Getting back to normal

Marissa Espino

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The color is back in Megan Pulfer’s cheeks and she is

ready to start another school year with less trauma in her life.

It’s been three months since the 13-year-old had open-heart surgery to

mend a congenital birth defect that created a hole in her heart two

centimeters wide.

Although the longtime ballet dancer is feeling a lot better than the day

she had surgery on May 27, she’s frustrated that she still gets winded

easily.

“I can’t enjoy dance,” Megan said. “I have to worry about being out of

breath the whole time.”

Megan found out about her condition last January, when doctors diagnosed

the active dancer with three separate heart conditions: an atrial septal

defect, or hole in her heart; pericardial effusion -- water accumulating

around her heart; and as a result of both conditions, an inflammation of

the right ventricle, which was three times larger than the left

ventricle.

Her conditions were discovered by chance during a heart-monitoring

exercise in Spring View teacher Linda Ward’s physical education class at

Spring View Middle School.

“I’m just so grateful we found the problem. That Ms. Ward has the program

that she does,” said Megan’s mother Cindi Pulfer. “I know it’s been a

setback for Megan. I don’t know if I would be able to handle it as well

as she did. She’s been through a lot of poking and prodding and a lot of

needles.”

As of last week, the doctor stopped prescribing her steroid treatment

because the water around her heart has successfully decreased and her

anti-inflammatory medication will be cut off in a month. By October,

Megan will no longer be taking medication, but will continue to be

monitored.

During her surgery, Megan’s breast bone, which was inverted, was

repaired. She will have the metal bar, inserted in her chest during the

procedure, removed in December.

Now that the healing process is near, Megan will have to deal with yet

another condition she had discovered in January called scoliosis, which

is an abnormal curvature of the spine. She has an appointment with an

orthopedic surgeon Sept. 20 to determine if she will need to use a back

brace.

In retrospect, Megan said the last several months of turmoil weren’t

necessary because she thought she was doing just fine before she found

out she had a heart problem.

“I feel like it wasn’t needed,” said Megan, who gained 10 pounds from the

steroid medication. “I feel like it was such a small deal.”

Megan’s mom said she is happy Megan’s condition was discovered before it

was too late.

“We were really grateful for the quality of doctors we had,” Pulfer said.

“It was hard being here by ourselves. It was overwhelming at times but we

had a lot of support from neighbors and friends.”

Even though Megan’s life is almost back to normal, she said she has a few

more obstacles to overcome.

“I’m looking forward to not being out of breath,” Megan said. “Right now

I have to wait.”