Audrey overcomes life threat

Above, Audrey Ray five months after her life saving heart surgery
— Photo furnished

Five months ago, little Audrey Ray of Eddyville teetered on the brink between life and death.
Now she’s a nearly normal 2-year-old thanks to the skillful hands of cardiac surgeons at Boston Children’s Hospital.
“Since her two surgeries in August, Audrey has grown from 17 pounds to more than 22 pounds, and grown three inches,” said her mother, Stephanie Ray, in an e-mail. “She no longer looks like a baby; she actually looks like a toddler.”
Oct. 10, Audrey won a beauty pageant in Tennessee “and has thrilled us with her antics and personality,” her mother wrote. Also in late August, she thrilled Eddyvillians by riding in the Founder’s Day Parade.
Also her mental development and cognitive skills are on track.
Audrey was born with complete arterial ventricular canal defect. Her condition meant that she had a hole between the top two chambers of her heart, a hole between the bottom two chambers and her tricuspid and mitral valves had formed together.
She under went open heart surgery at 4 months at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville where doctors patched the hole and separated the two valves, but the mitral valve was too small to repair and she was left with mitral regurgitation in which her blood flowed backward instead of flowing through her heart.
The condition caused her heart to enlarge, and she also had congestive heart failure.
She had to have the surgery in August to survive.
Last month, Audrey’s Louisville cardiologist, Dr. Ed Kim, was amazed at her progress. He reduced her heart medications and after looking at her echocardiogram, he told her mother that he would take her off all her heart medications when he sees her again in December.
Kim also gave Stephanie Ray permission to enroll Audrey in toddler gymnastics.
“I inquired about the physical aspect of it and whether the ring in the valve could be damaged or misplaced, and he calmed my fears and told me to allow Audrey to pursue any interests that she may have, and that it’s likely in the future, she will be allowed to be involved in any activity she desires.”
Audrey’s surgeries cost $638,000 and insurance is still pending.
“I expected it to be much more, and she is worth every single bit of that and more,” Stephanie Ray wrote. “The almighty dollar means nothing compared to the miracle I have seen worked in Audrey’s life.”
There is still an account at BB&T Bank in Audrey’s name, but her mother said she isn’t worried about the medical bills. “I can make payments for the rest of my life as long as she is OK.”