Stephanie Mulhall-Atkinson will never forget the moment she learned her baby, Sloane, needed a heart transplant after months of doctors dismissing her concerns. From birth, Sloane’s parents noticed strange grunting sounds and a “blue tint” around her mouth, but doctors reassured them it was nothing serious.
However, Stephanie’s “mama’s intuition” told her otherwise, leading to a life-altering diagnosis.
A Mother’s Gut Feeling
When Sloane was born in October 2024, her parents immediately noticed she made an unusual grunting noise. They raised their concerns with doctors, but each time they were told she was just a vocal baby. “We were told her lungs sounded clear and everything was fine,” Stephanie explained.
Despite the reassurances, she felt something was off. Weeks later, the “blue tint” around Sloane’s mouth grew more pronounced, prompting Stephanie and her husband, Justin, to take her to the ER.
The Shocking Diagnosis
In the ER, doctors performed an echocardiogram, revealing that Sloane’s heart was “barely pumping.” Within hours, she was rushed to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), intubated, and sedated.
The diagnosis was devastating: dilated cardiomyopathy, a rare genetic condition that impairs the heart’s ability to pump blood. Doctors informed the Atkinsons that Sloane was in the late stages of heart failure and urgently needed a heart transplant.
Heartbreak and Hope
“It was an out-of-body experience,” Stephanie recalled. The shock of hearing that her baby needed a heart transplant was overwhelming, especially since they had believed for weeks that Sloane’s grunting sounds were simply “cute baby noises.” Her heart ached as she realized that her baby had been in distress the entire time.
Sloane is now on life support, awaiting a heart transplant. The Atkinsons’ journey has been filled with immense challenges, but Stephanie remains hopeful. “We know she’ll be okay,” she says.
Through a GoFundMe campaign, they’ve raised over $25,000 to help cover medical expenses, a symbol of the kindness and support they’ve received.
Despite the pain, Stephanie is determined to stay hopeful for her daughter’s future. “Her life will be long, full, and beautiful,” she says, holding onto the hope that one day, Sloane will share her story of survival.