The story of Denver Coleman is nothing short of miraculous. It shows the lengths parents will go for their unborn child.
It also shows that science along with a skilled team of doctors can help change the life of an entire family.
Denver was diagnosed with vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) while still in her mother, Kenyatta’s, womb. This rare brain condition results in an overwhelming amount of blood that stresses the vein and heart, leading to a whole host of health problems. Doctors typically treat infants born with this condition with a catheter to insert tiny coils to slow down blood flow.
The Coleman family after Denver was born. Photo courtesy of the Coleman family.
However, for many babies, it is often too late, and the outcomes can be devastating. To combat this, a team of doctors in Boston successfully performed a novel fetal surgery to treat Denver’s condition. The pioneering surgery represents one of the first procedures of its kind for this condition.
Dr. Darren Orbach, a radiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital who specializes in treating VOGM, expressed the challenges of treating the condition after birth, saying,
Tremendous brain injuries and immediate heart failure after birth are the two big challenges… 50 to 60 percent of all babies with this condition will get very sick immediately. And for those, it looks like there’s about a 40% mortality.” It is clear that early intervention is crucial in providing a positive outcome.
Coleman’s story is nothing short of remarkable. The couple thought they were in the clear after receiving a “low risk” characterization of Kenyatta’s pregnancy. Still, at 30 weeks into the pregnancy, doctors discovered that something was wrong with the baby’s brain and heart. The diagnosis was VOGM.
She remembers her doctor sitting her down and saying she was worried.
“She shared with me that something wasn’t right in terms of the baby’s brain and also her heart was enlarged,” Kenyatta remembers.
But the Coleman’s learned about a clinical trial run by Brigham and Women’s and Boston Children’s hospitals that could provide treatment before the baby was born.
On March 15, exactly one month after the ultrasound that discovered the malformation, Kenyatta underwent surgery. But for this surgery, there were two patients: Kenyatta and her baby. Doctors had to make sure the fetus was facing the right position, with its head facing the mother’s abdominal wall.
From there, the doctors inserted a needle through the abdominal wall, carefully threading a catheter through the needle so that the tiny metal coils could fill up the vein. The baby showed signs of improvement immediately.
Despite the success of the surgery, Kenyatta was slowly leaking amniotic fluid and went into labor two days later, at 34 weeks. On March 17, Denver Coleman was born, weighing only 4 pounds and 1 ounce.
Denver Coleman, one month after her birth. Photo courtesy of the Coleman family.
“I heard her cry for the first time and that just, I – I can’t even put into words how I felt at that moment,” Kenyatta remembered.
It was just, you know, the most beautiful moment being able to hold her, gaze up on her and then hear her cry.”
The baby was very stable and did not need any immediate treatments that they typically need, whether it’s placing coils or supporting her heart function with medication. Derek, Denver’s father, remembers visiting her for the first time, kissing her, and hearing her make little baby noises, and he knew all was well.
Now, nearly two months after Denver was born, she continues to thrive, spending most of her time sleeping and eating. She’s not taking any medications for heart failure, and her neurological exam is normal. There’s no indication that she needs any additional interventions.
The Coleman’s expressed their gratitude to the healthcare teams that took care of them in Boston and are happy to be back home in Louisiana with their three other children. Denver Coleman’s remarkable journey is a testament to the incredible work of the doctors and is nothing short of a miracle.
As Kenyatta said, “She’s demonstrated, ‘Hey, I wanna be here,’ ” and Denver is proof that, sometimes, a little girl can make her mark on the world even before she is born.
Watch below for a look at the little miracle.