TODDLER'S FIT, FINE HEART SURGERY SUCCESSFUL.Byline: - Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - Two-year-old Jessica Cason dances happily around her Simi Valley house, her energy belying her recent surgery to correct a life-threatening heart defect detected during a routine physical exam. ``It's hard to believe that it was only days ago that she was in the hospital fighting for her life,'' said the toddler's mother, Traci Cason, a dance instructor with the Rancho Simi Rancho San José de Nuestra Senora de Altagarcia y Simi is one of the land grants in California by the Spanish government. The name derives from Shimiji, the name of the Chumash village here before the Spanish. Recreation and Parks District. ``She looks phenomenal. She's incredibly active.'' During a routine physical, Jessica's doctor determined that the little girl's heart had just three chambers, one fewer than in a normal heart. She underwent a six-hour operation in mid-January, when surgeons at UCLA's Mattel Children's Hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. created a fourth chamber and also repaired a leaking valve in her heart. Throughout the ordeal, the Casons were supported by the community, which had sponsored a series of fund-raisers to help offset the family's medical bills. ``Everybody was real generous,'' said Linda Hillier Hillier is a surname, and may refer to:
While Jessica is recovering physically, her memories of her hospital stay leave her frightened fright·en v. fright·ened, fright·en·ing, fright·ens v.tr. 1. To fill with fear; alarm. 2. at bedtime bedtime Sleep disorders The time when one attempts to fall asleep–as distinguished from the time when one gets into bed and unwilling to remove her clothing because of her surgical scars, Cason said. ``It was a very painful and scary experience for her,'' Cason said. ``She can't sleep. But she's on the road to recovery.'' Nurses at the hospital said the toddler was a delight. ``She's just one of the cutest girls we've had here,'' said Julia Ueda, a nurse specialist. ``She's just a beautiful girl. She had a cute cute adj. cut·er, cut·est 1. Delightfully pretty or dainty. 2. Obviously contrived to charm; precious: "[He] personality.'' Although Jessica's hospital stay could have lasted as long as 10 days, she was released after just three. ``Those are memories we will never forget,'' Cason said. ``It keeps life in perspective and lets you realize what's important. It makes you realize that life is so valuable.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Traci and Jessica Cason share a laugh a little more than two weeks after the toddler's heart surgery. John Kennedy/Special to the Daily News |
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