Procedure Facilitated through Gift of Life NJ and RWJBarnabas Health
On the morning of Belize patient Nyle’s heart surgery at Children’s Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, L to R: Dr. Padam Neopane, Chair & David Pani from Gift of Life NJ; Sheena Bernardez; Dr. Emile A. Bacha, Chief of Congenital Cardiac Surgery at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Kelly Thibault, RN, MSN, CPNP, Nurse Practitioner with Nyle; Dr. John Karamichalis, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.
NEWARK, NJ – June 26, 2024 – Doctors from the Children’s Heart Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, part of the Children’s Health network of RWJBarnabas Health and one of the leading heart centers in the country and the only pediatric heart surgery center in New Jersey, performed life-saving surgery on a two-year-old patient suffering from a rare congenital heart disease. The surgery included a patch of the pulmonary artery.
Nyle Eck, a two-year-old from Belize, was born with a rare congenital heart disease called supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (SVPS), a narrowing of the artery located just above the pulmonary valve, which is the main artery that carries blood to the lungs. Nyle was first diagnosed in September 2022, when he was only three months old. With the help of the Gift of Life, NJ, a charitable organization with a mission to help save the lives of children with congenital heart defects around the world by providing resources to treat them, he was able to have a cardiac procedure a few months later in Belize, but his condition soon required a second more complex surgery not available in Belize.
Belize Toddler Nyle Eck and mom Sheena Bernardez at Pre-op Appointment at Children’s Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center for Life-saving Heart Surgery Facilitated through Gift of Life New Jersey and RWJBarnabas Health.
After a short wait, the Gift of Life NJ sponsored Nyle to travel to the United States with his mother, Sheena Bernardez. Upon their arrival, Nyle began treatment with the team of pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (an RWJBarnabas Health facility), led by Dr. Rajiv Verma, Director of the Children’s Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Kelly Thibault, RN, MSN, CPNP, Nurse Practitioner with Nyle and Rajiv Verma, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Director of the Children’s Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
“Without additional intervention, Nyle would have gradually developed worsening heart failure, thus restricting his ability to live like a normal, active child. Based on his cardiac functional level and previous transcatheter intervention in Belize, the collective decision for the most appropriate next intervention was cardiac surgery,” said Dr. Verma.
“We were able to intervene on behalf of Gift of Life New Jersey to provide Nyle life-saving surgical repair of his pulmonary artery, an opportunity he may not have had in his own country,” states Dr. Emile A. Bacha, Chief of Congenital Cardiac Surgery at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. “Now, with the support of the Children’s Heart Center team, he’s well on his journey back to health.”
Dr. Bacha performed Nyle’s surgery at Children’s Hospital of NJ at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. In the Pediatric ICU, he recovered as expected and was discharged expeditiously in 72 hours while receiving one cardiac medication. He will have an outpatient cardiology evaluation as a follow-up. As his cardiac recovery progresses, it is anticipated that he will be able to return to Belize in the near future.
Nyle is alert and excited to open birthday presents from Anne Reilly, MS, CCLS, Manager of Child Life Department at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center post-op day 3.
“Nyle’s experience perfectly represents what Gift of Life NJ sets out to do,” said Padam Neopane, Chair, Gift of Life NJ. “Here is a child whose life-threatening condition nearly took away his chance at living a long and healthy life, but thanks to our partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, Nyle received a successful surgery and will live the strong and healthy life he deserves.”
“Once Nyle’s name was added to the list, I was so excited to know that one day we would be here and he would have a chance at this life-saving procedure, but a little anxious at the same time,” says Bernardez. “We are so happy that he will be able to live a normal life. I encourage parents to trust their gut and never take anything for granted.”
On June 17, the team at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center celebrated Nyle’s second birthday in his hospital room two days after his life-saving surgery, with a procession of gifts and well wishes for a speedy recovery. He was discharged on his birthday and will soon be back in Belize to celebrate with the entire family, including Nyle’s two brothers and baby sister.
Celebrating Nyle’s 2nd Birthday at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center less than 72 hours after his life-saving heart surgery. L to R: (front row) Kelly Thibault, RN, MSN, CPNP, Nurse Practitioner; Nyle Eck; Rashmi Aggarwal, RN, MSN,APNC, AVP, Operations; Donn Orellana MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Director, Patient Care Services. (back row) Joshua Rosenblatt, MD, Chair Department of Pediatrics; Anne Reilly, MS, CCLS, Manager of Child Life Department; Derrick McQueen, MD, Director, Pediatric Critical Care Unit; Nyle’s mom Sheena Bernardez; pediatric ICU care team.
RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health Network, as New Jersey’s largest academic health system, RWJBarnabas Health is the state’s most comprehensive children’s health network offering an unmatched range of pediatric services, from primary care to specialized treatments and therapies. Our vast network of child-friendly facilities and pediatric specialists includes four acute care children’s hospitals across the state as well as Children’s Specialized Hospital, a nationally recognized pediatric rehabilitation and long term care Children’s. Our team takes a multidisciplinary approach to each child’s unique health needs with a total of 692 pediatric inpatient beds across the system and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations, going beyond clinical interventions to address specific care needs at the appropriate developmental, physical, emotional, and psychological levels of each child. In partnership with Rutgers Health, RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health network provides advanced research, teaching, social impact initiatives, and outstanding care to improve the health and well-being of every child in every community. Learn more at Children’s Health.
Nyle Eck arrives to Children’s Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center the morning of his life-saving heart surgery to repair his pulmonary artery.
Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ), located at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, cares for children from birth through adolescence, with more than 30 specialized pediatric services including New Jersey’s largest Valerie Fund Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; and the Children’s Heart Center that offers a complete range of medical and surgical treatments for the most complex cardiac abnormalities. Children’s Hospital of New Jersey also includes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Level IV Regional Perinatal Center that offers Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy; and the highest level of intensive care for both mothers and newborns.
Darrell K. Terry, Sr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey visits Nyle and his mother prior to surgery at Children’s Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Gift of Life NJ (GOL NJ) is a charitable organization with a mission to help save the lives of children with congenital heart defects around the world by providing resources wherever assistance is needed. As part of its mission, GOL NJ brings children to the United States for surgery, sponsors overseas missions, trains foreign surgeons and provides needed equipment. GOL NJ seeks to partner with hospitals so that children with congenital heart defects will have access to medical services. Over 1.3 million children are born each year with a congenital heart defect and 93% are born in a country that cannot provide them with the needed treatment. Gift of Life strives to bring medical care and hope to these children and their families. Since 1975, Rotarians, healthcare professionals, volunteers and like-minded organizations have provided hope to more than 51,500 children from 80 countries.
Media Contact:
Linda Kamateh
862-212-2013
Linda.Kamateh@rwjbh.org