Charlie
Hometown: Lewis Center, OH
Diagnosis: Permanent Junctional Reciprocating Tachycardia (PJRT)
Age on Race Day: 12
At 4 years old, Charlie developed a cough that lasted a couple of weeks. When, during the course of the cough, she vomited in her sleep, her parents took her to the pediatrician. After a chest x-ray revealed Charlie’s heart was enlarged and surrounded by fluid, she was immediately transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Emergency Department and admitted to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
Charlie was diagnosed with Permanent Junctional Reciprocating Tachycardia (PJRT), a rare form of abnormally fast heartbeats, only seen in children. Charlie underwent a minimally invasive procedure known as cardiac ablation to stop the electrical impulses that caused her irregular heartbeats.
Her doctors successfully completed the ablation, however because of the amount of time her heart was beating abnormally fast, it suffered damage. Charlie began taking three heart failure medications. At her most recent annual checkup, tests showed that Charlie’s heart was at full function and now only needs checkups every two years.
“Nationwide Children's Hospital means so much to our family,” Charlie’s mother, Tia, says. “Charlie's situation was a surprise to us and out of nowhere. We are so thankful for each staff member who we crossed paths with during our five-day stay and could not have asked for a better experience in such a scary time in our lives.”
Charlie is now a spunky, sassy 12-year-old who loves softball, shopping, and spending time with friends. Everyone who meets Charlie leaves with a lasting impression.
