Heart Journey
Alysha’s Heart Journey began 21 years ago at a routine 30-week ultrasound, when Todd and Jeannine Oliphant were told there was “something wrong” with their unborn baby’s heart.
After a series of extensive exploratory tests, Cardiologist, Dr. Joyce Harder confirmed that the Oliphant’s unborn baby girl had a critical and rare form of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), and the likelihood of survival from the first of many surgical operations was slim. From this moment on, Todd and Jeannine’s lives were forever changed. All the hopes and dreams they had for their baby girl were disappearing as the doctors informed them of the severity of Alysha’s condition.
On May 29, 1997 at 1:33 pm, the Oliphant’s welcomed their beautiful baby girl into the world, Alysha Tea Oliphant.
Following delivery, Doctors swept Alysha away by ambulance to the University of Alberta Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where Heart Surgeon, Dr. Ivan Rebeyka would perform Alysha’s first open heart surgery. Against all odds, Alysha was the first baby to be born in Alberta with HLHS to survive the Norwood Operation at just three days old. Although relieved with the success of Alysha’s first open heart surgery, the Oliphant’s knew Alysha’s heart journey was far from over, as their little girl would have to endure at least two other open heart surgeries and countless other procedures in the years to come.
Just six months later, Alysha went in for her second open heart surgery; the Glenn, which preceded another open heart surgery; the Fontan, three months before her fifth birthday. Up to this point, Alysha had endured three open heart surgeries and countless other complications, procedures, and adversities in her long journey to recovery.
As Alysha grew up, the health challenges she faced due to her CHD never subsided, but rather became a normal part of her daily life. Never making excuses and rarely allowing her condition to hold her back, Alysha lived a normal, busy life filled with school, family, friends, volunteering; and of course shopping. Unfortunately in January of 2014, the Oliphant’s and Alysha would once again be faced with some unexpected news; Alysha was in heart failure.
11 years since her last open heart surgery, Alysha was no longer a little girl but a young woman that was about to face the greatest challenge of her life. In May of 2014, Alysha went into the operating room with Dr. Rebeyka for her fourth operation, in hopes of combating various vascular deformities and her progressing heart failure. Alysha proceeded to spend the Summer of 2014 attempting to recover while battling multiple complications leading to other invasive procedures at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Come the Fall, Alysha’s health began to decline and it was apparent to her medical team that she would require yet another open heart surgery. In September of 2014, Alysha went in for her fifth and final open heart surgery that ultimately progressed her declining health.
On November 25, 2014, after a 17-year long battle with HLHS, Alysha passed away in her family home.
Alysha’s Heart Journey touched the lives of many, teaching us all the value of life and the true meaning of strength, courage and determination. A leader in the heart community, Alysha blazed a trail for medical professionals and other children battling HLHS that will follow in her foot steps long after her passing.
Alysha was a strong-willed “chick with an attitude” that accomplished anything she set her mind to. Alysha never allowed her Congenital Heart Disease to define or control her life, as against all odds she played competitive tennis and volleyball, worked at the Calgary Winter Club in the pro shop, traveled the world with her family, and was a top student in her class with hopes of working in Finance one day. Most knew Alysha best for her sass, charisma, kindness, and ‘one-liners’ as she always found a way to brighten someones day.
Alysha’s family and friends will forever remember Alysha for her humor, incredible courage and infectious smile!
““Alysha was the very first child who was born in Alberta, with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome to survive the Norwood operation. I have always said that Alysha Oliphant was put on this earth to show me, and our medical team at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, that the Norwood operation was actually worthwhile!” ”
Living with CHD
Written by Alysha Oliphant
Despite Alysha’s declining health in the Summer of 2014, Alysha continued her studies at Bishop Carroll Highschool from the confines of her hospital bed, as she was both confident and determined to graduate in the coming spring.
The following audio is a English 30 Personal Essay Alysha wrote about her life with CHD. The essay is read by Alysha’s immediate family: Kelsi, Todd, Jeannine and Sara.
Congenital Heart Disease
Information Provided By: The Heart Beats Children’s Society of Calgary
Congenital heart defects are conditions that are present at birth and affect the structure of the heart and how blood flows throughout the heart and the body. CHDs can vary from simple (such as a small hole between the heart chambers) to complex (such as missing or poorly developed portions of the heart) and can be prenatally discovered during a routine ultrasound or become evident after birth. The cause of the disease is unknown.
CHD is the most common of all birth defects occurring in about 1 in 100 of all births. It is also the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide. Babies born with complex CHD require one or more surgical interventions before the age of 4. This is a disease that often requires a lifetime of care including regular follow-up by a cardiologist. Medication, tests, repeat procedures and surgeries and in some cases, heart transplantation, are all part of life for those living with complex CHDs.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Information Provided By: Cincinnati Children’s
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is one of the most complex cardiac defects seen in the newborn and remains probably the most challenging to manage of all congenital heart defects. It is one of a group of cardiac anomalies that can be grouped together under the description single ventricle defects.
In a child with HLHS, all of the structures on the left side of the heart (the side which receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body) are severely underdeveloped. The mitral and aortic valves are either completely "atretic" (closed), or they are very small. The left ventricle itself is tiny, and the first part of the aorta is very small, often only a few millimeters in diameter.
This results in a situation where the left side of the heart is completely unable to support the circulation needed by the body's organs, though the right side of the heart (the side that delivers blood to the lungs) is typically normally developed. Blood returning from the lungs to the left atrium must pass through an atrial septal defect (ASD) to the right side of the heart. The right ventricle must then do a "double duty" of pumping blood both to the lungs (via the pulmonary artery) and out to the body (via a patent ductus arteriosus). The patent ductus arteriosus, a normal structure in the fetus, is often the only pathway through which blood can reach the body from the heart. When the ductus arteriosus begins to close, as it typically does in the first days of life, the blood flow to the body will severely diminish, resulting in dangerously low blood flow to vital organs and leading to shock.
Without treatment, hypoplastic left heart syndrome is uniformly fatal, often within the first hours or days of life.