The team that showed up for Nellie — before she even arrived

From the very beginning, Nellie’s care combined early detection, thoughtful coordination, and a supportive team approach.

During a routine 24-week anatomy scan, providers identified a concern with Nellie’s heart. Her mother, Abby, who was carrying spontaneous twins, was already under the care of the Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) team at HCA HealthONE. She was quickly connected to pediatric heart  specialists at HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Pediatric Cardiology. Further evaluation led to a diagnosis of a dysplastic pulmonary valve with pulmonary stenosis.

Throughout the pregnancy, Abby was closely supported by both the MFM and pediatric cardiology teams. The family was also introduced to pediatric heart surgeons, Dr. Max Mitchell and Dr. John Vossler, who would later be involved in Nellie’s care. Dr. Mitchell spent extensive time with the family and even spoke with them for nearly two hours over the phone. He wanted to ensure they fully understood the diagnosis, treatment options and what to expect after delivery. This level of education and communication helped Abby and her family feel informed and at ease well before Nellie was born.

Nellie and her twin sister, Halle, were delivered at HCA HealthONE Rose. Halle was born healthy, while Nellie required additional support and was transferred shortly after birth to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s. Despite the unexpected separation, communication between care teams and the family remained consistent and reassuring every step of the way.

"The seamless coordination among the care team and the communication between specialists, physicians, nurses, and staff was consistently strong, creating a sense of confidence that everyone was aligned and focused on Nellie’s care,” says Abby.

Nellie initially underwent a procedure in the cardiac catheterization lab, however, when the intervention did not achieve the desired outcome, the care team quickly collaborated to determine the next best step. She proceeded to surgery, where Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Vossler performed a pulmonary valve repair, pulmonary artery arterioplasty, and PFO closure. This allowed for the ability to repair rather than replace, and the valve repair was an unexpected and positive outcome.

"The pediatric cardiology team provided invaluable support in securing prior authorization for Nellie’s surgery — helping ease a complex process during an already stressful time,” says Abby. “Even after the procedure, my husband, Brett, and I continued to receive thoughtful follow-up messages checking on Nellie’s progress, reinforcing the team’s commitment to Nellie’s ongoing care and connection.”

Following surgery, Nellie spent three days in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) before continuing her recovery and ultimately returning home.

Throughout the entire experience, the coordination between teams, including prenatal care and surgery and recovery, was seamless. Abby shared that the care team not only cared for Nellie as a patient but cared for the entire family.

“We are very grateful for the compassion, communication and support we received every step of the way. In my mind, there is no other option than HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children’s”, she says.

Today, Nellie is thriving. Her story reflects the impact of early diagnosis, expert collaboration, and compassionate, family-centered care.