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Staying in the Game

A heart problem made playing sports dangerous for Angelica, now 15. So she faced a big decision: Should she be the first kid to try a new surgery that could help?  

October 2021
by Angelica Torres, as told to Anna Starecheski

Mary Kang

Joyful
Angelica plays on her school’s volleyball team.

    I  sat in the hospital room in a paper gown. Doctors and nurses rushed around. Machines beeped and buzzed. My heart raced. 

    I was 13 years old. I was about to have a surgery that could improve my life in a major way. Still, I couldn’t help but think about the risks. What if something went wrong? What if the operation killed me instead?

    A doctor gave me medicine to put me to sleep. They placed a mask over my face and told me to take some deep breaths.

    That’s the last thing I remember before waking up.

    I  sat in the hospital room. Doctors and nurses rushed around. Machines beeped and buzzed. My heart raced. 

    I was 13 years old. I was about to have a surgery that could make my life much better. Still, I worried about the risks. What if something went wrong? What if the operation killed me?

    A doctor gave me medicine to put me to sleep. They placed a mask over my face and told me to take deep breaths.

    That’s the last thing I remember before waking up.

    I  sat in the hospital room in a paper gown. Doctors and nurses rushed around. Machines beeped and buzzed. My heart raced. 

    I was 13 years old, and I was about to have a surgery that could improve my life dramatically. Still, I couldn’t help but think about the risks. What if something went wrong? What if the operation killed me instead?

    A doctor gave me medicine to put me to sleep. They placed a mask over my face and told me to take some deep breaths.

    That’s the last thing I remember before waking up.

A Racing Heart

    Right now you’re probably wondering why I had to have surgery in the first place. When I was 2, my parents found out that I had a heart condition called SVT. It makes my heart beat really fast. Usually, only older adults have SVT. It’s very rare for a kid to have it.

    What does having SVT mean for me? Most peoples’ hearts beat at 60-100 beats per minute (bpm) when resting. My heart beats at 140 bpm when I’m just standing still. When I exercise, it can go up to 300 bpm. If I push myself too hard, I could go into cardiac arrest. 

    My parents always did their best to make sure I had a normal life. They even let me play sports, which I loved. 

    But I can’t remember a softball practice or volleyball game when I didn’t have to worry about my heart. I was always stressed about what could happen if I played too hard.

    You’re probably wondering why I had to have surgery. When I was 2, my parents found out that I had a heart condition called SVT. It makes my heart beat really fast. Usually, only older adults have SVT. It’s very rare for a kid to have it.

    What does having SVT mean for me? Most people’s hearts beat at 60-100 beats per minute, or bpm, when resting. My heart beats at 140 bpm when I’m standing still. When I exercise, it can go up to 300 bpm. If I push myself too hard, I could go into cardiac arrest.

    My parents did their best to make sure I had a normal life. They even let me play sports, which I loved.

    But I worried about my heart. I was always stressed about what could happen if I played too hard.

    Right now you’re probably wondering why I had to have surgery in the first place. When I was 2 years old, my parents found out that I had a heart condition called SVT, which makes my heart beat very quickly. Usually, only older adults have SVT. It’s very rare for a kid to have it.

    What does having SVT mean for me? Most people’s hearts beat at 60-100 beats per minute, or bpm, when resting. My heart beats at 140 bpm when I’m just standing still. When I exercise, it can go up to 300 bpm—and if I push myself too hard, I could go into cardiac arrest.

    My parents always did their best to make sure I had a normal life. They even allowed me to play sports, which I loved.

    But I can’t remember a softball practice or volleyball game when I didn’t have to worry about my heart. I was always stressed about what could happen if I played too hard.

Trying Everything

    Over the years, we tried everything to fix my heart. By the time I was 8, I had already had two surgeries. I took different medicines, but they always stopped working.  

    Sometimes, my heart rate would skyrocket to more than 300 bpm during volleyball practice. When I was about 10, this started happening more often. I hated feeling different from everyone else on my team. I wondered: Could I ever really be a normal kid?

    That’s when my doctors recommended a different surgery. It sounded like it could change my life. 

    There was just one catch: The surgery had never been done on a kid before.

    I would be the first.

    We tried many things to fix my heart. By the time I was 8, I had already had two surgeries. I took different medicines, but they always stopped working.  

    Sometimes, my heart rate would skyrocket to more than 300 bpm during volleyball practice. When I was about 10, this started happening more often. I hated feeling different from my teammates. I wondered: Could I ever really be a normal kid?

    Then my doctors recommended a different surgery. It sounded like it could change my life.

    There was just one catch: The surgery had never been done on a kid before.

    I would be the first.

    Over the years, we tried everything to fix my heart. By the time I was 8, I had already had two surgeries. I took different medicines, but they always eventually stopped working.  

    Sometimes, my heart rate would skyrocket to more than 300 bpm during volleyball practice. When I was about 10, this started happening more frequently. I hated feeling different from everyone else on my team. I wondered if I could ever really be a normal kid.

    That’s when my doctors recommended a different surgery that sounded like it could change my life.

    There was just one catch: The surgery had never been done on a kid before.

    I would be the first.

Courtesy of family

1- Angelica loved playing softball as a child.
2- Her friends were there for her on the day of the surgery.

My Best Chance

    During this new surgery, doctors would implant a tiny monitor in my chest. It would keep track of my heart rate. When my heart beat too fast, it would send an alert to my doctors and my mom’s phone. My mom could then text me and tell me to take it easy. 

