Tamsin was nearing the end of pregnancy with her twin daughters, Jessica and Charlotte, when she learned that Jessica was diagnosed with Ebstein’s anomaly ― a rare and complex congenital heart defect. As Jessica got older and her heart grew larger, her parents began navigating treatment options for her condition.
Through her own research on social media, Tamsin discovered the Da Silva Center for Ebstein’s Anomaly at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The team looked at Jessica’s scans and felt confident they could perform the cone procedure, pioneered by Children’s pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Jose Pedro da Silva.
Living in the United Kingdom added an additional layer of challenges. But, with the help of UPMC International, they were able to seamlessly transition Jessica’s care to UPMC Children’s and schedule her surgery with Luciana da Fonseca da Silva, MD, in just a matter of weeks.
Jessica underwent the cone procedure in January 2025, just before her 11th birthday. Jessica loves plush bunnies. She brought her newest bunny, a Christmas gift, to Children’s. “Bunny” provided extra comfort and support in the days leading up to and after the procedure.
“The outcome has been incredible,” Tamsin says. Jessica now has energy to do things she didn’t have the stamina for before, like swimming laps in the pool with Charlotte.
Tamsin noted the incredible support from the Da Silva Center team throughout the entire surgical journey. While Jessica and her family are now back in the United Kingdom, the Da Silva team has remained closely involved in her follow-up care.