Back in the dance

Andrew Wainer

Huntington Beach eighth-grader Megan Pulfer is back.

Almost seven months after doctors at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital

patched a 2-centimeter hole in her heart, Megan acted and danced in a

performance of “The Nutcracker” last weekend.

The play was presented by Ballet Etudes, a Huntington Beach youth ballet

company.

Last January doctors diagnosed Megan with three separate heart

conditions, but both Megan and her mother Cindy say the operation has

been a great help.

“We are a much more relaxed family since the surgery,” Cindy Pulfer said.

Megan, for her part, said she was excited to dance in her first major

performance since the surgery.

An avid dancer, Megan said she attends dance practice 15-20 hours a week.

A heart monitor helps her ensure she doesn’t push herself too far.

“My dance teacher lets me practice slower when the monitor beeps,” Megan

said.

The Spring View student said she plans to continue with her dancing,

including upcoming tap dance competitions.

Cindy Pulfer decided to let her daughter participate in the play in spite

of her recent surgery. “I can’t keep her down.”

Although Cindy is sure that Megan is on the road to recovery, future

hurdles remain.

This month, doctors will remove a 4-inch steel bar that was put into

Megan’s chest to keep her breastplate from collapsing.

Although Megan said she is nervous about the operation, she manages to

joke about the metal piece.

“I am going to frame it,” Megan said. “It will say that once I was 5%

metal,” she joked.