I was born with DiGeorge Syndrome which for me, consists of having no parathyroid or thymus and a heart defect — Truncus Arteriosus Type 1. At three days old I underwent OHS at the University of Michigan Mott hospital. It was an experimental procedure where they just put in a shunt/conduit in the pulmonary position.

Later, when I was five, they replaced the conduit and placed a pulmonary valve and a mechanical valve in the aortic position. I've had numerous bouts with endocarditis, and have had a tendency of my PV to become calcified. I've had 6 OHSs to date, either PVRs or AVRs due to calcification, stenosis, or endocarditis.

Two years ago they eventually found out that I had my left brachiocephalic vein blocked (kinked), which was causing one sided swelling and pain. They were able to open up the vein and placed several stents to keep it open. They aren't sure if it is a congenital defect or something that occurred during one of my first surgeries. But I grew up with my left arm and face swollen and would sometimes get painful.

I've had several stents placed in my pulmonary arteries, I have an enlarged aorta and my aortic arch is switched/backward as well as my coronary arteries.