At 12 years old, Aleyna Rodriguez is a bright, artistic and loving big sister who fills every room with her energy and kindness. But behind her vibrant spirit is a journey that has made her stronger than most her age.
Open Heart Surgery
At only one day old, doctors detected a heart murmur during a routine check-up. After further testing, they confirmed Aleyna was born with a congenital heart defect. She needed immediate medical attention.
Aleyna’s mom, Aileen Mata, remembers the gut-wrenching feeling of seeing her newborn leaving by ambulance in an incubator. “Initially, I was sobbing, because my beautiful baby was being taken. I quickly had to put myself together, because her dad and my family lost it,” Aileen recalls.
Within hours, Aleyna was transferred to University Health’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A few days later, Aleyna underwent her first open-heart surgery at only six days old.
Complications Followed
While the procedure was successful, Aleyna started to experience complications. After almost two weeks, she was in heart failure due to a residual hole in the heart. For more than a month, Aleyna was in the NICU. Her breathing was fast and shallow and experienced pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.
A first-time mom at the time, Aileen remembers the feeling of seeing her daughter exhausted and crying. “She had cried four whole hours in the morning, and when I arrived she cried another four hours. I couldn't console he” Aileen knew she had to do something to help. “I had to advocate for her because she was telling me she was tired. So we met with the cardiac team and agreed that she needed a second surgery.”
More Surgeries
At six weeks old, Aleyna underwent her second open-heart surgery—an operation that ultimately saved her life.
Throughout her childhood, Aleyna had several additional procedures, including multiple heart catheterizations to address narrowing in her aortic arch. In 2023, her energy levels started to decline, and she became fatigued even from simple activities.
After a thorough evaluation by the pediatric cardiology and congenital heart surgery team at University Health, the doctors determined Aleyna needed an adult-sized stent to support her heart. A stent is a metal-mesh tube that goes into a blood vessel to increase blood flow. On Feb. 22, 2024, Aleyna underwent another heart catheterization to place the stent. While it was a nerve-wracking procedure for her family, Aleyna emerged stronger than before.
A Heart Warrior
Despite the challenges she has faced, Aileen says Aleyna continues to exceed expectations. They were once warned that multiple heart surgeries might affect her cognitive abilities, but that is not the case. Aleyna is excelling in school. She also loves making friends wherever she goes and remains a beacon of positivity.
One of the highlights of Aleyna’s journey was attending University Health’s first Kids Heart Camp in 2024. The camp is run by heart center medical staff for children ages 9-18 with congenital heart defects. It allows kids with heart disease to participate in camp activities without worrying about their medical condition.
Pediatric Heart Care at University Health
For Aileen and Aleyna, their family and University Health’s pediatric heart team were her support. “The medical team we have had has always been very supportive and answered all our questions and concerns,” Aileen says.
If Aileen could give one piece of advice to other parents going through this, it would be “Never stop advocating for your kids. If something doesn't seem or sound right, bring it to the doctor’s attention.”
Learn more about University Health’s pediatric and congenital heart care.
