Local Girl, 4, Faces Fourth Open Heart Surgery

A local mom is continuing her quest to bring awareness to congenital heart defects as her 4-year-old daughter prepares for her fourth open heart surgery next month.

Nicole Corbesato has created a Facebook page that documents the life and story of her two daughters, Isabella and Ava, and their journey through life with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a severe heart defect in which the left side of the heart, the aorta and adjacent anatomical structures are underdeveloped.

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Corbesato said that Isabella, 4, was recently found to be in complete heart block and she pushed for a second opinion at Boston Children’s Hospital and that’s where they discovered it.

Isabella will be going for her fourth open heart surgery on Aug. 12 and 2-year-old Ava just had a successful third open heart surgery in April.

“(It’s) one thing after the other but they are truly heroes and have touched so many lives,” Corbesato said.

Corbesato, who petitioned to make Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week nationally recognized this past February, worked as a hairdresser in Fairfield for more than 10 years until she had to leave to take care of her daughters.

Learn more about Isabella’s and Ava’s journey at the Facebook page here.

Photos courtesy of Nicole Corbesato