22 Nov Sisters Thrive

Sophia VerWys was born with Tricuspid Atresia and HRHS (hypoplastic right heart syndrome) along with VACTERL Association (non-random association of birth defects that affects multiple parts of the body- vertebral abnormalities, anal atresia, cardiac heart defects, tracheal anomalies like tracheoesophageal fistula, esophageal atresia, and renal radial abnormalities and other limb abnormalities).

As of April 2018, she had undergone four open heart surgeries, a foot amputation, a spinal untethering, and a few other various surgeries with a few more to go. In summer 2020 at the height of the pandemic, Sophia underwent her fourth heart surgery to finish rerouting her heart and to hopefully not have any more in the future, mom Megan said. While she was inpatient, Megan went into early labor and her sister Hattie also was admitted to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“We truly are a Mott’s family, and are so thankful to the Mott House and the Big House for the care and restful room to take a moment to breathe and recharge,” Megan said. “Thanks to Mott’s Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care, NICU, and RMCH Ann Arbor, we have two little girls who are thriving, happy, and bring us joy every day.”