A high-risk pregnancy, heart defect and pandemic: The Villegas family’s story

Isaac and Melisa Villegas could never have prepared for everything life threw their way in February and March of 2020. The happy couple was looking forward to bringing their twins, Jayden and Emma, into the world in El Paso, the place they call home. However, when Melisa was eight months pregnant, her obstetrician noticed there was something wrong with Jayden’s heart. An El Paso cardiologist confirmed Jayden had a congenital heart defect that would require specialized care offered only at Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio. Her birth plan would need to change.

“Initially, I was heartbroken when I found out. So was my husband. We were confused. We were very frightened,” Melisa said.

Jayden was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA). TGA is a congenital heart defect in which the two main arteries of the heart are reversed. Babies with TGA are born with two separate paths of blood circulation, which does not allow the blood to become enriched with enough oxygen before being pumped to the body. Jayden would need intervention shortly after being born.

As a nurse herself, Melisa says this only added to her worry.

“Being in the medical field made it harder only because you know all of the potential complications. You know all the logistics that go into open-heart surgery,” she said.

Melisa was the perfect candidate for Methodist Hospital’s new Perinatal Navigation Program, which connects high-risk pregnant mothers with a nurse navigator who supports women through the complicated healthcare system as they prepare for the arrival of their child or children.

Because of the complexities involved, Melisa’s and the twins’ plan of care would require a coordinated approach from the hospital’s team of specialists. The perinatal navigator connected her to the obstetrician, neonatologist, cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeon.

“This coordinated care provided her the opportunity to ask questions and be comfortable with the team that was going to care for her and her baby. It also prepared the nursing teams for her arrival,” said Amber Aguilera, BSN RN, perinatal navigator for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital.

The connections helped alleviate fear for the Villegas family. The couple toured the hospital’s Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and they were able to talk with Jayden’s surgeon at length about their journey ahead.

“Anything that we needed, Amber was always available no matter the time or day,” Melisa said. “I thought it was amazing to have the interdisciplinary team available at my command and to be able to answer my questions and my concerns.”

Despite much planning, the day Melisa and Isaac arrived at the hospital for delivery, the world’s circumstance threw the couple a curve ball. The COVID-19 pandemic caused hospitals across the country to enhance their safety measures and enact new visitor guidelines. The El Paso couple would no longer be able to have their family members by their side during the twins’ delivery, and for the safety of the hospital’s tiniest patients, only one parent would be able to visit Jayden while he was in the NICU and after surgery.

Despite the unforeseen changes, Jayden and Emma were born on March 17. Emma was a happy and healthy baby who needed minor care after her birth. Jayden’s doctors immediately got to work to ensure he was strong enough for the open-heart surgery that would come two weeks later.

As a new mother of twins, the days that followed were not easy, but Melisa remained strong.

“My mom and dad were able to come to San Antonio. They transported me to and from the hospital. I would go back and forth to feed Emma at the hotel and Jayden in the NICU,” Melisa said. “I did a lot of FaceTiming. I took a lot of pictures.”

Melisa and Isaac found peace once Aguilera coordinated a visit between Isaac and Jayden so that they could have much needed bonding time a few hours before his heart surgery.

“His surgery was about 4.5 hours long. It went well,” she said. “It felt really great because the operating room nurse would call us every hour. It was comforting to know exactly what was going on with Jayden.”

“One of the other most comforting things that happened was Dr. Punkaj Gupta coming in and telling us on a personal level he knew Jayden was going to be okay. He was very intimate and not rushed. He took the time to point things out to my husband and explain things,” Melisa shared.

Jayden spent a total of 42 days in the hospital. Melisa was able to get to know many of the NICU nurses, and she says she appreciated the NICU team for allowing parents the opportunity to request the nurses that they prefer care for their child.

“It helped me to go home at night and be peaceful knowing exactly who was with my baby,” she said.

Through tears, Melisa said the fact her son is alive and well is the biggest gift.

“Amber was almost like a friend,” she said. “We know we were overbearing and would call a lot or ask a lot of questions. We are eternally grateful.”

“Their story is special and that’s how I want to make them feel. With Melisa being so far away from her friends and family, it was important to make her feel safe and comfortable in our care,” Aguilera said. “It fills my heart with joy and purpose knowing that our team was able to provide comfort and ease her fears.”

Learn more about high-risk pregnancy care at Methodist Hospital and get more information about the Methodist Children’s Heart Institute,