Just moments after her birth, she was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a group of congenital heart defects, and absent pulmonary valve syndrome, a rare heart defect. She was immediately transported to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. She was released six days later with her prognosis but the cause of her disease was unknown.

"What we could be certain of was numerous heart surgeries were in Kerrington’s future and the longer that we could wait, the greater her chance of survival," said Christy Johnson.

At her next appointment with the Kentucky Children's Hospital pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Tim Bricker, the Johnson learned Kerrington had tested positive for DiGeorge Syndrome, a genetic disorder with varying conditions including heart defects and an immune deficiency.

“Kerrington is a beautiful girl with a very complicated medical situation," said Bricker, who is also the Jacqueline A. Noonan Children's Miracle Network Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and physician-in-chief of Kentucky Children's Hospital. "The heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot, is quite common, but the variant with absent pulmonary valve is rare. The absent pulmonary valve syndrome has severe pulmonary complications and massive dilation of pulmonary arteries. Management is very different than the usual Tetralogy of Fallot patient and is not intuitive to pediatric cardiologists."

Kerrington's Heart highlights the importance of a comprehensive and experienced heart program. More than that, Kerrington's story is about the challenges of a family with a child who has a heart problem. It represents a family and a community dedicated to providing the best for children with heart defects in every way. "It also represents one of the most delightful little girl you will ever meet,” Bricker said.

Kerrington underwent heart surgery during her first year.

 “It was definitely the right time for her to undergo surgery for complete repair of her heart defects," said Dr. Mark Plunkett, the Frank C. Spencer Associate Professor and chief of cardiothoracic surgery, UK College of Medicine. Plunkett also is director of pediatric and congenital heart surgery as well as co-director of the Kentucky Children's Heart Center and co-director of the Linda and Jack Gill Heart Institute.

The Johnson family lives in Lancaster, Ky., and besides Kerrington, they have two other daughters Ally and Miley.

"Due to the knowledge and excellent care of the doctors and nursing staff at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Kerrington is now home, growing and getting stronger every day," Christy Johnson says. "While we’re encouraged by the progress we see each day, we continue to take this journey one step at a time."

The Johnson family established Kerrington's Heart, a non-profit organization that provides education and assistance to families and children affected by congenital heart disease as a way to help others. Kerrington's Heart, Inc. was organized by parents and loved ones to promote congenital heart disease awareness and provide a reliable support system for children with heart disease, their parents, and caregivers.

For more information about Kerrington's Heart and the Heart Hop, go to http://www.kerringtonsheart.org, or contact Christy Johnson at (859) 509-9857.