    I was excited! If I had a way to track my heart rate, I wouldn’t have to stress about it. I could focus on running after the ball instead of worrying about my heart. 

    I was hopeful that the surgery would work—but I was also terrified. Heart surgery is serious. There are many risks. But I knew this was my best chance for a normal life. So I went to the hospital, ready for the operation.

    During this new surgery, doctors would implant a tiny monitor in my chest. It would keep track of my heart rate. When my heart beat too fast, it would send an alert to my doctors and my mom’s phone. My mom could then text me and tell me to slow down.

    I was excited! If I could track my heart rate, I wouldn’t have to stress about it. I could focus on running after the ball instead.  

    I was scared too. Heart surgery is serious. There are many risks. But I knew this was my best chance for a normal life. So I decided to have the operation.

    During this new surgery, doctors would implant a tiny monitor in my chest. It would keep track of my heart rate, and it would send an alert to my doctors and my mom’s phone when my heart beat too fast. My mom could then text me and tell me to take it easy.

    If I had a way to track my heart rate, I wouldn’t have to stress about it. I could focus on running after the ball instead of worrying about my heart.  

    I was hopeful that the surgery would work—but I was also terrified, because heart surgery is serious and involves many risks. Still, I knew this was my best chance for a normal life, so I went to the hospital to have the operation.

wetcake/Getty Images (Heart); Courtesy Honor Health (Heart Monitor)

 This is what Angelica’s heart monitor looks like. It sends information about her heartbeat to a device she wears around her neck.

A New Life

Mary Kang

Small Wonder
Angelica keeps track of her heartbeat by wearing this device.

    When I first woke up after the surgery, we didn’t know if it had worked. It took a few weeks for my body to get used to the monitor. After that, I was finally able to relax.

    You can’t see my heart monitor from the outside. I look just like any other kid. But I do wear a little device around my neck. It’s what sends my heart rate to my mom and my doctors. I’m able to play volleyball, compete in track, and lift weights.

    When I grow up, I want to be a pediatric heart surgeon. I want to help other kids with heart conditions. If I say, “I understand what you’re going through,” they’ll know that I’m telling the truth. 

    At first, we didn’t know if the surgery had worked. It took a few weeks for my body to get used to the monitor. After that, I could relax.

    You can’t see the monitor from the outside. I look like any other kid. But I do wear a little device around my neck. It’s what sends my heart rate to my mom and my doctors. I can play volleyball, compete in track, and lift weights.

    When I grow up, I want to be a pediatric heart surgeon. I want to help other kids with heart conditions. If I say, “I understand what you’re going through,” they’ll know that I’m telling the truth.

    When I first woke up after the surgery, we didn’t know if it had worked. It took a few weeks for my body to become accustomed to the monitor. After that, I was finally able to relax.

    You can’t see my heart monitor from the outside. I look just like any other kid—except that I wear a little device around my neck, which sends my heart rate to my mom and my doctors. I’m able to play volleyball, compete in track, and lift weights.

    When I grow up, I want to be a pediatric heart surgeon so that I can help other kids who have heart conditions. If I say, “I understand what you’re going through,” they’ll know that I’m telling the truth. 

ACTIVITY: 
Problem and Solution

You’ve just read "Staying in the Game.” Now it’s time to do this activity.

You’ve just read "Staying in the Game.” Now it’s time to do this activity.

You’ve just read "Staying in the Game.” Now it’s time to do this activity.

What to do: This story is about a problem that Angelica faced and how it was solved. Fill in the blanks in the chart below. First identify the solution. Then add details from the story that help you understand the problem and the solution.

What to do: This story is about a problem that Angelica faced and how it was solved. Fill in the blanks in the chart below. First identify the solution. Then add details from the story that help you understand the problem and the solution.

What to do: This story is about a problem that Angelica faced and how it was solved. Fill in the blanks in the chart below. First identify the solution. Then add details from the story that help you understand the problem and the solution.

The Problem: Angelica has a heart condition called SVT.

The Problem: Angelica has a heart condition called SVT.

The Problem: Angelica has a heart condition called SVT.

Detail 1 :If Angelica exercises too hard, her heart might stop.

Detail 2:
Hint: How did Angelica feel about being different from her teammates?

Detail 3:
Hint: What happened when she had surgery or took medicine in the past?

Detail 1 :If Angelica exercises too hard, her heart might stop.

Detail 2:
Hint: How did Angelica feel about being different from her teammates?

Detail 3:
Hint: What happened when she had surgery or took medicine in the past?

Detail 1 :If Angelica exercises too hard, her heart might stop.

Detail 2:
Hint: How did Angelica feel about being different from her teammates?

Detail 3:
Hint: What happened when she had surgery or took medicine in the past?

The Solution:

The Solution:

The Solution:

Detail 1 :Angelica now has a monitor that keeps track of her heart rate.

Detail 2:
Hint: Who does the monitor send alerts to, and why?

Detail 3:
Hint: What can Angelica now do without worrying?

Detail 1 :Angelica now has a monitor that keeps track of her heart rate.

Detail 2:
Hint: Who does the monitor send alerts to, and why?

Detail 3:
Hint: What can Angelica now do without worrying?

Detail 1 :Angelica now has a monitor that keeps track of her heart rate.

Detail 2:
Hint: Who does the monitor send alerts to, and why?

Detail 3:
Hint: What can Angelica now do without worrying?

Core Skills
Sequencing, Problem and Solution, Vocabulary
Format
True Teen Story
Topic
Sports, Social-Emotional Learning, Health, Inspiration
Genre
Nonfiction
Content Type
Article

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