Surgeons to try to repair hole in Belize boy's heart

A Tampa pediatric cardiologist discovered the boy's heart problem by chance during a clinic 18 months ago in the Caribbean nation.

By RYAN MEEHAN
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 30, 2002

TAMPA -- A hole the size of a quarter in Rayford Laing's heart keeps the 8-year-old from living a normal life, relegating him to the sidelines when his friends play soccer.

Today, Tampa surgeons will try to repair the hole. If all goes well, the native of Belize may yet avoid a premature death.

Rayford's life almost ended 18 months ago, when he collapsed at his school in the small town of Libertad, Belize.

By chance, a pediatric cardiologist from Tampa Children's Hospital at St. Joseph's had set up a three-day cardiology clinic just south of Rayford's school.

Fifteen minutes after TCH's Dr. James Huhta saw Rayford -- whose skin had turned blue because of oxygen deprivation -- an echocardiogram confirmed he had tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart disease that causes deoxygenated blood to circulate through his body.

A hole between his heart's two ventricles had caused the right ventricle to overwork itself. As a result, the muscle tissue in the right ventricle grew and, in effect, began strangling the pulmonary artery. That prevented proper blood flow to the lungs and the rest of the body.

The condition makes those who have it lethargic. They often have to gasp for breath. In many cases, the condition is fatal.

Today, TCH surgeons will attempt to do two things to fix Rayford's condition: close the hole, and relieve the narrowed pulmonary artery so blood can flow more efficiently.

The hole will be patched with a synthetic piece of skin, akin to a piece of "Levi's jeans," said Heidi Hess, a nurse practitioner at TCH. Over time, she said, heart cells will attach to the piece.

Huhta said the surgery is the definitive treatment for Rayford's condition.

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the world, Huhta said. Eight of every 1,000 newborns are affected. But in the United States, the disease is usually detected and fixed during infancy.

In Belize, there are few cardiologists. Many babies die as a result.

Rayford, who lives in Belize with his grandparents, is the exception. His uncle, Junior Laing, said the boy's parents are separated and live in the United States. He said they are aware of the surgery and are extremely grateful.

"He survived the ultimate survival test (living as long as he did)," Huhta said. "He's part of that small slice of congenital heart people who don't die."

The surgery is being funded by the Gift of Life program, which is part of the Rotary International Service Program that helps children. The surgeons have donated their services, and the Ybor City Rotarians donated $5,000 for expenses.

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